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Biographical  Sketches  of  Prominent  and  Representative  Citizens, 

TOGETHER  WITH  BIOGRAPHIES  AND  PORTRAITS  OF  ALL  THE 

®  Presidents  of  the  I5nited  states.® 


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UlE  greatest  of  English  historians,  Macaulay,  and  one  of  the  most  brilliant  writers  of 
the  present  century-,  has  said:  "The  history  of  a  countrj-  is  best  told  in  a  record  of  the 
lives  of  Its  people."    In  conformity  with  this  idea  the  Portrait  and  Biographical 
Record  ^f  ^\^\^  county  has  been  prepared.     Instead  of  going  to  musty  records,  and 
taking  therefrom  dry  statistical  matter  that  can  be  appreciated  by  but  few,  our 
corps  of  writers  have  gone  to  the  people,  the  men  and  women  who  have,  by  their 
enterprise  and  industiy,  brought  the  county  to  rank  second  to  none  among  those 
comprising  this  great  and  noble  State,  and  from  their  lips  have  the  story  of  their  life 
struggles.     No  more  interesting  or  instructive  matter  could  be  presented  to  an  intelli- 
gent public.     In  this  volume  will  be  found  a  record  of  manj^  whose  lives  are  worth3^  the 
imitation  of   coming  generations.     It  tells  how  some,  commencing  life  in  poverty,  by 
industry  and   economy   have   accumulated  wealth.     It  tells  how  others,  with  limited 

/— viiei^H  I  -  advantaijes  for  securinsr  an  education,  have  become  learned  men  and  women,  with  an 
V  l,'^.  )V^i  influence  extending  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land.  It  tells  of  men  who 
have  risen  from  the  lower  wallis  of  life  to  eminence  as  statesmen,  and  whose  names  have 
become  famous.  It  tells  of  those  in  every  walk  in  life  who  have  striven  to  succeed,  and 
records  how  that  success  has  usually  crowned  their  efforts.  It  tells  also  of  manj',  very 
many,  who,  not  seeking  the  applause  of  the  world,  have  pui-sued  "the  even  tenor  of  their  way,"  content 
to  have  it  said  of  them  as  Christ  said  of  the  woman  performing  a  deed  of  mercy — '"they  have  done  what 
they  could."  It  tells  how  that  many  in  the  pride  and  strength  of  young  manhood  left  the  plow  and  the 
anvil,  the  lawyer's  office  and  the  counting-room,  left  every  trade  and  profession,  and  at  their  country's 
call  went  forth  valiantly  "to  do  or  die,"  and  how  through  their  efforts  the  Union  was  restored  and  peace 
once  more  reigned  in  the  land.  In  the  life  of  every  man  and  of  every  woman  is  a  lesson  that  should  not 
be  lost  upon  those  who  follow  after. 

Coming  generations  will  appreciate  this  volume  and  preserve  it  as  a  sacred  tre.isure,  from  the  fact 
that  it  contains  so  much  that  would  never  find  its  way  into  public  records,  and  which  would  otherwise  be 
inaccessible.  Great  care  has  been  taken  in  the  compilation  of  the  work  and  everj'  opportunity  possible 
jiven  to  those  represented  to  insure  correctness  in  what  has  been  written,  and  the  publishers  flatter  them- 
elves  that  they  give  to  their  readers  a  work  with  few  errors  of  consequence.  In  addition  to  the  biograph 
eal  sketches,  portraits  of  a  number  of  representative  citizens  are  given. 

The  faces  of  some,  and  biographical  sketches  of  many,  will  be  missed  in  this  volume.  For  this  the 
publishers  are  not  to  blame.  Not  having  a  proper  conception  of  the  work,  some  refused  to  give  the 
information  necessary  to  compile  a  sketch,  while  others  were  indifferent.  Occasionally  some  member  of 
the  family  would  oppose  the  enterprise,  and  on  account  of  such  opposition  the  support  of  the  interested 
one  would  be  withheld.  In  a  few  instances  men  could  never  be  found,  though  repeated  calls  were  made 
at  their  residence  or  place  of  business. 

December,  18U2.  CHAPMAN  BROS. 


192864 


FIRST  PRESIDENT. 


ft 


HE  Father  of  our  Country  was 
born  in  Westmorland  Co.,  Va., 
jy  Feb.  22,  1732.  His  parents 
^  were  Augustine  and  Mary 
=  (Ball)  Washington.  The  family 
to  which  he  belonged  has  not 
been  satisfactorily  traced  in 
England.  His  great-grand- 
father, John  Washington,  em- 
igrated to  Virginia  about  1657, 
and  became  a  prosperous 
planter.  He  had  two  sons, 
Lawrence  and  John.  The 
lormer  married  Mildred  Warner 
and  had  three  -children,  John, 
.Augustine  and  Mildred.  Augus- 
tine, the  father  of  George,  first 
married  Jane  Butler,  who  bore 
him  four  children,  two  of  whom, 
Lawrence  and  Augustine,  reached 
maturity.  Of  si.x  children  by  his 
second  marriage,  George  was  the 
eldest,  the  others  being  Betty, 
Samuel,  John  Augustine,  Charles 
and  Mildred. 
Augustine  Washington,  the  father  of  George,  died 
in  1743,  leaving  a  large  landed  property.  To  his 
eldest  son,  Lawrence,  he  bequeathed  an  estate  on 
the  Patomac,  afterwards  known  as  Mount  Vernon, 
and  to  George  he  left  the  parental  residence.  George 
received  only  such  education  as  the  neighborhood 
scliools  afforded,  save  for  a  short  time  after  he  left 
scliool,  when  he  received  private  instruction  in 
mathematics,      H.s    spellini"  v/as  rather  defective. 


Remarkable  stories  are  told  of  his  great  physica: 
strength  and  development  at  an  early  age.  He  war. 
an  acknowledged  leader  among  his  companions,  and 
was  early  noted  for  that  nobleness  of  character,  fair- 
ness and  veracity  which  characterized  his  whole  life. 

When  George  was  14  years  old  he  had  a  desire  to  go  to 
sea,  and  a  midshipman's  warrant  was  secured  for  him, 
but  through  the  opposition  of  his  mother  the  idea  was 
abandoned.  Two  years  later  he  was  appointed 
surveyor  to  the  immense  estate  of  Lord  Fairfax.  In 
this  business  he  spent  three  years  in  a  rough  frontier 
life,  gaining  experience  which  afterwards  proved  very 
essential  to  him.  In  1751,  though  only  19  years  of 
age,  he  was  appointed  adjutant  with  the  rank  of 
major  in  the  Virginia  militia,  then  being  trained  for 
active  service  against  the  French  and  Indians.  Soon 
after  this  he  sailed  to  the  West  Indies  with  his  brother 
Lawrence,  who  went  there  to  restore  his  health  They 
soon  returned,  and  in  the  summer  of  1752  Lawrence 
died,  leaving  a  large  fortune  to  an  infant  daughter 
who  did  not  long  survive  him.  On  her  demise  tlie 
estate  of  Mount  Vernon  was  given  to  George. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  Robert  Dinwiddie,  as  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor of  Virginia,  in  1752,  the  militia  was 
reorganized,  and  the  province  divided  into  four  mili- 
tary districts,  of  which  the  northern  was  assigned  to 
Washington  as  adjutant  general.  Shortly  after  this 
a  very  perilous  mission  was  assigned  him  and  ac- 
cepted, which  others  had  refused.  This  was  to  pro- 
ceed to  the  French  post  near  Lake  Erie  in  North- 
western Pennsylvania.  The  distance  to  be  traversed 
was  between  500  and  600  rniles.  Winter  was  at  hand, 
and  the  journey  was  to  be  made  without  military 
escort,  through  a  territory  occupied  by  Indians.     The 


GEORGE   WASHINGTON. 


irip  was  a  perilous  one,  and  several  limes  he  came  near 
losing  his  lite,  yet  he  returned  in  safety  and  furnished 
a  full  and  useful  report  of  his  expedition.  A  regiment 
of  300  men  was  raiaed  in  Vu-ginia  and  put  in  com- 
mand of  Col.  Joshua  Fry,  and  Major  Washington  was 
commissioned  lieutenant-colonel.  Active  war  was 
then  begun  against  the  French  and  Indians,  in  which 
Washington  took  a  most  important  part.  In  the 
memorable  event  of  July  9,  1755,  known  as  Brad- 
dock's  defeat,  Washington  was  almost  the  only  officer 
of  distinction  who  escaped  from  the  calamities  of  the 
day  with  life  and  honor.  The  other  aids  of  Braddotfk 
were  disabled  early  in  the  action,  and  Washington 
alone  was  left  in  that  capacity  on  the  field.  In  a  letter 
to  his  brother  he  says :  "  I  had  four  bullets  through 
my  coat,  and  two  horses  shot  under  me,  yet  I  escaped 
unhurt,  thougli  death  was  levelin"  my  companions 
on  every  side."  An  Indian  sharpshooter  said  he  was 
not  born  to  be  killed  by  a  bullet,  for  he  had  taken 
direct  aim  at  him  seventeen  times,  and  failed  to  hit 
him. 

After  having  been  five  years  in  the  military  service, 
and  vainly  sought  promotion  in  the  royal  army,  he 
took  advantage  of  the  fall  of  Fort  Duquesne  and  the 
expulsion  of  the  French  from  the  valley  of  the  Ohio, 
10  resign  his  commission.  Soon  after  he  entered  the 
Legislature,  where,  although  not  a  leader,  he  took  an 
active  and  important  part.  January  17,  1759,  he 
married  Mrs.  Martha  (Dandridge)  Custis,  the  wealthy 
widow  of  John  Parke  Custis. 

When  the  British  Parliament  had  closed  the  port 
-jf  Boston,  the  cry  went  up  throughout  the  provinces 
that  "The  cause  of  Boston  is  the  cause  of  us  all  " 
It  was  then,  at  the  suggestion  of  Virginia,  that  a  Con- 
gress of  all  the  colonies  was  called  to  meet  at  Phila- 
delphia, Sept.  5,  1774,  to  secure  their  common  liberties, 
peaceably  if  possible.  To  this  Congress  Col.  Wash- 
ington was  sent  as  a  delegate.  On  May  10,  1775,  the 
Congress  re-assembled,  when  the  hostile  intentions  of 
England  were  plainly  apparent.  The  battles  of  Con- 
cord and  Le.xington  had  been  fought.  Among  the 
first  acts  of  tliis  Congress  was  the  election  of  a  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  colonial  forces.  This  high  and 
responsible  office  was  conferred  upon  Washington, 
who  was  still  a  memberof  the  Congress.  He  accepted 
it  on  June  19,  but  upon  the  express  condition  that  he 
receive  no  salary.  He  would  keep  an  exact  account 
of  expenses  and  expect  Congress  10  pay  them  and 
nothing  more.  It  is  not  the  object  of  this  sketch  to 
trace  the  military  acts  of  Washington,  to  whom  the 
fortunes  and  liberties  of  the  people  of  this  country 
were  so  long  confided.  The  war  was  conducted  by 
him  under  ever\  possible  disadvantage,  and  while  his 
forces  often  met  with  reverses,  yet  he  overcame  every 
obstacle,  and  after  seven  years  of  heroic  devotion 
.ind  matchless  skill  he  gained  liberty  for  the  greatest 
niti-in  of  earth.  On  Dec.  23,  1783,  Washington,  in 
a  piiii^ig  address  of  surpassing  beatity,  resigned  his 


commission  as  commander-in-chref  of  the  army  vo 
to  the  Continental  Congress  sitting  at  Annapolis.  He 
retired  immediately  to  Mount  Vernon  and  resumed 
his  occupation  as  a  farmer  and  planter,  shunning  all 
connection  with  public  lite. 

In  February, 1789,  Washington  was  unanimously 
elected  President.  In  his  presidential  career  he  was 
subject  to  the  peculiar  trials  incidental  to  a  riew 
government ;  trials  from  lack  of  confidence  on  the  part 
of  other  governments;  trials  from  want  of  harmony 
between  the  different  sections  of  our  own  country; 
trials  from  the  impoverished  condition  of  the  country, 
owing  to  the  war  and  want  of  credit;  trials  from  the 
beginnings  of  party  strife.  He  was  no  partisan.  His 
clear  judg.nent  could  discern  the  golden  mean;  and 
while  perhaps  this  alone  kept  our  government  from 
sinking  at  the  very  outset,  it  left  him  exposed  to 
attacks  from  both  sides,  which  were  often  bitter  and 
very  annoying. 

At  the  expiration  of  his  first  term  he  was  unani- 
mously re-elected.  At  the  end  of  this  temi  many 
were  anxious  that  he  be  re-elected,  but  he  absolutely 
refused  a  third  nomination.  On  the  fourth  of  March, 
1797,  at  the  expiraton  of  his  second  term  as  Presi- 
dent, he  returned  to  his  home,  hoping  to  pass  there 
his  few  remaining  yeais  free  from  the  annoyances  of 
public  life.  Later  in  the  year,  however,  his  repose 
seemed  likely  to  be  interrupted  by  war  with  France 
At  the  prospect  of  such  a  war  he  was  again  urged  to 
take  command  of  the  armies.  He  chose  his  sub- 
ordinate officers  and  left  to  them  the  charge  of  mat- 
ters in  the  field,  which  he  superinter.ded  from  his 
home.  In  accepting  the  command  he  made  the 
reservation  that  he  was  not  to  be  in  the  field  until 
it  was  necessary.  In  the  midst  of  these  preparations 
his  life  was  suddenly  cut  off.  December  i  2,  he  took 
a  seveie  cold  from  a  ride  in  the  rain,  which,  settling 
in  h's  throat,  produced  inflammation,  and  terminated 
fatally  on  the  night  of  the  fourteenth.  On  the  eigh- 
teenth his  body  was  borne  wi'h  military  honors  to  its 
final  resting  place,  and  interred  in  the  family  vault  at 
Mount  Vernon. 

Of  the  character  of  Washington  it  is  impossible  to 
speak  but  in  terms  of  the  highest  respect  and  ad- 
miration. The  more  we  see  of  the  operations  of 
our  government,  and  the  more  deeply  we  feel  the 
difficulty  of  uniting  all  opinions  in  a  common  interest, 
the  more  highly  we  must  estimate  the  force  of  his  tal- 
ent and  character,-which  have  be^ n  alile  to  challenge 
the  reverence  of  all  parties,  and  principles,  and  na- 
tions, and  to  win  a  fame  as  extended  as  the  limits 
of  the  globe,  and  which  we  cannot  but  believe  will 
be  as  lasting  as  the  existence  of  man. 

The  iserson  of  Washington  was  unusally  tan,  erect 
and  well  proportioned.  His  muscular  strength  was 
great.  His  features  were  of  a  beautiful  symmetrv. 
He  commanded  respect  without  any  appearance  oi 
haughtiness,  and  ever  serious  withon'  V^in^;  duU. 


'm 


SECOND  PRESIDENT. 


OHM  ADAMS,  the  second 
President  and  the  first  Vice- 
President  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  in  Braintree  ( now 
•'5.  Quincy  ),Mass.,  and  about  ten 
•^  miles  from  Boston,  Oct.  19, 
735.  His  great-grandfather,  Henry 
Adams,  emigrated  from  England 
about  1 640,  with  a  family  of  eight 
^  sons,  and  settled  at  Braintree.  The 
parents  of  John  were  John  and 
Susannah  (Boylston)  Adams.  His 
father  was  a  farmer  of  limited 
means,  to  which  he  added  the  bus- 
iness of  shoemaking.  He  gave  his 
eldest  son,  John,  a  classical  educa- 
tion at  Harvard  College.  John 
graduated  in  1755,  and  at  once  took  charge  of  the 
school  in  Worcester,  Mass.  This  he  found  but  a 
'school  of  affliction,"  from  which  he  endeavored  to 
gain  relief  by  devoting  himself,  in  addition,  to  the 
study  of  law.  For  this  purix)se  he  placed  himself 
under  the  tuition  of  the  only  lawyer  in  the  town.  He 
had  thought  seriously  of  the  clerical  profession 
but  seems  to  have  been  turned  from  this  by  what  he 
termed  "  the  frightful  engines  of  ecclesiastical  coun- 
jils,  cf  diabolical  malice,  and  Calvanistic  good  nature,'' 
of  the  operations  of  which  he  had  been  a  witness  in 
his  native  town.  He  was  well  fitted  for  the  legal 
profession,  possessing  a  clear,  sonorous  voice,  being 
ready  and  fluent  of  siieech,  and  having  quick  percep- 
tive powers.  He  gradually  gained  practice,  and  in 
1764  married  Abigail  Smith,  a  daughter  of  a  minister, 
and  a  lady  of  superior  intelligence.  Shortly  after  his 
marriage,  (i7''5),  -^le  attempt  of  Parliamentary  taxa- 
tion turned  him  fnni  law  to  politics.  He  took  initial 
Steps  toward  hold'-.,  n  town  meeting,  and  the  resolu- 


tions he  offered  on  the  subject  became  very  jwpulai 
throughout  the  Province,  and  were  adopted  word  foi 
word  by  over  forty  different  towns.  He  moved  to  Bos 
ton  in  1768,  and  became  one  of  the  most  courageous 
and  prominent  advocatesof  the  popular'  cause,  and 
was  chosen  a  member  of  the  General  Court  (the  Leg- 
lislature)  in  1770. 

Mr.  Adams  was  chosen  one  of  the  first  delegates 
from  Massachusetts  to  the  first  Continental  Congress, 
which  met  in  1774.  Here  he  distinguished  himselt 
by  his  capacity  for  business  and  for  debate,  and  ad- 
vocated tlie  movement  for  inde\)er.dence  against  tb-; 
majority  of  the  members.  In  May,  1776,  he  moved 
and  carried  a  resolution  in  Congress  that  the  Colonies 
should  assume  the  duties  of  self-govemment.  He> 
wus  a  prominent  member  of  the  committee  of  iive 
appointed  June  11,  to  prepare  a  declaration  of  inde- 
pendence. This  article  was  drawn  by  Jefferson,  but 
on  .Adams  devolved  the  task  of  battling  it  through 
Congress  in  a  ttiree  days  debate. 

On  the  day  after  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
was  passed,  while  his  soul  was  yet  warm  with  th! 
glow  of  excited  feeling,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  his  wife 
which,  as  we  read  :t  now,  seems  to  have  been  dictated 
by  the  spirit  of  prophecy.  "Yesterday,"  he  says, "the 
greatest  question  was  decided  that  ever  was  debated 
in  America;  and  greater,  perhaps,  never  was  or  wil 
be  decided  among  men.  A  resolution  was  passed 
without  one  dissenting  colony,  '  that  these  United 
States  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  free  and  inde- 
jiendent  states.'  The  day  is  passed.  The  fourth  of 
July,  1776,  will  be  a  memorable  epoch  in  the  history 
of  America.  I  am  apt  to  believe  it  will  be  celebrated 
by  succeeding  generations,  as  the  great  anniversary? 
festival.  It  ought  to  be  commemorated  as  the  day  o' 
deliverance  by  solemn  acts  of  devotion  to  Almieh"- 
God.     It  ought  to  be  solemnized  \vith  pomp,  sho-^ 


JOHN  ADAMS. 


games,  Sjx)rts,  guns,  bells,  bonfires,  and  illuminations 
lioLn  one  end  of  the  continent  to  the  other,  from  this 
time  forward  for  ever.  Vou  will  think  me  transiwrted 
with  enthusiasm,  but  I  am  not.  I  am  well  aware  of 
the  toil,  and  blood  and  treasure,  that  it  will  cost  to 
maintain  this  declaration,  and  support  and  defend 
these  States;  yet,  through  all  the  gloom,  I  can  seethe 
rays  of  light  and  glory.  I  can  see  that  the  end  is 
wjrth  more  than  all  the  means;  and  that  posterity 
will  triumph,  although  you  and  I  may  rue,  which  I 
ho[)e  we  shall  not." 

In  November,  1777,  Mr.  Adams  was  appointed  a 
deilegate  to  France  and  to  co-operate  with  Bemjamin 
Franklin  and  Arthur  Lee,  who  were  then  in  Paris,  in 
the  endeavor  to  obtain  assistance  in  arms  and  money 
from  the  French  Government.  This  was  a  severe  trial 
to  his  patriotism,  as  it  separated  him  from  his  home, 
compelled  him  to  cross  the  ocean  in  winter,  and  ex- 
posed him  to  great  peril  of  capture  by  the  British  cruis- 
ers, who  were  seeking  him.  He  left  France  June  17, 
1779.  In  Septeniber  of  the  same  year  he  vi^as  again 
cliosen  to  go  to  Paris,  and  there  hold  himself  in  readi- 
ness to  negotiate  a  treaty  of  peace  and  of  commerce 
with  Great  Britian,  as  soon  as  the  British  Cabinet 
might  be  found  willing  to  listen  to  such  ptoposels.  He 
sailed  for  France  in  November,  from  there  he  went  to 
H  illand,  where  he  negotiated  imi)ortaut  loans  and 
formed  important  commercial  treaties 

Finally  a  treaty  of  peace  with  England  was  signed 
Jan.  21,  17S3.  'i'he  re-action  from  the  excitement, 
toil  and  anxiety  through  which  Mr.  Adams  had  passed 
threw  him  into  a  fever.  After  suffering  from  a  con- 
tinued fever  and  becoming  feeble  and  emaciated  he 
was  advised  to  goto  England  to  drink  the  waters  of 
Bath.  While  in  England,  still  drooping  anddespond- 
ing,  he  received  dispatches  from  his  own  government 
urging  the  necessity  of  his  going  to  Amsterdam  to 
negotiate  another  loan.  It  was  winter,  his  health  was 
delicate,  yet  he  immediately  set  out,  and  through 
storm,  on  sea,  on  horseback  and  foot,he  made  the  trip. 

February  24,  1785;  Congress  appointed  Mr.  Adams 
envoy  to  the  Court  of  St.  James.  Here  he  met  face 
to  face  the  King  of  England,  who  had  so  long  re- 
garded him  as  a  traitor.  As  England  did  not 
condescend  to  appoint  a  minister  to  the  United 
States,  and  as  Mr.  Adams  felt  that  he  was  accom- 
plishing but  little,  he  sought  permission  to  return  to 
.lis  own  country,  where  he  arrived  in  June,  1788. 

When  Washington  was  first  chosen  President,  John 
.•\dams,  rendered  illustiious  by  his  signal  services  at 
home  and  aliroad,  was  chosen  Vice  President.  .Again 
at  the  second  election  of  Washington  as  President, 
Adams  was  chosen  Vice  President.  In  1796,  Wash- 
ington retired  from  public  life,  and  Mr.  Adams  was 
elected  President,though  not  without  much  opposition. 
S.;rving  in  this  office  four  years,he  was  succeeded  by 
■^Tr.  Jefferson,  his  oppcment  in  politics. 

'.  'hile   Mr.  Adams  was  Vice  President  the   great 


French  Revolution  shook  the  continent  of  Europe, 
and  it  was  upon  this  point  which  he  was  atissujwiili 
the  majority  of  his  countrymen  led  by  Mr.  Jefferson. 
Mr.  Adams  felt  no  sympathy  with  the  French  peojile 
in  their  struggle,  for  he  had  no  confidence  in  their 
power  of  self-government,  and  he  utterly  abhored  the 
classof  atheist  philosophers  who  he  claimed  caused  it. 
On  tlie  other  hand  Jefferson's  sympathies  were  strongly 
enlisted  in  behalf  of  the  French  peojile.  Hence  or- 
iginated the  alienation  between  these  distinguished 
men,  and  two  powerful  parties  were  thus  soon  orgar.- 
ijed,  Adams  at  the  head  of  the  one  whose  sympathies 
were  with  England  and  Jefferson  led  the  other  in 
sympathy  with  France. 

The  world  has  seldom  seen  a  spectacle  of  more 
moral  beauty  and  grandeur,  than  was  presented  by  the 
old  age  of  Mr.  Adams.  The  violence  of  party  feeling 
had  died  away,  and  he  had  begun  to  receive  that  just 
api)reciat:on  which,  to  most  men,  is  not  accorded  till 
after  death.  No  one  could  look  upon  his  venerable 
form,  and  think  of  what  he  had  done  and  suffered, 
and  how  he  had  given  up  all  the  prime  and  streni,th 
of  his  life  to  the  public  good,  without  the  deepest 
emotion  of  gratitude  and  respect.  It  was  his  peculiar 
good  fortune  to  witness  the  complete  success  of  the 
institution  which  he  had  been  so  active  in  creating  and 
supporting.  In  1824,  his  cup  of  happiness  was  filled 
to  the  brim,  by  seeing  his  son  elevated  to  the  highest 
station  in  the  gift  of  the  people. 

The  fourth  of  July,  1826,  which  completed  the  half 
century  since  the  signing  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence, arrived,  and  there  were  but  three  of  the 
signers  of  that  immortal  instrument  left  upon  the 
earth  to  hail  its  morning  light.  And,  as  it  is 
well  known,  on  that  day  two  of  these  finished  theu 
earthly  pilgrimage,  a  coincidence  so  remarkalile  as 
to  seem  miraculous.  For  a  few  days  before  Mr. 
Adams  had  been  rapidly  failing,  and  on  the  morning 
of  the  fourth  he  found  hmiself  too  weak  to  rise  from 
his  bed.  On  being  requested  to  name  a  toast  for  the 
customary  celebration  of  the  day,  he  exclaimed  "  In- 
DEPtiNDENCE  FOREVER."  When  the  day  was  ushered 
in,  by  the  ringing  of  bells  and  the  firing  of  cannons, 
he  was  asked  by  one  of  his  ;  ttendants  if  he  knew 
what  day  it  was?  He  replied,  "O  yes  ;  it  is  the  glor- 
ious fourth  of  July — God  bless  it — Clod  bless  you  all.'' 
In  the  course  of  the  day  he  said,  "It  is  a  great  and 
glorious  day."  The  last  words  he  uttered  were, 
"Jefferson  survives."  But  he  had,  at  ore  o'clock,  re- 
signed his  spirit  into  the  hands  of  his  God. 

The  personal  appearance  and  manners  of  Mr 
Adams  were  not  particularly  pIeposses^in^.  His  face, 
as  his  portrait  manifests.was  intellectual  ard  expires 
sive,  but  his  figure  was  low  and  ungraceful,  and  \\-\ 
manners  were  frequently  abrupt  and  unronrteous 
He  had  neither  the  lofty  dignity  of  Washington,  nor 
the  engaging  elegance  and  gracefulness  which  marked 
the  manners  and  address  of  Tefiferson, 


'^^S^y-ZP-^l 


THIRD  PRESIDENT. 


»7 


^,^^,,,^™ 


«_T1I  DIxjAa  JErPEESDI^.  M 


^ 


HdMAS  JEFFERSON  was 
born  April  2,   1743,   at  Shad- 
well,  Albermarle  county,  Va. 
His  parents  were    Peter  and 
Jane  (  Randolph)    Jefferson, 
the  Ibraier  a  native  of  Wales, 
and  the  latter  born  in   Lon- 
don.    To  them  were  born  six 
daughters   and   two   sons,  of 
whom  Thomas  was  the  elder. 
When   14  years   of  age    his 
fatiier  died.     He  received  a 
most  liberal  education,    hav- 
ing been  kept  diligently  at  scliool 
from  the  time  he  was  Ave  years  of 
age.     In  1760  he  entered  William 
f.nd  Mary  College.     Williamsburg  was  then  the  seat 
of  the  Colonial  Court,  and  it  was  the  obode  of  fashion 
a. id   splendor.      V'oimg  Jefferson,  who  was  then   17 
years  old,  lived  somewhat  expensively,  keeping  fine 
horses,  and  much  caressed  by  gay  society,    yet    he 
was  earnestly  devoted  to  his  studies,  and  irreproacha- 
able  in  his  morals.     It   is   strange,   however,    under 
such  influences, that  he  was  not  ruined.     In  the   sec- 
ond year  of  his  college  course,  moved  by  some  un- 
explained inward  impulse,  he  discarded    his    horses, 
society,  and  even  his  favorite  violin,  to  which  he  had 
previously  given  much  time.     He  often  devoted  fifteen 
nouvs  a  day  to  hard    study,  allowing  himself  for  ex- 
ercise only  a  run  in  the  evening  twilight  of  a  mile  out 
of  the  city  and  back  again.     He  thus  attained  very 
high  intellectual  culture,  alike  excellence  in  philoso- 
phy and  the  languages.  The  most  difficult  Latin  and 
Greek  authors  he  read  with  facility.     A  more  finished 
scholar  has  seldom  gone  forth  from  college  halls;  anvl 


I  there  was  not  to  be  found,  perhaps,  in  all  Virgir.ia,  a 
!  more  pureminded,  upright,  gentlemanly  young  man. 
Immediately  upon  leaving  college  he  began  the 
study  of  law.  For  the  short  lime  he  continued  in  the 
practice  of  his  jirofession  he  rose  rapidly  and  distin- 
guished himself  by  his  energy  and  accuteness  as  a 
lawyer.  But  the  times  called  for  greater  action. 
The  policy  of  England  had  awakened  the  spirit  of 
resistance  of  the  .American  Colonies,  and  the  enlarged 
views  which  Jefferson  had  ever  entertained,  soon  led 
him  into  active  political  life.  In  1769  he  was  chosen 
a  member  of  the  Virginia  House  of  Burgesses  In 
1772  he  married  Mrs.  .Martha  Skelton,  a  very  beauti- 
ful, wealthy  and  highly  accomplished  young  widow 
Upon  Mr.  Jefferson's  large  estate  at  Shadwell,  th-re 
was  a  majestic  swell  of  land,  called  Monticello,  which 
commanded  a  prospect  of  wonderful  extent  and 
beauty.  This  spot  Mr.  Jefferson  selected  for  his  new 
home;  and  here  he  reared  a  mansion  of  modest  ye' 
elegant  architecture,  which,  next  to  Mount  Vernon 
became  the  most  distinguished  resort  in  our  land. 

In  1775  he  was  sent  to  the  Colonial  Congress, 
where,  though  a  silent  member,  his  abilities  as  a 
writer  and  a  reasoner  soon  become  known,  and  he 
was  placed  uix)n  a  number  of  important  committees, 
and  was  chairman  of  the  one  appointed  for  the  draw- 
ing up  of  a  declaration  of  independence.  This  com- 
mittee consisted  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  John  Adams, 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Roger  Sherman  and  Robert  R. 
Livingston.  Jefferson,  as  chairman,  was  appointed 
to  draw  up  the  paper.  Franklin  and  Adams  suggested 
a  few  verbal  changes  before  it  was  submitted  to  Con- 
gress. On  June  28,  a  few  slight  changes  were  made 
in  it  by  Congress,  and  it  was  passed  and  signed  July 
4,  1776      What  must  have  been  the  feelings  of  that 


THOMAS  JEFFERSON. 


man — what  the  emotions  that  swelled  his  breast — 
who  was  charged  with  'he  preparation  of  that  Dec- 
laration, wliich,  while  it  made  known  the  wrongs  of 
America,  .vas  also  to  publish  her  to  the  world,  free, 
soverign  and  independent.  It  is  one  of  the  most  re- 
markable i)apers  ever  written  ;  and  did  no  other  effort 
of  the  mind  of  its  author  exist,  that  alone  would  be 
sufficient  to  stamp  his  name  with  immortality. 

In  1779  Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  successor  to 
Patrick  Henry,  ;.s  Governor  of  Virginia.  At  one  time 
the  British  officer,  Tarleton,  sent  a  secret  expedition  to 
Moniicelio,  to  capture  the  Governor.  Scarcely  five 
minutes  elapsed  after  the  hurried  escape  of  Mr.  Jef- 
ferson and  his  family,  ere  his  mansion  was  in  posses- 
sion of  the  British  troops.  His  wife's  health,  never 
very  good,  was  much  injured  by  this  e.<citement,  and 
in  the  summer  of  1782  she  died. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  to  Congress  in  1783. 
Two  yens  later  he  was  appointed  Minister  Plenipo- 
tentiary to  France.  Returning  to  the  United  States 
in  September,  1789,  he  became  Secretary  of  State 
in  Washington's  cabinet.  This  position  he  resigned 
Jan.  I,  1794.  In  1797,  he  was  chosen  Vice  Presi- 
dent, and  four  years  later  was  elected  President  over 
Mr.  Adams,  with  Aaron  Burr  as  Vice  President.  In 
1804  he  was  re-elected  with  wonderful  unanimity, 
and  George  Clinton,  Vice  President. 

The  early  part  of  Mr.  Jefferson's  second  adminstra- 
tion  was  disturbed  by  an  event  which  threatened  the 
tranquility  and  peace  of  the  Union;  this  was  the  con- 
spiracy of  Aaron  Burr.  Defeated  in  the  late  election 
to  the  Vice  Presidency,  and  led  on  by  an  unprincipled 
ambition,  this  extraordinary  man  formed  the  plan  of  a 
military  expedition  into  the  Spanish  territories  on  our 
southwestern  frontier,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  there 
a  new  republic.  This  has  been  generally  supposed 
was  a  mere  pretext ;  and  although  it  has  not  been 
generally  known  what  his  real  plans  were,  there  is  no 
doubt  that  they  were  of  a  far  more  dangerous 
character. 

In  1809,  at  the  expiration  of  the  second  term  for 
which  Mr.  Jefferson  had  been  elected,  he  determined 
to  retire  from  political  life.  For  a  period  of  nearly 
lorty  years,  he  had  been  continually  before  the  pub- 
lic, and  all  that  time  had  been  employed  in  offices  of 
the  greatest  trust  and  responsibility.  Having  thus  de- 
voted the  best  part  of  his  life  to  the  service  of  his 
country,  he  now  felt  desirous  of  that  rest  which  his 
declining  years  required,  and  upon  the  organization  of 
the  new  administration,  in  March,  1809,  he  bid  fare- 
well forever  to  public  life,  and  retired  to  Monticello. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  profuse  in  his  hospitality.  Whole 
families  came  in  their  coaches  with  their  horses, — 
fathers  and  mothers,  boys  and  girls,  babies  and 
nurses, — and  remained  three  and  even  six  months. 
Life  at  Monticello,  for  years,  resembled  that  at  a 
fashionable  watering-place. 

The  fourth  of  July,  1826,  being  the  fiftieth  anniver- 


sary of  the  Declaration  of  American  Independence, 
great  preparations  were  made  in  every  part  of  the 
Union  for  its  celebration,  as  tlie  nation's  jubilee,  and 
the  citizens  of  Washington,  to  add  to  the  solemnity 
of  the  occasion,  invited  Mr.  Jefferson,  as  the  framer. 
and  one  of  the  fetv  surviving  signers  of  the  Declara- 
tion, to  participate  in  their  festivities.  But  an  ill- 
ness, which  had  been  of  several  weeks  duration,  and 
had  been  continually  increasing,  compelled  him  to 
decline  the  invitation. 

On  the  second  of  July,  the  disease  under  which 
he  was  laboring  left  him,  but  in  such  a  reduced 
state  that  his  medical  attendants,  entertained  nc 
hope  of  his  recovery.  From  this  time  he  was  perfectly 
sensible  that  his  last  hour  was  at  hand.  On  the  ne.\» 
day,  which  was  Monday,  he  asked  of  those  around 
him,  the  day  of  the  month,  and  on  being  told  it  was 
the  third  of  July,  he  expressed  the  earnest  wish  tha; 
he  might  be  permitted  to  breathe  tfe  airof  the  filtietl' 
anniversary.  His  prayer  was  heard — that  day,  whose 
dawn  was  hailed  with  such  rapture  through  our  land, 
burst  upon  his  eyes,  and  then  they  were  closed  for- 
ever. And  what  a  noble  consummation  of  a  noble 
life!  To  die  on  that  day, — the  birthday  of  a  nation,- - 
the  day  which  his  own  name  and  his  own  act  had 
rendered  glorious;  to  die  amidst  the  rejoicings  and 
festivities  of  a  whole  nation,  who  looked  up  to  him, 
as  the  author,  under  God,  of  their  greatest  blessings, 
was  all  that  was  wanting  to  fill  up  ihe  record  his  life, 

Almost  at  the  same  hour  of  his  death,  the  kin- 
dred siiirit  of  the  venerable  Ad;.ms,  as  if  to  bear 
him  company,  left  the  scene  of  his  earthly  honors. 
Hand  in  hand  they  had  stood  forth,  the  champions  of 
freedom  ;  hand  in  hand,  during  the  dark  and  desper- 
ate struggle  of  the  Revolution,  they  had  cheered  and 
animated  their  desponding  countrymen;  for  half  a 
century  they  had  labored  together  for  the  good  of 
the  country;  and  now  hand  in  hand  they  depart. 
In  their  lives  they  had  been  united  in  the  same  great 
cause  of  liberty,  and  in  their  deaths  they  were  not 
divided. 

In  person  Mr.  Jefferson  was  tall  and  thin,  rather 
above  six  feet  in  height,  but  well  formed;  his  eyes 
were  light,  his  hair  originally  red,  in  after  life  became 
white  and  silvery;  his  complexion  was  fair,  his  fore 
head  broad,  and  his  whole  coui'»enance  intelligent  and 
thoughtful.  He  possessed  great  fortitr,de  of  mind  as 
well  as  personal  courage ;  and  }.is  command  of  tem- 
per was  such  that  his  oldest  and  most  intimate  friends 
never  recollected  to  have  seen  him  in  a  passion. 
His  manners,  though  dignified,  were  simple  and  un- 
affected, and  his  hospitality  was  so  unbounded  that 
all  found  at  his  house  a  ready  welcome.  In  conver- 
sation he  was  fluent,  eloquent  and  enthusiastic;  and 
his  language  was  remarkably  pure  and  correct.  He 
was  a  finished  classical  scholar,  and  in  his  writings  is 
discernable  the  care  with  which  he  formed  his  style 
upon  the  best  models  of  antiquity. 


.jV,ij«(?Y 


/<2/f<  -  •       -t^ 


g^^lC-t.1  c  ^ 


FOURTH  PRFSIDENT. 


3» 


^piijEsnpDisor]. 


AMES    MADISON,    "Father 
of  the  Constitution,"  and  fourth 
_,"  President  of  the  United  States, 
^  was  born  March  i6,  1757,  and 
;b    died  at  his   home  in  Virginia, 
■^^^  June  28,   1836.     The  name  of 
James  Madison  is  inseparably  con- 
nected with  most  of  the  important 
events  in  that  lieroic  period  of  our 
country  during  which  the  founda- 
tions of  this  great    republic  were 
laid.  He  was  the  last  of  the  founders 
of  the   Constitution   of  the    United 
States  to   be   called    to   his   eternal 
reward. 

The  Madison  family  were  among 
the  early  emigrants  to  the  New  World, 
landing  ujxjn  the  shores  of  the  Chesa- 
])eake  but  15  years  after  the  settle- 
ment of  Jamestown.  The  father  of 
James  Madison  was  an  opulent 
planter,  residing  upon  a  very  fine  es- 
tate called  "  Montpelier,"  Orange  Co., 
Va.  The  mansion  was  situated  in 
the  midst  of  scenery  highly  pictur- 
esque and  romantic,  on  the  west  side 
of  South-west  Mountain,  at  the  foot  of 
Blue  Ridge.  It  was  but  25  miles  from  the  home  of 
Jefferson  at  Monticello.  The  closest  jjersonal  and 
jx)litical  attachment  existed  between  these  illustrious 
men,  from  their  early  youth  until  death. 

The  early  education  of  Mr.  Madison  was  conducted 
mostly  at  home  under  a  private  tutor.  At  the  age  of 
18  he  was  sent  to  Princeton  College,  in  New  Jersey. 
Here  he  applied  himself  to  study  with  the  most  im- 


prudent zeal;  allowing  himself,  for  months,  but  three 
hours'  sleep  out  of  the  24.  His  health  thus  became  so 
seriously  impaired  that  he  never  recovered  any  vigor 
of  constitution.  He  graduated  in  177  i.  with  a  feeble 
body,  with  a  character  of  utmost  purity,  and.  with  a 
mind  highly  disciplined  and  richly  stored  with  learning 
which  embellislied  and  gave  proficiency  to  his  subsr 
quent  career. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  commenced  the  study  of 
law  and  a  course  of  extensive  and  systematic  reading. 
This  educational  course,  the  spirit  of  the  times  in 
whicli  he  lived,  and  the  society  with  which  he  asso- 
ciated, all  combined  to  inspire  him  with  a  strong 
love  of  liberty,  and  to  train  him  for  his  life-work  ot 
a  statesman.  Being  naturally  of  a  religious  turn  of 
mind,  and  his  frail  health  leading  him  to  think  that 
his  life  was  not  to  be  long,  he  directed  especial  atten- 
tion to  theological  studies.  Endowed  with  a  mind 
singularly  free  from  passion  and  prejudice,  and  with 
almost  unecjualled  powers  of  reasoning,  he  weighed 
all  tlie  arguments  for  and  against  revealed  religion, 
until  his  faith  became  so  established  as  never  to 
be  shaken. 

In  the  sjiring  of  1776,  when  26  years  of  age,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Virginia  Convention,  to 
frame  the  constitution  of  the  State.  The  next  year 
(1777),  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  General  Assembly. 
He  refused  to  treat  the  whisky-lovir.g  voters,  and 
consequently  lost  his  election  ;  but  those  who  had 
witnessed  the  talent,  energy  and  public  spirit  of  the 
modest  young  man,  enlisted  themselves  in  his  behalf, 
and  he  was  appointed  to  the    E.\eculive  Council. 

Both  Patrick  Henry  and  Thomas  Jefferson  were 
Governors  of  Virginia  while  Mr.  Madison  remained 
member  of  the  Council ;    and  their  appreciation  oi  his 


•  lite  '  ■  ■  '  ^  ill,  coiiiii;.iiu-a  1,..' 
I  Ir  •  c.  In  tlir  )car 
17S-.  -  ^  .1  the  C'omiiiciiial 
L'on^icMk.  Here  iic  uict  the  incnt  illustrio'.iii  men  in 
uur  iiiml,  nril  he  W;H  iiiiine<ti,itoly  iin^i^Mcd  to  one  of 
the  1  .  !icni. 

1  .  .cU    in    Con- 

cie^  .       -     'i.il  members. 

In  tnc  year  I7n4,  hu  term  having  expired,  he  was 
elected  a  inenilier  uf  the  Virginia  Legislature. 

No  man  Icll  mure  deeply  tlian  Mr.  Madison  the 
utter  incthticncy  ol  the  old  conl'edcrai  y,  wiih  no  na- 
tional government,  Miih  no  |iowlt  to  lorin  treaties 
which  would  tic  binding,  or  to  enforce  law.  There 
was  not  any  State  more  prominent  than  Virginia  in 
the  declaration,  that  an  elVicient  n.itional  government 
mu»t  Ik:  lormcd.  In  J.inuary,  17S6,  Mr.  Madi>on 
earned  a  relation  throiigii  the  (iencr.il  Asscmlily  of 
Virginia,  inviting  the  other  .Stales  to  ap|X)int  commis- 
sionets  to  meet  in  convention  at  .'\nna|<(>!is  to  discuss 
this  subject.  I'ive  States  only  were  represented.  The 
convention,  however,  issued  auotlier  call,  drawn  up 
by  Mr.  Madison,  urging  all  the  Stales  to  seiul  their 
delegates  to  Philadelphia,  in  May,  17S7,  to  draft 
a  Constitution  for  the  United  States,  to  t.ike  the  place 
of  that  Confederate  League.     The  delegates   met  at 

•  he  time  ap|iointeil.  Kvcry  Stale  but  KIhhJc  Island 
wa.s  represented,  (leorge  Washington  was  chosen 
oresident  of  the  convention;  and  ihe  present  Cimsti- 
tution  of  the  United  States  was  then  and  there  fonned. 
There  was,  i>erhai«,  no  mind  and  no  pen  more  ac- 
tive in  framing  this  iminori.il  document  than  the  mind 
and  the  \M:n  of  James  Madison. 

The  Con-titution,  .idopted  by  a  vote  Si  to  79,  w.-is 
to  l)e  presented  to  the  several  States  for  .icceptance. 
Hut  grave  solicitude  was  felt.  .Should  it  be  rcjct  ted 
we  should  l>eleft  but  a  conglomeration  of  inde|>endenl 
State'.,  with  but  little  (lower  at  home  and  little  icspect 
abro.t<l.  Mr.  Madi'iui  was  selected  by  tne  conven- 
tion to  draw  up  an  arldress  to  the  |)c<>ple  of  the  United 
Stales,  ex|>ounding  il.e  principles  of  the  Constitution, 
and  urging  its  .idoption.  There  was  great  op|osition 
to  it  at  first,  but  it  at  length  triumphed  over  all,  and 
went  into  effect  in  17S9. 

Mr.  Madison  was  elected  to  the  House  of  Rcpre- 
tentaiives  in  the  first  Congress,  aiul  soon  became  the 
avowed  leader  <jI  the  Rc|>ublic.in  party.  While  in 
New  York  attending  Congress,  he  met  Mrs  Todd,  a 
young  widow  of  remarkable  jmwcr  f)f  fascination, 
whom  he  marric*!.  She  was  in  i>erson  and  character 
queenly,  and  jtrobably  no  lady  has  thus  f.ir  occujiied 
■to  pmminent  a  (losition  in  the  vcy  |ic<:iiliar  society 
which  has  constittiled  our  republican  court  as  Mrs. 
Midison.. 

Mr  Madison  served  as  Secretary  ol  State  under 
JefTcrvm,  and  at  the  close  of  his  ailministiation 
was  ilioscn  Prciident.  At  this  time  the  encroach- 
ments of  Kngland  had  brought  us  to  the  verge  of  war. 


I,;;',    ..  •■:...■:■.  ,  -       ,.,'.-,-    -         ,      .   ., :  .1 

out  (lag  was  c\ 

was  a  man  ol  i  ■   '  r 

in  hlsdii|iosillou,  «al  liad  iiuchaiiiislui  htiii.  liul  the 
ineekckt  S|>irit  can  be  ruusetl.  It  makes  unc'o  bhuMi 
boil,  even  now,  to  think  ol  .       '  '  '  ( 

to,  u|iun  theoiean,  by  the  . 

A  young  lieutenant  sle|/s  '  '  .i- 

crcw  to  lie  paraded  Itelore  hiiu.  Witii  gicat  nuiuhal- 
ance  he  selects  any  nuiiil>er  whom  he  may  please  to 
designate  as  Unlish  subjects;  orders  them  dcwn  the 
ships  side  into  his  lioat ;  and  pl.ices  them  on  the  gun- 
deck  of  his  man-of-war,  to  fight,  by  compulsion,  the 
battles  of  Kngland.  This  right  of  search  and  im- 
pressment, no  efforts  of  our  (.iovernment  could  induce 
the  Hiitish  cabir,et  to  relimpiish. 

On  the  i-Sth  of  June,  1812,  President  Madison  gave 
his  appioval  to  an  act  of  Congress  declaring  war 
against  (Weat  Britain.  Noiwitlisianding  the  bitter 
hostility  of  the  Federal  party  to  the  war,  the  country 
in  general  appiuved;  and  Sir.  Madisiin,  on  the  4th 
of  .Mart  h,  lijij,  was  re-elei  led  b)  a  l.irge  majority, 
ami  enlered  uj'on  his  second  term  of  office.  This  is 
not  the  place  to  describe  the  vanoiis  adventur.:s  ol 
this  war  on  the  land  and  on  the  water.  Our  infan 
navy  then  laid  the  foundations  of  its  renown  in  gTa|>- 
pling  wiih  the  most  formidable  [lower  which  ever 
swe|)t  the  seas.  The  contest  commenced  in  earnest 
by  the  aiijiearancc  of  a  British  fleet,  early  in  February, 
1813,  in  Chesajicake  Bay,  derlanrg  neatly  the  whole 
coast  of  the  Unilc-d  States  under  blcn  kade. 

The  Kmi>eror  of  Russia  offered  his  services  as  me 
dilator.  .America  accepted;  Kngland  refused.  A  Brit- 
ish force  of  five  thousand  men  landed  on  the  lianks 
ofthePatuxet  River,  near  its  entrance  into  Chesa- 
|>cake  Bay,  and  marched  rapidly,  by  way  of  Bladens- 
burg,  u|ion  Washington. 

The  straggling  little  city  of  Washington  was  thrown 
into  consternation.  The  cannon  of  the  brief  lonflict 
at  Bladensburg  echoed  through  the  streets  of  the 
metropolis.  The  whole  fiopuialirn  fled  from  the  city. 
The  President,  leaving  Mrs.  Madison  in  the  Wiiite 
House,  with  her  carriage  drawn  up  at  the  doer  to 
await  his  speedy  return,  hurrie-«i  to  meet  the  officers 
in  a  count  il  ol  war  He  met  our  tnio|>s  utterly  routc*d, 
and  he  could  not  go  back  without  danger  of  l)eii>g 
ca|>turcd.  But  few  lioiirs  cla|>sed  ere  tl>e  Prcsidenti.i! 
Mansion,  the  Capitol,  and  all  the  public  buildings  in 
Washington  were  in  flames. 

The  war  close<l  after  two  years  of  fighting,  and  on 
Feb.  13,  iSn.the  treaty  of  (leace  was  signed  atChent. 

On  the  4th  of  Manh,  1817,  his  sc<€ind  term  of 
offi.c  expired,  and  he  resigned  the  Prc>>idcniial  chair 
to  his  friend.  James  Monroe.  He  rciia"<l  to  his  leau- 
tifiil  home  at  Mont(ielicr,  and  Iheie  pas'-etl  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days  On  June  jS,  1S36.  then  at  the 
age  of  85  years,  he  fell  asleep  in  death.  Mrs.  Madi 
ion  died  July  la,  1849. 


LIBRAflY 


^/ii^) -y  -t^  y   // -^-^  f^  ^  (^^ 


'  FIFTH'  PRES7D^1^2\ 


35 


^^a^asM" 


-•3i& 


^s^lg^lY"^/^' 


y.-<3*"'^>-ol 


AMES  MOXROR.  the  fiftli 
I'rcsidentof  The  United  States, 
was  born  in  Westmoreland  Co., 
V'a.,  April  28,  1758.  His  early 
life  was  passed  at  the  place  of 
nativity.  Hi.5  ancestors  had  for 
many  years  resided  in  the  prov- 
ince in  which  he  was  born.  When, 
at  17  years  of  age,  in  the  process 
'^^  of  completing  his  education  at 
William  and  Mary  College,  the  Co- 
lonial Congress  assembled  at  Phila- 
delphia to  deliberate  uixjn  the  un- 
just and  manifold  oppressions  of 
Great  Britian,  declared  the  separa- 
tion of  the  Colonies,  and  promul- 
gated the  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence. Had  he  been  born  ten  years  before  i:  is  highly 
probable  that  he  would  have  been  one  of  the  signers 
of  that  celebrated  instrument.  At  this  time  he  left 
school  and  enlisted  among  the  patriots. 

He  joined  the  army  when  everything  looked  hope- 
less and  gloomy.  The  number  of  deserters  increased 
from  day  to  day.  The  invading  armies  came  ixDuring 
in ;  and  the  lories  not  only  favored  the  cause  of  the 
mother  country,  but  disheartened  the  new  recruits, 
who  were  sufficiently  terrified  at  the  prospect  of  con- 
t3nding  with  an  enemy  whom  they  had  been  taught 
to  deem  invincible.  To  such  brave  spirits  as  James 
Monroe,  who  went  right  onward,  undismayed  through 
difficulty  and  danger,  the  United  States  owe  their 
|X)litical  emancipation.  The  young  cadet  joined  the 
ranks,  and  es|ioiised  the  cause  of  his  ijijured  country, 
•  with  a  firm  determination  to  live  o.   lie  with  her  strife 


for  liberty.  Firmly  \  et  sadly  he  shared  in  the  tnel- 
anclioly  retreat  from  Hadeam  Heights  and  White 
Plains,  and  accompanied  the  dispirited  army  as  it  fled 
before  its  foes  Ihrougli  New  Jersey.  In  four  months 
after  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  the  patriots 
had  been  beaten  in  seven  battles.  At  the  battle  of 
Trenton  he  led  the  vanguard,  and,  in  the  act  of  charg- 
ing upon  the  enemy  he  received  a  wound  in  tlie  left 
shoulder. 

As  a  reward  for  his  bravery,  Mr.  Monroe  was  pro- 
moted a  captain  of  infantry;  and,  having  recovered 
from  his  wound,  he  rejoined  the  army.  He,  however, 
receded  from  the  line  of  promotion,  by  becoming  an 
officer  in  the  staff  of  Lord  Sterling.  During  the  cam- 
paigns of  1777  and  1778,  in  the  actions  of  Brandy 
wine,  Germantown  and  Monmouth,  he  continued 
aid-de-camp;  but  becoming  desirous  to  regain  his 
position  in  the  army,  he  exerted  himself  to  collect  a 
regiment  for  the  Virginia  line.  This  scheme  failed 
owing  to  the  exhausted  condition  of  the  State.  Upon 
this  failure  he  entered  the  office  of  Mr.  Jefferson,  at 
that  period  Governor,  and  pursued,  with  considerable 
ardor,  tlie  study  of  common  law.  He  did  not,  however, 
entirely  lay  aside  the  knapsack  for  the  green  bag; 
but  on  the  invasions  of  the  enemy,  served  as  avolun 
teer,  during  the  two  years  of  his  legal  pursuits. 

In  1782,  he  was  elected  from  King  George  county, 
a  member  of  the  Leglislature  of  Virginia,  and  by  that 
body  he  was  elevated  to  a  seat  in  the  Executive 
Council.  He  was  thus  honored  with  the  confidence 
of  his  fellow  citizens  at  23  years  of  age  ;  and  having 
at  this  early  period  disfjlayed  some  of  that  ability 
and  aptitude  for  legislation,  which  were  afterwards 
employed  with  unremittir^g  energy  for  the  public  good, 


i* 


James  a/onrob. 


>>en    a  merober  of 


Mutituctwli  liic  iiii|icrfc(tiontorihco)U 
'  ».is  u|i|itMicil  tuilie  new  Cuii*tiiiiiiun, 
ii  1.111)  oihtrs  of  'he  Kc|iiil>licaii   luny, 

'.li  .iiili  |iow>.r  toilicfciiiiiiKiovcriiiiicMii, 

411' ;  .        .,  ■  i<>  llie  iiiiliMiliul  .Sutcs.     Siill  lie  rc- 

tjiiicii  liic  cHicciii  uf  hii  liicnds  wlto  were  its  wami 
tupiiortcis,  .iMJ  wlto,  notwiilisiniidiitg  his  O|i|x>si(ion 
secured  iis  .iduptiuii.  In  17X9,  lie  Iwciine  a  menilier 
of  tlie  United  Slates  Scii.itc;  which  otfiie  he  held  for 
foiiryc.ir>.  Kverj'  mouih  the  line  of  distinction  l»e- 
twecn  the  two  j-rcat  paiiies  whii.h  divided  the  nation, 
the  Federal  and  the  Keinililiian,  was  growing  nturc 
distinct.  The  tun  (iroiiiitient  iiieas  which  now  sei>- 
arated  them  were,  that  tiie  Ke|iiil>lican  party  wa.s  in 
sympathy  with  Kr-ince,  and  al-o  in  favor  of  such  a 
stiict  construction  of  the  Constitution  as  to  give  the 
(.'ctitral  (rt)vernment  as  little  |>ower,  and  the  State 
llovernmcntsas  much  iwwer.as  the  Constitution  would 
warrant.  The  |•'edel.lli^ts  sympathized  with  Kngland, 
and  were  in  favor  of  a  liberal  Lonstruttion  of  the  Con- 
stitution, which  would  give  as  much  |iower  to  the 
Centra!  (>overnmcnt  as  tnat  document  could  |X>ssibly 
authorize. 

Thr  li.-adini;  Federalists  and  Republicans  were 
aliV  .  consecrating  all  their  energies  to  the 
gif  >n.  Two  more  ho'iest  men  or  more 
pill  ^  m  John  Adams  the  Feiletalist,  and 
James  Monroe  the  Republican,  never  breathed.  Ill 
|)uiMini;  i>i>  ilii<  Ml  ijrsiir  nation,  which  is  destined 
to  '  "  \-.-.yri.iii  greatne^s,  tliecom- 

bi'  was  neetied  to  create  the 

\\^.'  , \  .  >-•  each  in  his  day  was  de- 
nounced as  almost  a  demon. 

Washington  was  then  President.  England  had  es- 
poused the  raii>.e  of  the  Bourlions  .1^'ainst  the  prinr.i- 
\Ae^  of  the  French  Revolution.  .Ml  Riiro|)e  was  drawn 
ml"  •'  ■  •'  t.  We  were  feeble  and  far  away. 
U  cd  a  prorl.ihiation  of  neutrality  be- 

twi.  'ending  (lowers.     France  had   heli>ed 

us  in  tiie  -.u.iggle  for  our  liiierties.  All  the  despotisms 
of  Enrol*  Were  now  comliinedto  prevent  the  French 
fro  ■  •  V   a  thousand-fold  worse 

til  ired     <!ol.  Monroe,  more 

mi  t.  was    anxious    itiai,    at 

whatckct  li,i/afd,  we  !iliuuld  help  our  old  allies  in 
their  cxtrj'mily.  It  was  the  impulse  of  a  generous 
an. I       '  '  re.     He  violently  opposed  the  I'rcs- 

idt'  '  iiion    as  ungrateful   and  wanting  in 

m.i.. 

Washmgion,  who  could  apnreciatc  such  a  character, 
fieve'-'TTd  hi'.  '--I'm.  ^••r<"\r,  almost  divine  greatness, 
bv  lis  Monroe,  who  was  dc- 

iK>  I  '.crnmcnt,  as 'he  minister 

of  ■  '  'i>-  iif  Frame.      Mr. 

M'  'innal    Cjnvcntion 

in  I  ..'ic  demonstt/^ions. 


I  SItonly  after  hu  return  to  this  counlrv,  Mr.  Mon- 
I  rue  was  elected  Governor  of  \'irgniia,  and  held  the 
'  offiic  fur  three  )eaii>.  He  was  again  tent  to  France  to 
co-o|icrate  with  Chantcllor  Livingston  in  obtaining 
I  the  vast  tcrriiury  then  known  as  the  Pruvimc  u( 
Ix>ui>iaiia,  whiih  F'rance  had  but  shuiily  l^rfore  ob- 
tained from  Spain.  'I'neir  united  cfrorts  were  suc- 
cessful. For  the  comparatively  small  Mim  of  fifteen 
milliuns  of  dollars,  the  entire  territory  of  Oilcans  and 
district  of  lyouisiann  wcie  adiicil  to  the  l'nite<l  States. 
This  was  probably  the  large--.!  l:ans(er  of  real  estate 
which  was  ever  made  in  all  the  history  of  the  world 
Fronr  Frame  .Mr.  .Monroe  went  to  luigland  to  ol>- 
tain  fniin  that  country  some  recogmtion  of  ou: 
rights  as  neutrals,  and  to  remonstrate  against  thos- 
odious  impressments  of  our  seamen.  hut  Eng- 
land was  unrelenting.  He  again  returned  to  Eng- 
land on  the  same  mission,  but  could  receive  no 
redress.  He  relumed  to  his  home  and  was  again 
chosen  Oovemor  of  Virginia.  Thi>  he  soon  resigned 
to  accept  the  jiosition  of  .Secretary  of  State  unde- 
Madison.  While  in  this  office  war  with  Flngland  w.is 
declared,  the  Secretary  of  War  resigned,  and  dnnng 
these  trying  times,  the  duties  of  the  War  Departmcn 
were  also  put  ujion  him.  He  was  tnily  the  armor- 
bearer  of  President  M.idison,  and  the  most  cffiiient 
business  man  in  his  caliinet.  C|>oii  the  return  ol 
|)eace  he  resigned  the  Department  of  War,  but  con- 
tinued in  llie  office  of  Sei  retary  of  Stale  until  the  ex- 
piraiion  of  Mr.  Madison's  adminstralion.  At  the  elec- 
tion held  the  previous  autumn  Mr  Mtmroc  himself  had 
lieen  chosen  President  with  but  li;tle  op|iosition,  and 
u|>on  March  4,  1R17,  was  inaugurated.  Four  year? 
later  he  was  elected  for  a  second  term. 

Among  the  imi«rtant  measures  of  his  Presidency 
were  the  cession  of  Florida  to  the  I'niied  Stales:  the 
Miss<juri  lompromise,  and  the  "  Monroe  doctrine.' 
This  famous  doctrine,  since  known  as  the  "  Monroe 
<lo»  trine,"  was  cnunci.sti-d  by  him  in  iR2_v  A'  'h*' 
time  the  I'niieil  States  had  recognized  the  indc|>end- 
ence  of  the  .'yinth  American  slates,  and  did  not  wish 
to  have  Eurojtean  |>ow'ers  longer  attempting  to  sub 
due  |K»rtions  of  the  American  Continent.  The  doctrine 
is  as  follows:  "That  we  should  ronsidcr  anyaltenipt 
on  the  part  of  F'upopean  |X)wers  to  extend  their  sys- 
tem to  any  (wrtion  of  this  hemisphere  as  dangerous 
to  our  j)cace  and  safety,"  and  "that  we  could  not 
view  any  interposition  for  the  purpose  of  oppressing 
or  controlling  .^nicrii  an  governments  or  provinces  in 
any  olhcr  light  than  as  a  manifest.ilinn  by  Euroi»ear 
Iiowers  of  an  tinfriendly  disposition  toward  the  I'niiec 
Stales."  This  doctrine  immediately  .nflTcctcd  the  course 
of  foreign  governments,  and  has  l>ecome  the  approved 
sentiment  of  the  United  States. 

At  the  end  of  his  fccond  tenn  Mr  Monroe  retire<1 
10  his  home  in  Virginia,  where  he  lived  until  i8^o 
when  he  went  to  New  ^'nrk  to  live  with  his  son-in- 
law.     In  that  city  he  died. on  the  4th  of  July.  1S31 


f 


J  .      5  ,    '^  ^  Ayy>vj 


S/XTH  FRF.SIDRNT. 


OHN  QUINCY  ADAMS,  the 
^ixth  President  of  the   United 
^■••f  Slates,  was   liorn  in  the   rural 
home  of  his    lionored   father. 
John  Adams,  in  Quincy,  Mass  , 
(jii  the  I  Uh  cf  July,  1767.   His 
mother,  a  woman  of  exalted 
worth,  watched  over  his  childhood 
during   the  almost   constant   ab- 
sence of   his  father.      When    but 
eight  years  of  sge,  he   stood  with 
'    his  mother  on  an  eminence,  listen- 
ing to  the  booming  of  the  great  bat- 
tle on  Bunkers  Hill,  and  gazing  on 
upon  the  smoke  and  flames  billow- 
ing up  from    the    conflagration    of 
Charlestown. 

When  but  eleven  years  old  he 
took  a  tearful  adieu  of  his  mother, 
to  sail  with  his  fatfier  for  Eurojie, 
through  a  fleet  ol  hostile  British  cruisers.  The  bright, 
icumiated  boy  spent  a  year  and  a  half  in  Paris,  where 
his  f.ither  was  associated  with  Franklin  and  Lee  as 
minister  plenipotentiary.  His  intelligence  attracted 
ihe  notice  of  these  distinguished  men,  and  he  received 
from  them  flattering  marks  of  attention. 

Mr.  John  Adams  Iiad  scarcely  returned  to  this 
cou.'.try,  in  1779,  ere  he  was  again  sent  abroad.  Again 
oi.n  Quincy  accompanied  his  father  .At  Paris  he 
ap|)lied  himself  with  great  diligence,  for  si.\  months, 
to  .■•^ndy;  then  accotTi|)ained  his  father  to  Holland, 
wnere  he  entered,  first  a  school  in  .\msterdani,  then 
the  University  at  I.eyden.  About  a  year  from  this 
time,  in  1781,  when  the  manly  boy  was  but  fourteen 
yea-T  of  age,  he  was  selected  by  Mr.  Dana,  our  min- 
ister to  the  Russian  court,  as  his   private  secretar\'. 

Tn  this  school  of  incessant  labor  and  of  enobling 
culture  he  spent  fourteen  months,  and  then  returned 
to  Holland  through  Sweden,  Denmark,  Hamburg  and 
Bremen.  This  Icng  journey  he  took  alone,  in  the 
winter,  when  in  his  sixteenth  year.  Asain  he  resumed 
njs  studies,  under  a  pr>"ate  tutor,  at  Hague.   Thence. 


in  the  spring  of  17S2,  he  accompanied  his  fnther 't; 
Paris,  travehng  leisurely,  and  forming  ac(iuaintanct 
with  the  most  distinguished  men  on  the  Conrinent 
examining  arcniteclural  remains,  galleries  of  paintings 
and  all  renowned  works  of  art.  At  Paris  he  again 
became  associated  wiih  the  most  illustrious  men  of 
all  lands  in  the  contem])lations  of  the  loftiest  temporal 
themes  which  can  engross  the  human  mind.  Afte' 
a  short  visit  to  England  he  returned  to  Paris,  ana 
consecrated  all  his  energies  to  study  until  May,  1785, 
when  he  returned  to  America.  To  a  brilliant  young 
man  of  eighteen,  v.  lio  had  seen  much  of  the  world, 
and  who  was  familiar  wiih  the  etiquette  of  courts,  a 
residence  with  his  father  in  London,  under  such  cir- 
cumstances, must  have  been  extremely  attractive 
but  with  judgment  very  rare  in  one  of  his  age,  he  pre- 
ferred to  return  to  America  to  complete  his  education 
in  an  American  college.  He  wished  then  to  study 
law,  that  with  an  honorable  profession,  he  might  be 
able  to  obtain  an  independent  support. 

Upon  leaving  Harvard  College,  at  the  age  of  twenty 
he  studied  law  for  thiee  years.  In  June,  1794,  be- 
ing then  but  tvifenty-seven  years  of  age,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  Washington,  resident  minister  at  the 
Nelliei lands.  Sailing  from  Boston  in  July,  he  reacheo 
London  in  October,  where  he  was  immediately  admit- 
ted to  the  deliberations  of  Messrs.  Jay  and  Pinckney. 
assisting  them  in  negotiating  a  commercial  treaty  with 
Gieat  Britian.  After  thus  spending  a  fortnight  i. 
London,  he  proceeded  to  the  Hague. 

In  July,  1797,  he  left  the  Hague  to  go  to  Portuga'  a3 
minister  plenipotentiary.  On  his  way  to  Portugal, 
upon  arriving  in  London,  he  met  with  despatches 
directing  him  to  the  court  of  Beiiin,  but  requesting 
him  to  remain  in  London  until  he  should  receive  his 
instructions.  While  wr.iting  he  was  married  to  ar 
American  lady  to  whom  he  had  been  previously  en- 
gaged, — Miss  Louisa  Catherine  Johnson,  daughte' 
of  Mr.  Joshua  Johnson,  American  consul  in  London 
a  lady  endownd  with  that  beauty  and  those  accom- 
plishment which  eminently  fitted  her  to  move  in  ti4 
elevated  sphere  for  which  she  w«  t'xs'iced 


John  quincy  adams. 


He  reached  Berlin  with  his  wife  in  November,  1797; 
where  he  remained  until  Jul}',  1799,  when,  having  ful- 
filled all  the  purposes  of  his  mission,  he  solicited  his 
recall. 

Soon  after  his  return,  in  1802,  he  was  chosen  to 
the  Senate  of  Massachusetts,  from  Boston,  and  then 
was  elected  Senator  of  the  United  States  for  six  years, 
from  the  4th  of  March,  1804.  His  reputation,  his 
ability  and  his  experience,  placed  him  immediately 
among  the  most  promment  and  influential  niembers 
of  that  body.  Especially  did  he  sustain  the  Govern- 
ment in  its  measires  of  resistance  to  the  encroach- 
ments of  England,  desUoying  our  commerce  and  in- 
sulting our  flag.  There  was  no  man  in  America  more 
familiar  with  the  arrogance  of  the  British  court  upon 
these  points,  and  no  one  more  resolved  to  present 
a  firm  resistance. 

In  1809,  Madison  succeeded  Jefl"erson  in  the  Pres- 
idential chair,  and  he  immediately  nominated  John 
Quincy  Adams  minister  to  St.  Petersixirg.  Resign- 
ing his  professorship  in  Harvard  College,  he  embarked 
at  Boston,  in  August,  1809. 

While  in  Russia,  Mr.  Adams  was  an  intense  stu- 
dent. He  devoted  his  attention  to  the  language  and 
history  of  Russia;  to  the  Chinese  trade;  to  the 
European  system  of  weights,  measures,  and  coins  ;  to 
the  cUmate  and  astronomical  observations;  while  he 
Kept  up  a  familiar  acquaintance  with  the  Greek  and 
Latin  classics.  In  all  the  universities  of  Europe,  a 
more  accomplished  scholar  could  scarcely  be  found. 
All  through  life  the  Bible  constituted  an  important 
Ipart  ot  his  studies.  It"  was  his  rule  to  read  five 
[Chapters  every  day. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1817,  Mr.  Monroe  took  the 
Presidential  chair,  and  immediately  appointed  Mr. 
Adams  Secretaiy  of  State.  Taking  leave  of  his  num- 
erous friends  in  public  and  private  life  in  Europe,  he 
sailed  in  June,  1819,  for  the  United  States.  On  the 
i8th  of  August,  he  again  crossed  the  threshold  of  his 
home  in  Quincy.  During  the  eight  yearsof  Mr.  Mon- 
roe's administration,  Mr,  Adams  continued  Secretary 
of  State. 

Some  time  before  '.he  close  of  Mr.  Monroe's  second 
term  of  office,  new  candidates  began  to  be  presented 
for  the  Presidency.  The  friends  of  Mr.  Adams  brought 
forward  his  name.  It  was  an  exciting  campaign. 
Party  spirit  was  never  more  bitter.  Two  hundred  and 
sixty  electoral  votes  were  cast.  Andrew  Jackson  re- 
ceived ninety  nine;  John  Quincy  Adams,  eighty-four; 
William  H.  Crawford,  forty -one;  Henry  Clay,  thirty- 
seven.  As  there  was  no  choice  by  the  people,  the 
question  went  to  the  House  of  Representatives.  Mr. 
Clay  gave  the  vote  of  Kentucky  to  Mr.  Adams,  and 
he  was  elected. 

The  friends  of  all  the  disappointed  candidates  now 
;ombined  in  a  venomous  and  persistent  assault  upon 
Mr.  Adams.  There  is  nothing  more  disgraceful  in 
»he  past  history  of  our  country  than  the  abuse  which 


was  poured  in  one  uninterrupted  stream,  upon  this 
high-minded,  upright,  patriotic  man.  There  never  was 
an  administration  more  pure  in  principles,  more  con- 
scientiously devoted  to  the  best  interests  of  the  coun- 
try, than  that  of  John  Quincy  Adams;  and  never,  per- 
haps, was  there  an  administration  more  unscrupu- 
lously and  outrageously  assailed. 

Mr  Adams  was,  to  a  very  remarkable  degree,  ab- 
stemious and'temperate  in  his  habits;  always  rising 
early,,  and  taking  much  exercise.  W  hen  at  his  homein 
Quincy,  he  has  been  known  to  walk,  before  breakfast, 
seven  miles  to  Boston.  In  Washington,  it  was  said 
that  he  was  the  first  man  up  in  the  city,  lighting  his 
own  fire  and  applying  himself  to  work  in  his  Ubraiy 
often  long  before  dawn. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1829,  Mr.  Adams  retired 
from  the  Presidency,  and  was  succeeded  by  Andrew 
Jackson.  John  C.  Calhoun  was  elected  Vice  Presi- 
dent. The  slavery  question  now  began  to  assume 
lX)rtentous  magnitude.  Mr.  Adams  returned  to 
Quincy  and  to  his  studies,  which  he  pursued  with  un- 
abated zeal.  But  he  was  not  long  permitted  to  re- 
main in  retirement.  In  November,  1830,  he  wa? 
elected  representative  to  Congress.  For  seventeen 
years,  until  his  death,  he  occupied  the  post  as  repre- 
sentarive,  towering  above  all  his  peers,  ever  ready  to 
do  brave  battle' for  freedom,  and  winning  the  title  of 
"the  old  man  eloquent."  Upon  taking  his  seat  in 
the  House,  he  announced  that  he  should  hold  him- 
self bound  to  no  party.  Probably  there  never  was  a 
member  more  devoted  to  his  duties.  He  was  usually 
the  first  in  his  place  in  the  morning,  and  the  last  to 
leave  his  seat  in  the  evening.  Not  a  measure  could 
be  brought  forward  and  escape  his  scrutiny.  The 
battle  which  Mr.  Adams  fought,  almost  singly,  agains*: 
the  proslavery  party  in  the  Government,  was  sublim? 
in  Its  moral  daiing  and  heroism.  For  persisting  in 
presenting  petitions  for  the  abolition  of  slavery,  he 
was  threatened  with  indictment  by  the  grand  jury 
with  expulsion  from  the  House,  with  assassination 
but  no  threats  could  intimidate  him,  and  his  final 
triumph  was  complete. 

It  has  been  said  of  President  Adams,  that  when  liis 
body  was  bent  and  his  hair  silvered  by  the  lapse  of 
fourscore  years,  yielding  to  the  simple  faith  of  a  little 
child,  he  was  accustomed  to  repeat  every  night,  before 
he  slept,  the  prajer  which  his  mother  tauglit  him  ip. 
his  infant  years. 

On  the  2  ist  of  February,  1848,  he  rose  on  the  floor 
of  Congress,  with  a  paper  in  his  hand,  to  address  the 
speaker.  Suddenly  he  fell,  again  stricken  by  parnly 
sis,  and  was  caught  in  the  arms  of  those  aiound  liim. 
For  a  time  he  was  senseless,  as  he  was  conveyed  to 
the  sofa  in  the  rotunda.  With  reviving  conscious- 
ness, he  opened  his  eyes,  looked  calmly  around  aid 
said  "  T/iis  is  the  endofearih  .-"tlien  after  a  moment's 
pause  he  added,  '' I  am  contmf"  Tliese  were  the 
last    words  of    the    grand    "  Old    Man     Eloquent." 


SEVENTH  FRESinENT. 


*3 


XDREW  JACKSON,  the 
seventh  President  of  the 
■  United  States,  was  born  in 
W'axhaw  settlement,  N.  C, 
March  15,  1767,  a  few  days 
after  his  father's  death.  His 
parents  were  poor  emigrants 
from  Ireland,  and  took  up 
their  abode  in  Waxhaw  set- 
tlement, where  they  lived  in 
deepest  [wverty 
Andrew,  or  Andy,  as  he  was 
universally  called,  grew  up  a  very 
rough,  rude,  turbulent  boy.  His 
features  were  coarse,  his  form  un- 
gainly, and  there  was  but  veiy 
little  in  his  character,  made  visible,  which  was  at- 
tractive. 

Wiien  only  thirteen  years  old  he  joined  the  volun- 
teers of  Carolina  against  the  British  invasion.  In 
1781,  he  and  his  brother  Robert  were  captured  and 
imprisoned  for  a  time  at  Camden.  A  British  officer 
ordered  him  to  brush  his  mud-spattered  boots.  "  I  am 
a  prisoner  of  war,  not  your  servant,"  was  the  reply  of 
the  dauntless  boy. 

The  brute  drew  his  sword,  and  aimed  a  desperate 
Dlow  at  the  head  of  the  helpless  young  prisoner. 
Andrew  raised  his  hand,  and  thus  received  two  fear- 
ful gashes, — one  on  the  hand  and  the  other  upon  the 
head.  The  officer  then  turned  to  his  brother  Robert 
with  the  same  demand.  He  also  refused,  and  re- 
ceived a  blow  from  the  keen-edged  sabre,  which  quite 
disabled  him,  and  which  probably  soon  after  caused 
his  death.  They  suffered  much  other  ill-treatment,  and 
were  finally  stricken  with  the  small-jxix.  Their 
mother  was  successf'U  'c*   obtaining   their  exchange. 


and  took  her  sick  boys  home.  After  a  long  illnjs:. 
.\adrew  recovered,  and  the  death  of  his  mother  ?oon 
left  liim  entirely  friendless. 

Andrew  supjxsrted  himself  in  various  ways,s  i:;ha3 
working  at  the  saddler's  trade,  teaching  school  and 
clerking  in  a  general  store,  until  1784,  when  he 
entered  a  law  office  at  Salisbury,  N.  C.  He,  however, 
gave  more  attention  to  the  wild  amusements  of  the 
times  than  to  his  studies.  In  1788,  he  was  apiiointed 
solicitor  for  the  western  district  of  North  Carolina,  01 
which  Tennessee  was  then  a  part.  This  involved 
many  long  and  tedious  journeys  amid  dangers  of 
every  kind,  but  Andrew  Jackson  never  knew  fear, 
and  the  Indians  had  no  desire  to  repeat  a  skirmisbl 
witn  the  Sharp  Knife. 

In  1791,  Mr.  Jackson  was  married  to  a  womaH  who 
sup[X)sed  herself  divorced  from  her  former  husband. 
Great  was  the  surprise  of  both  parties,  two  years  later, 
to  find  that  the  conditions  of  the  divorce  had  just  been 
definitely  settled  by  the  first  husband.  The  marriage 
ceremony  was  performed  a  second  time,  but  the  occur, 
rence  was  often  used  by  his  enemies  to  bring  Mr. 
Jackson  into  disfavor. 

During  these  years  he  worked  hard  at  his  profes 
sion,  and  frequently  had  one  or  more  duels  on  hand, 
one  of  which,  when  he  killed  Dickenson,  was  espec- 
ially disgraceful. 

In  January,  1796,  the  Territory  of  Tennessee  theii 
containing  nearly  eighty  thousand  inhabitants,  the 
people  met  in  convention  at  Knoxville  to  frame  a  con- 
stitution. Five  were  sent  from  each  of  the  elevan 
counties.  Andrew  Jackson  was  one  of  the  delegates.' 
The  new  State  was  entitled  to  but  one  member  ia 
the  National  House  of  Representatives.  Andre>v  JacTc- 
son  was  chosen  that  member.  Mounting  his  horse  he 
rode  to  Philedelphia,  where  Congress  then    held  its 


*A 


ANDREW'  JACKSON. 


iesjions, — -a  distance  of  about  eight  hundred    miles. 

Jackson  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  Do;no- 
cratic  pirty.  Jefferson  was  his  idol.  He  admired 
Bonaparte,  loved  France  and  hated  England.  As  Mr. 
Jackson  took  his  seat,  Gen.  Washington,  whose 
second  term  of  office  was  then  expiring,  delivered  his 
last  speech  to  Congress.  A  committee  dre\y  up  a 
complimentary  address  in  reply.  Andrew  Jackson 
did  not  approve  of  the  address,  and  was  one  of  the 
twelve  who  voted  against  it.  He  was  not  willing  to 
say  that  Gen.  Washington's  adminslration  had  been 
"  wise,  firm  and  patriotic" 

Mr.  Jackson  was  elected  to  the  United  States 
Senate  in  1797,  but  soon  resigned  and  returned  home. 
Soon  after  he  was  chosen  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  his  State,  which  position  he  held  f.^r  si.x  years. 

W-hen  the  war  of  1812  with  Great  Britian  com- 
menced, Madison  occu[)ied  the  Presidential  chair. 
Aaron  Burr  sent  word  to  the  President  t^iat  there  was 
an  unknown  man  in  the  West,  Andrew  Jackson,  who 
would  do  credit  to  a  commission  if  one  were  con- 
ferred uiwn  him.  Just  at  that  time  Gen.  Jackson 
offered  his  services  and  those  of  twenty-five  hundred 
volunteers.  His  offer  was  accepted,  and  the  troops 
were  assembled  at  Nashville. 

As  the  British  were  hourly  expected  to  make  an  at- 
tack L-.pon  New  Orleans,  where  Gen  Wilkinson  was 
in  command,  he  was  ordered  to  descend  the  river 
■with  fifteen  hundred  troops  to  aid  Wilkinson.  The 
expedition  reached  Natchez;  and  after  a  delay  of  sev- 
eral weeks  there,  without  accomplishing  anything, 
the  men  were  ordered  hack  to  their  homes.  But  the 
energy  Gen.  Jackson  had  displayed,  and  his  entire 
devotion  to  the  comrfort  of  his  soldiers,  won  him 
golden  opiniorrs ;  and  he  became  the  most  popular 
man  in  the  State.  It  was  in  this  expedition  that  his 
toughness  gave  him  the  nickname  of  "Old  Hickory." 

Soon  after  this,  while  attempting  to  horsewhip  Col. 
Thomas  H.  Benton,  for  a  remark  that  gentleman 
made  about  his  taking  a  part  as  second  in  a  duel,  in 
which  a  younger  brother  of  Benton's  was  engaged, 
he  received  two  severe  pistol  wounds.  While  he  was 
lingering  upon  a  bed  of  suffering  news  came  that  the 
Indians,  who  had  combined  under  Tecumseh  from 
Florida  to  the  Lakes,  to  exterminate  the  white  set- 
tlers, wer-e  committing  the  most  awful  ravages.  De- 
cisive action  became  necessary.  Gen.  Jackson,  with 
his  fractured  bone  just  beginning  to  heal,  his  arm  in 
a  sling,  and  unable  to  mount  his  horse  without  assis- 
tance, gave  his  amazing  energies  to  the  raising  of  an 
army  to  rendezvous  at  FayettesviUe,  Alabama. 

The  Creek  Indians  had  established  a  strong forcon 
one  of  the  bends  of  the  Tallapoosa  River-,  near  the  cen- 
ter of  Alabama,  about  fifty  miles  below  Fort  Strother. 
With  an  army  of  two  thousand  men.  Gen.  Jackson 
travei'sed  the  pathless  wilderness  in  a  march  of  eleven 
days.  He  reached  their  fort,  called  Tohopeka  or 
Horse-shoe,  on  the  27th  of  March.  1814.    The  bend 


of  the  river  enclosed  nearly  one  hundred  acres  of 
tangled  forest  and  wild  ravine.  Across  the  narrow 
neck  the  Indians  had  constructed  a  formidable  brea:.t- 
work  of  logs  and  brush.  Here  nine  hundred  warriors, 
with  an  ample  suplyof  arms  were  assembled. 

Tire  fort  was  stormed.  The  fight  was  utterly  des- 
perate. Not  an  Indian  would  accept  of  quarter.  When 
bleeding  and  dying,  they  would  fight  those  who  en- 
deavored to  spare  their  lives.  From  ten  in  the  morn- 
ing until  dark,  the  battle  raged.  The  carnage  was 
awful  and  revolting.  Some  threw  themselves  into  the 
river;  but  the  unerring  bullet  struck  their  heads  as 
they  swam.  Nearly  everyone  of  the  nine  hundred  war- 
rios  were  killed  A  few  probably,  in  the  night,  swam 
the  river  and  escaped.  This  ended  the  war.  The 
power  of  the  Creeks  was  br-oken  forever.  This  bold 
plunge  into  the  wilderness,  with  itsterriffic  slaughter, 
so  appalled  the  savages,  that  the  haggard  remnants 
of  the  bands  cauie  to  the  camp,  begging  for  peace. 

This  closing  of  the  Creek  war  enabled  us  to  con- 
centrate all  our  militia  ujwn  the  British,  who  were  the 
allies  of  the  Indians  No  man  of  less  resolute  will 
than  Gen.  Jackson  could  have  conducted  this  Indian 
campaign  to  so  successful  an  issue  Immediately  he 
was  appointed  major-general. 

Late  in  August,  with  an  army  of  two  thousand 
men,  on  a  rushing  march,  Gen.  Jackson  came  to 
Mobile.  A  British  fleet  came  from  Pensacola,  landed 
a  force  upon  the  beach,  anchored  near  the  little  fort, 
and  fi'om  both  ship  and  shore  commenced  a  furious 
assault  The  battle  was  long  and  doubtful.  At  length 
one  of  the  ships  was  blown  up    and  the  rest  retired. 

Garrisoning  Mobile,  where  he  had  taken  his  little 
army,  he  moved  his  troops  to  New  Orleans, 
And  the  battle  of  New  Orleans  which  soon  ensued, 
was  in  reality  a  very  arduous  campaign.  This  won 
for  Gen.  Jackson  an  imperishable  name.  Here  his 
troops,  which  numbered  about  four  thousand  men, 
won  a  signal  victory  over  the  British  army  of  about 
nine  thousand.  His  loss  was  but  thirteen,  while  the 
loss  of  the  British  was  two  thousand  six  hundred. 

The  name  of  Gen.  Jackson  soon  began  to  be  men- 
tioned in  connection  with  the  Presidency,  but,  in  1S24, 
he  was  defeated  by  Wx.  Adams.  He  was,  however, 
successful  in  the  election  of  1828,  and  was  re-elected 
for  a  second  term  in  1832.  In  1829,  just  before  he 
assumed  the  reins  of  the  government,  he  met  with 
the  most  terrible  affliction  of  his  life  in  the  death  of 
his  wife,  whom  he  had  loved  with  a  devotion  which  has 
perhaps  never  been  surpassed.  From  the  shock  of 
her  death  he  never  recovered. 

His  administration  was  one  of  the  most  rccmcrabie 
in  the  annals  of  our  country;  a;jp!aude^.  oy  one  party, 
condemned  by  the  other.  No  man  had  moi-e  bitter 
enemies  or  warmer  friends.  hX  the  expiration  of  his 
two  terms  of  office  he  retired  to  the  Hermitage,  where 
be  died  June  8,  1845.  The  last  years  of  Mr.  Jack- 
son's  life  were  that   of  a   devoted  Christian    man. 


^  ^-MaaJftdrf 


/  7  /^ZJ'a/^  ^<L^j  U^.^^, 


EIGHTH  PRESIDENT. 


(D5^(^ 


wm^m  vjii]  BOREi].   gj-::^ 


■^^'CA^X''^:^-^vO 


ARTIN  VAN  BUREN,  the 
eighth      President     of     the 
United  States,  was  born  at 
Kinderhook,  N.  Y.,  Dec.   5, 
1782.     He  died  at  the  same 
place,  July    24,    1862.      His 
body  rests  in   the  cemetery 
at  Kinderhook.     Above  it  is 
a  plain  granite    shaft  lifteeu  feet 
high,  bearing  a  simple  inscription 
about  halt  way  up   on  one    face. 
The  lot  is  unfenced,  unbordered 
or  unbounded  by  shrub  or  flower. 

There  ■-  uut  lUtle  in  the  life  of  Martin  Van  Bure.i 
ofroman'  c  interest.  He  fought  no  battles,  engaged 
in  no  wild  adventures.  Though  his  life  was  stormy  in 
political  and  intellectual  conflicts,  and  he  gained  many 
signal  victories,  his  days  passed  uneventful  in  those 
incidents  which  give  zest  to  biography.  His  an- 
cestors, as  his  name  indicates,  were  of  Dutch  origin, 
and  were  among  the  earliest  emigrants  from  Holland 
to  the  banks  of  the  Hudson.  His  father  was  a  farmer, 
residing  iu  the  old  town  of  Kinderhook.  His  mother, 
also  of  Dutch  lineage,  was  a  woman  of  superior  intel- 
ligence and  exemplary  piety. 

Ai  was  decidedly  a  precocious  boy,  developing  un- 
usual activity,  vigor  and  strength  of  mind.  At  the 
age  of  fourteen,  he  had  finished  his  academic  studies 
In  his  native  village,  and  commenced  the  study  of 
)aw.  As  he  had  not  a  collegiate  education,  seven 
years  of  study  in  a  law-office  were  required  of  him 
Jjefore  lie  coald  be  adaiitted  to  the  bar.  Inspired  with 
.(  lofty  ambition,  and  conscious  of  his  powers,  he  pur- 
sued his  studies  with  indefatigable  indistry.  After 
sjicndi.ig  si.v  years  in  an  office  in  Hio   native  village, 


he  went  to  the  city  of  New  York,  and  prosecuted  his 
studies  for  the  seventh  year. 

In  1803,  Mr.  Van  Buren,  then  twenty-one  years  ot 
age,  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  his  native  vil- 
lage. The  great  conflict  between  the  Federal  and 
Republican  party  was  then  at  its  height.  Mr.  Van 
Buren  was  from  the  beginning  a  politician.  He  had, 
perhaps,  imbibed  that  spirit  while  listening  to  the 
many  discussions  which  had  been  carried  on  in  his 
father's  hotel.  He  was  in  cordial  sympathy  with 
Jefferson,  and  earnestly  and  eloquently  espoused  the 
cause  of  State  Riglits ;  though  at  thai  time  the  Fed- 
eral party  held  the  supremacy  both  in  his  town, 
and  State. 

His  success  and  increasing  ruputation  led  him 
after  six  years  of  practice,  to  remove  to  Hudson,  tli. 
county  seat  of  his  county.  Here  he  spent  seven  years, 
constantly  gaining  strfaigth  by  contending  in  th(. 
courts  with  some  of  the  ablest  men  who  have  adorned 
the  bar  of  his  State. 

Just  before  leaving  Kinderhook  for  Hudson,  Mi. 
Van  Buren  married  a  lady  alike  distinguished  for 
beauty  and  accomplishments.  After  twelve  slioa 
years  she  sank  into  the  grave,  the  victim  of  consump. 
tion,  leaving  her  husband  and  four  sons  to  weep  ovei 
her  loss.  For  twenty-five  years,  Mr.  Van  Buren  was 
an  earnest,  successful,  assiduous  lawyer.  The  record 
of  those  years  is  barren  in  items  of  public  interest. 
In  iSi  2,  wlien  thirty  years  of  age,  he  was  chosen  to 
tlie  State  Senate,  and  cave  his  strenuous  support  to 
Mr.  Madison's  adminstracion.  In  1815,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Attorney-General,  and  the  next  year  moved 
to  Albany,  the  capital  of  the  Slate. 

'.Vhile  he  was  acknoVledged  as  one  of  the  most 
p. oniinent  leaders  of  the  Democratic  party,  he  had 


48 


MARTIN  VAN  BUREN. 


the  moral  courage  to  avow  that  true  democracy  did 
not  require  that  "  universal  suffrage"  which  admits 
the  vile,  the  degraded,  the  ignorant,  to  the  right  of 
governing  the  State.  In  true  consistency  with  his 
democratic  principles,  he  contended  that,  while  the 
path  leading  to  the  privilege  of  voting  should  be  open 
to  every  man  without  distinction,  no  one  should  be 
invested  with  that  sacred  prerogative,  unless  he  were 
in  some  degree  qualified  for  it  by  intelligence,  virtue 
and  some  property  interests  in  the  welfare  of  the 
?.tale. 

In  182 1  he  was  elected  ;.  member  of  the  United 
States  Senate;  and  in  the  same  year,  he  took  a  seat 
in  the  convention  to  revise  the  constitution  of  his 
native  State.  His  course  in  this  convention  secured 
the  approval  of  men  of  all  parties.  No  one  could 
doubt  the  singleness  of  his  endeavors  to  promote  the 
interests  of  all  classes  in  the  community.  In  the 
Senate  of  the  United  States,  he  rose  at  once  to  a 
■:onspicuous  position  as  an  active  and  useful  legislator. 

In  1827,  John  Quincy  Adams  beirg  then  in  the 
Presidential  chair,  Mr.  Van  Buren  was  re-elected  to 
.he  Senate.  He  had  been  from  the  beginning  a  de- 
■ermined  opposer  of  the  Administration,  adopting  the 
■'State  Rights"  view  in  opposition  to  what  was 
deemed  the  Federal  proclivities  of  Mr.  Adams. 

Soon  after  this,  in  1828,  he  was  chosen  Governorof 
the  State  of  New  York,  and  accordingly  resigned  his 
■seat  in  the  Senate.  Probably  no  one  in  the  United 
States  contributed  so  much  towards  ejecting  John  Q. 
\dams  from  the  Presidential  chair,  and  placing  in  it 
Andrew  Jackson,  as  did  Martin  Van  Buren.  Whether 
entitled  to  the  reputation  or  not,  he  certainly  was  re- 
garded througiiout  the  United  States  as  one  of  the 
most  skillful,  sagacious  and  cunning  of  politicians. 
It  was  supposed  that  no  one  knew  so  well  as  he  how 
to  touch  the  secret  spiings  of  action;  how  to  pull  all 
the  wires  to  put  his  machinery  in  motion;  and  how  to 
organize  a  political  army  which  would,  secreily  and 
ste.-'Uhily  accomplish  the  most  gigantic  results.  By 
these  powers  it  is  said  that  he  outv/itted  Mr.  Adams, 
Mr.  Clay,  Mr.  Webster,  and  secured  results  which 
few  thought  then  could  be  accomplished. 

VVhen  .\ndrew  Jackson  was  elected  President  he 
appointed  Mr.  Van  Buren  Secretary  of  State.  This 
position  he  resigned  in  1831,  and  was  immediately 
appoit)ted  Minister  to  England,  where  he  went  the 
same  autumn.  The  Senate,  however,  when  it  met, 
refused   to   ratify  the  nomination^   and  he  returned 


home,  apparently  untroubled;  was  nominated  Vice 
President  in  the  place  of  Calhoun,  at  the  re-election 
of  President  Jackson;  and  with  smiles  for  all  and 
fiowns  for  none,  he  took  his  place  at  the  head  of  that 
Senate  which  had  refused  to  confirm  his  nomir.ation 
as  ambassador. 

His  rejection  by  the  Senate  roused  all  the  zeal  of 
President  Jackson  in  behalf  of  his  repudiated  favor- 
ite ;  and  this,  probably  more  than  any  other  cause, 
secured  his  elevation  to  the  chair  of  the  Chief  Esecu 
tive.  On  the  20th  of  May,  1836,  Mr.  Van  Buren  re- 
ceived the  Democratic  nomination  to  succeed  Gen. 
Jackson  as  President  of  the  United  States.  He  was 
elected  by  a  handsome  majority,  to  the  delight  of  the 
retiring  President.  "  Leaving  New  York  out  of  the 
canvass,"  says  Mr.  Parton,  "the  election  of  Mr.  Van 
Buren  to  the  Presidency  was  as  much  the  act  of  Gen. 
Jackson  as  though  the  Constitution  had  conferred 
upon  him  the  power  to  appoint  a  successor." 

His  administration  was  filled  with  exciting  events. 
'l"he  insurrection  in  Canada,  which  threatened  to  in- 
volve this  country  in  war  with  England,  the  agitation 
of  the  slavery  question,  and  finally  the  great  commer- 
cial panic  which  spread  over  the  country,  all  were 
trials  to  his  wisdom.  The  financial  distress  was  at- 
tributed to  the  management  of  the  Democratic  party, 
and  brought  the  President  into  such  disfavor  that  he 
failed  of  re-election. 

Wiih  the  exception  of  being  nominated  for  the 
Presidency  by  the  "Free  Soil"  Democrats,  in  184S, 
Mr.  Van  Buren  lived  quietly  upon  his  estate  until 
his  death. 

He  had  ever  been  a  prudent  man,  of  frugal  habits, 
and  living  within  his  income,  had  now  fortunately  a 
competence  for  his  declining  years.  His  unblemished 
character,  his  commanding  abilities,  his  unquestioned 
patriotism,  and  the  distinguished  positions  which  he 
had  occupied  in  the  government  of  our  country,  se- 
cured to  him  not  only  the  homage  of  his  party,  but 
the  respect  ot  the  whole  community.  It  was  on  the 
4th  of  March,  1841,  that  Mr.  Van  Buren  retired  from 
the  presidency.  From  his  fine  estate  at  Lindenwald. 
he  still  exerted  a  powerful  influence  upon  the  politics 
of  the  country.  From  this  time  until  his  death,  on 
the  24th  of  July,  1862,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  he 
resided  at  Lindenwald,  a  gentleman  of  leisure,  of 
culture  and  of  wealth;  enjoyir.g  in  a  healthy  old 
age,  probably  far  more  happiness  than  he  had  before 
experienced  amid  the  stormy  scenes  of  h'S  active  life- 


hi^ 


'"'■«^c 


^  Of    ■ 


Or 


'*'VO,c 


/c^.  M  )9a^z^-^^ 


NINTH  PRESIDENT. 


S' 


^ 


^^ 


^w 


ILLIAM  HENRY  HARRI- 
SON, the  ninth   President  of 
the    United  States,  was  born 
at  lieikeley,  Va.,  Feb.  9,  1773. 
His  father,   Benjamin   Harri- 
son, was  in  comparatively  op- 
ulent circumstances,  and  was 
one  of  the  most  distinguished 
men  of  his  day.      He  was  an 
intimate    friend    of     George 
Washington,  was  early  elected 
^         a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress,    and  was    conspicuous 
among  the  patriots  of  Virginia  in 
resisting  the  encroachments  of  the 
British  crown.     In  the  celebrated 
Congress  of  1775,  Benjamin  Har- 
rison   and    John    Hancock    were 
both  candidates  for  the  office  of 
speaker. 

Mr  Harrison  was  subsequently 
chosen  Governor  of  Virginia,  and 
was  twice    re-elected.       His   son, 
i  William  Henry,  of  course  enjoyed 

in  childhood  all  the  advantages  which  wealth  and 
intellectual  and  cultivated  society  could  give.  Hav- 
ing received  a  thorough  common-school  education,  he 
entered  Hampden  Sidney  College,  where  he  graduated 
with  honor  soon  after  the  death  of  his  father.  He 
t.hen  repaired  to  Philadelphia  to  study  medicine  under 
the  instructions  of  Dr.  Rush  and  the  guardianshij)  of 
Jobert  Morris,  both  of  whom  were,  with  his  father, 
ligners  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

Jpon  the  outbreak  of  the  Indian  troubles,  and  not- 
withstanding the  -'emonsttances  of  his  friends,  he 
abandoned  his  medical  studies  and  entered  the  army, 
.laviiig  obtained  1  'nmmissipn  of  Ensign  from  Presi- 


dent Washington.  He  was  then  but  ig  years  old. 
From  that  time  he  passed  gradually  upward  in  rank 
until  he  became  aid  to  General  Wayne,  after  whose 
death  he  resigned  his  commission.  He  was  then  aj)- 
pointed  Secretary  of  the  North-western  Territory.  This 
Territory  was  then  entitled  to  but  one  member  in 
Congress  and  Capt.  Harrison  was  chosen  to  fill  that 
position. 

In  the  spring  of  1800  the  North-western  Territory 
was  divided  by  Congress  into  two  jx)rtions.  The 
eastern  portion,  comprising  the  region  now  embraced 
in  the  State  of  Ohio,  was  called  "  The  Territory 
north-west  of  the  Ohio."  The  western  jMrlion,  which 
included  what  is  now  called  Indiana,  Illinois  and 
Wisconsin,  was  called  the  "Indiana  'J'erritory."  Wil. 
liam  Henry  Harrison,  then  27  years  of  age,  was  ap 
pointed  by  John  Adams,  Governor  of  the  Indiana 
Territory,  and  immediately  after,  also   G  t  of 

Upper  Louisiana.  He  was  thus  ruler  over  almosf  as 
extensive  a  realm  as  any  sovereign  upon  the  globe.  He 
was  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  and  was  in- 
vested with  powers  nearly  dictatorial  over  the  now 
rapidly  increasing  white  population.  The  ability  and 
fidelity  with  which  he  discharged  these  resijonsible 
duties  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  he  was  four 
times  apjxDinted  to  this  office — first  by  John  Adams, 
twice  by  Thomas  Jefferson  and  afterwards  by  Presi- 
dent Madison. 

When  he  began  his  adminstration  there  were  but 
three  white  settlements  in  that  almost  boundless  region, 
now  crowded  with  cities  and  resounding  with  all  the 
tumult  of  wealth  and  traffic.  One  of  these  settlements 
was  on  the  Ohio,  nearly  opposite  Louisville;  one  at 
Vincennes,  on  the  Wabash,  and  the  third  a  French 
settlement. 

The  vast  wilderness  over  which  Gov.  Harrisoi, 
reigned  was  filled  with  many  tribes  of  Indians.  A'>  .!•. 


52 


WILLIAM  HENRY  HARRISON. 


the  year  i8o6,  two  extraordinary  men,  twin  brothers, 
ot"  the  Shawnese  tribe,  rose  among  them.  Or.e  ot 
these  was  called  Tecumseh,  or  "  The  Crouching 
Panther;"  the  other,  OUiwacheca,  or  "  The  Prophet." 
Tecumseh  was  not  only  an  Indian  warrior,  but  a  man 
of  great  sagacity,  far-reaching  foresight  and  indomit- 
able perseverance  in  any  enterprise  ni  wliich  he  might 
engage.  He  was  inspired  with  the  highest  enthusiasm, 
and  had  long  regarded  with  dread  and  with  hatred 
the  encroachment  of  the  whites  upon  the  hunting- 
grounds  of  his  fathers.  His  brother,  the  Prophet,  was 
anorator,  who  could  sway  the  feelings  of  the  untutored 
Indian  as  the  gale  tossed  the  tree  tops  beneath  which 
they  dwelt. 

But  the  Prophet  was  not  merely  an  orator:  he  was, 
in  the  superstitious  minds  of  the  Indians,  invested 
with  the  superhuman  dignity  of  a  medicine-man  or  a 
magician.  With  an  enthusiasm  unsurpassed  by  Peter 
the  Hermit  rousing  Europe  to  the  crusades,  he  went 
from  tribe  to  tribe,  assuming  that  he  was  specially  sent 
by  the  Great  Spirit. 

Gov.  Harrison  made  many  attempts  to  conciliate 
the  Indians,  but  at  last  the  war  came,  and  at  Tippe- 
canoe the  Indians  were  routed  with  great  slaughter. 
October  28,  1812,  his  army  began  its  march.  When 
near  the  Prophet's  town  three  Indians  of  rank  made 
their  appearance  and  inquired  why  Gov.  Harri.oii  was 
approaching  them  in  so  hostile  an  attitude.  After  a 
short  conference,  arrangements  were  made  for  a  meet- 
ing the  next  day,  to  agree  upon  terms  of  peace. 

But  Gov.  Harrison  was  too  well  acquainted  with 
the  Indian  character  to  be  deceived  by  such  protes- 
tations Selecting  a  favorable  spot  for  his  night's  en- 
camp- *■  he  took  every  precaution  against  surprise 
His  ;  .1,  J  were  jx)sted  in  a  hollow  square,  and  slept 
upon  their  arms. 

The  troops  threw  themselves  upon  the  ground  for 
rest;  but  every  man  had  his  accourtrements  on,  his 
loaded  musket  by  his  side, and  his  bayonet  fixed.  The 
wakeful  Governor,  between  three  and  four  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  had  risen,  and  was  sitting  in  conversa- 
tion with  his  aids  by  the  embers  of  a  waning  fire.  It 
was  a  chill,  cloudy  morning  with  a  drizzling  rain.  In 
the  darkness,  the  Indians  had  crept  as  near  as  possi- 
ble, and  i':st  then,  with  a  savage  yell,  rushed,  with  all 
the  desperation  which  superstition  and  passion  most 
liighly  inflamed  could  give,  upon  the  left  flank  of  the 
little  army.  The  savages  had  been  amply  provided 
with  guns  and  ammunition  by  the  English.  Their 
war-whoop  was  accompained  by  a  shower  of  bullets. 

The  camp-fires  were  instantly  extinguished,  as  the 
light  aided  the  Indians  in  their  aim.  With  hide- 
jus  yells,  the  Indian  bands  rushed  on,  not  doubtir.ga 
speedy  and  an  entire  victory.  But  Gen.  Harrison's 
troops  stood  as  immovable  as  the  rocks  around  them 
until  day  dawned :  they  then  made  a  simultaneous 
charge  with  the  bayonet,  and  swept  every  thing  be- 
fore   them,    and    completely    routing    th*"    foe. 


Gov.  Harrison  now  had  all  his  energies  tasked 
to  the  utmost.  The  British  descending  from  the  Can- 
adas,  were  ol  themselves  a  very  formidable  force  ;  but 
with  their  savage  allies,  rushing  like  wolves  from  the 
forest,  searching  out  every  remote  farm-house,  burn- 
ing, i)lu.idering,  scalping,  torturing,  the  wide  frontier 
was  plunged  into  a  state  of  consternation  which  even 
the  most  vivid  imagination  can  but  faintly  conceive. 
The  war-whoop  was  resounding  everywhere  in  the 
forest.  The  horizon  was  illuminated  with  the  conflagra- 
tion of  the  cabins  of  the  settlers.  Gen  Hull  had  made 
the  ignominious  surrender  of  his  forces  at  Detroit. 
Under  these  despairing  circumstances.  Gov.  Harrison 
was  appointed  by  President  Madison  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  North-western  army,  with  orders  to  retake 
Detroit,  and  to  protect  the  frontiers. 

It  would  be  difiicult  to  place  a  man  in  a  situation 
demanding  more  energy,  sagacity  and  courage;  but 
General  Harrison  was  found  equal  to  the  position, 
and  nobly  and  triumphantly  did  he  meet  all  the  re- 
sponsibilities. 

He  won  the  love  of  his  soldiers  by  always  sharing 
with  them  their  fatigue.  His  whole  baggage,  while 
pursuing  the  foe  up  the  Thames,  was  carried  in  a 
valise;  and  his  bedding  consisted  of  a  single  blanket 
lashed  over  his  saddle  Thirty-five  British  officers, 
his  prisoners  of  war,  sapped  with  him  after  the  battle. 
The  only  fare  he  could  give  them  was  beef  roasted 
before  the  fire,  without  bread  or  salt. 

In  1816,  Gen.  Harrison  was  chosen  a  member  of 
the  National  House  of  Representatives,  to  represent 
the  District  of  Ohio.  In  Congress  he  proved  an 
active  member;  and  whenever  he  spoke,  it  was  with 
force  of  reason  and  power  of  eloquence,  which  arrested 
the  attention  of  all  the  members. 

In  18 19,  Harrison  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of 
Ohio;  and  in  1824,  as  one  of  the  i)residential  electors 
of  that  State,  he  gave  his  vote  for  Henry  Clay.  The 
same  year  he  was  chosen  to  the  United  States  Senate. 

In  1836,  the  friends  of  Gen.  Harrison  brought  him 
forward  as  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency  against 
Van  Buren,  but  he  was  defeated.  At  the  close  of 
Mr.  Van  Buren's  term,  he  was  re -nominated  by  his 
party,  and  Mr.  Harrison  was  unanimously  nominated 
by  the  Whigs,  with  John  Tyler  forthe  Vice  Presidency. 
The  contest  was  very  animated.  Gen  Jackson  gave 
all  his  influence  to  prevent  Harrison's  election;  but 
his  triumph  was  signal. 

The  cabinet  which  he  formed,  with  Daniel  Webster 
at  its  head  as  Secretary  of  State,  was  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  with  which  anv  President  had  ever  been 
surrounded.  Never  were  the  prospects  of  an  admin- 
istration more  flattering,  or  the  hopes  of  the  country 
more  sanguine.  In  the  midst  of  these  briglit  and 
joyous  prospects.  Gen.  Harrison  was  seized  by  a 
pleurisv-fever  and  after  a  few  days  of  violent  sick- 
ness, died  on  the  4th  of  April ;  just  one  month  after 
his  inauguration  as  President  of  the  United  States, 


^"VO/s 


'Xon_ 


-r 


TENTH  PRESIDENT. 


So 


^    OHM    TYLER,     the    tenth 
/o.»  Presidentof  the  United  States. 
He  was  born  in  Charles-city 
Co.,  Va.,  March  29, 1790.  He 
was  the  favored  child   of  af- 
fluence and  high   social    po- 
sition.    At  the   early  age   of 
twelve,  John  entered  William 
and   Mary  College  and  grad- 
uated with  much  honor  when 
but  seventeen  years  old.  After 
graduating,  he  devoted  him- 
self with    great    assiduity  to   the 
study    of    law,    partly   with    his 
father   and   pirtly  with   Edmund 
Randolph,  one  of  the  most  distin- 
guished lawyers  of  Virginia. 

At  nineteen  years  of  age,  ne 
commenced  the  practice  of  law. 
His  success  was  rapid  and  aston- 
ishing. It  is  said  that  three 
months  had  not  elapsed  ere  there 
was  scarcely  a  case  on  the  dock- 
i  et  of  the  court  in  which   he  was 

lot  retained.  When  but  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he 
was  almost  unanimously  e'ected  to  a  seat  in  the  State 
Legislature.  He  connected  himself  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  warmly  advocated  the  measures  of 
Jefferson  and  Madison.  For  five  successive  years  he 
was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  receiving  nearly  the 
unanimous  vote  or  his  county. 

^Vhen  but  twenty-six  years  of  age,  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  Congress.  Here  he  acted  earnestly  and 
ably  wi;h  the  Deir.ocratic  party,  opposing  a  national 
pank,  interr^-ji  impruvements  by  the  General  <^vem- 


ment,  a  protective  tariff,  and  advocating  a  strict  con- 
struction of  the  Constitution,  and  the  most  careful 
vigilance  over  State  rights.  His  labors  in  Congress 
were  so  arduous  that  before  the  close  of  his  second 
term  he  found  it  necessary  to  resign  and  retire  to  his 
estate  in  Charles-city  Co.,  to  recruit  his  health.  He, 
however,  soon  after  consented  to  take  his  seat  in  the 
State  Legislature,  where  his  influence  was  powerful 
in  promoting  public  works  of  great  utility.  With  a 
reputation  thus  canstantly  increasing,  he  was  chosen 
by  a  very  large  majority  of  votes,  Governor  of  his 
native  State.  His  administration  was  signally  a  suc- 
cessful one.     His  popularity  secured  his  re-election. 

John  Randolph,  a  brilliant,  erratic,  half-crazed 
man,  then  represented  Virginia  in  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States.  S.  portion  of  the  Democratic  party 
was  displeased  with  Mr.  Randolph's  wayward  course, 
and  brought  forward  John  Tyler  as  his  opixanent, 
considering  him  the  only  man  in  Virginia  of  sufficient 
popularity  to  succeed  against  the  renowned  orator  of 
Roanoke.     Mr.  T\ler  was  the  victor. 

In  accordance  with  his  professions,  upon  taking  his 
seat  in  the  Senate,  he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  opposi- 
tion. He  opposed  the  tariff;  he  spoke  against  and 
voted  against  the  bank  as  unconstitutional ;  he  stren- 
uously opposed  all  restrictions  upon  slavery,  resist- 
ing all  projects  of  internal  improvements  by  the  Gen- 
eral Government,  and  avowed  his  sympathy  with  Mr. 
Calhoun's  view  of  nullification  ;  he  declared  that  Gen. 
Jackson,  by  his  opposition  to  the  nullifiers,  had 
abandoned  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party. 
Such  was  Mr.  Tyler's  record  in  Congress, — a  record 
in  perfect  accordance  with  the  principles  which  he 
had  always  avowed. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  resumed  the  practice  of 
his  profession.     Ther?  was  a  cplh  in  the  Democratir 


JOHN  TYLER. 


^arty.  His, friends  still  regarded  him  as  a  true  Jef- 
feisonian,  gave  him  a  dinner,  and  showered  compli- 
ments upon  him.  He  had  now  attained  the  age  of 
forty-six.  His  career  had  been  very  brilliant.  In  con- 
sequence of  his  devotion  to  public  business,  his  pri- 
vate affairs  had  fallen  into  some  disorder;  and  it  •■nsa 
not  without  satisfaction  that  he  resumed  the  practice 
of  law,  and  devoted  himself  to  the  culture  of  his  plan- 
tation. Soon  after  this  he  remo\ed  to  Williamsburg, 
for  the  better  education  of  his  children  ;  and  he  again 
look  his  seat  in  the  Legislature  of  Virginia. 

By  the  Southern  Whigs,  he  was  sent  to  the  national 
convention  at  Harrisburg  to  nominate  a  President  in 
7839.  The  majority  of  votes  were  given  to  Gen.  Har- 
rison, a  genuine  Whig,  much  to  the  disappointment  of 
tlie  South,  who  wished  for  Henry  Clay.  To  concili- 
ate the  Southern  Whigs  and  to  secure  their  vote,  the 
convention  then  nominated  John  Tyler  for  Vice  Pres- 
ident. It  was  well  known  that  he  was  not  in  sympa- 
thy with  the  Whig  party  in  the  No;th:  but  the  Vice 
President  has  but  very  little  power  in  the  Govern- 
ment, his  main  and  almost  only  duty  being  to  pre- 
side over  the  meetings  of  the  Senate.  Thus  it  hap- 
pened that  a  Whig  President,  and,  in  reality,  a 
Democratic  Vice  President  were  chosen. 

In  1841,  Mr.  Tyler  was  inaugurated  Vice  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  In  one  short  month  from 
that  time.  President  Harrison  died,  and  Mr.  Tyler 
thus  -;und  himself,  to  his  own  surprise  and  that  of 
the  whole  Nation,  an  occupant  of  the  Presidential 
chair.  This  was  a  new  test  of  the  stability  of  our 
institutions,  as  it  was  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  our 
country  that  such  an  event  had  occured.  Mr.  Tyler 
was  at  home  in  Williamsburg  when  he  received  the 
unexpected  tidings  of  the  death  of  President  Harri- 
son. He  hastened  to  Washington,  and  on  the  6th  of 
April  was  inaugurated  to  the  high  and  responsible 
office.  He  was  placed  in  a  position  of  exceeding 
delicacy  and  difficulty.  All  his  long  life  he  had  been 
opposed  to  the  main  principles  of  the  party  which  had 
brought  him  into  power.  He  had  ever  been  a  con- 
sistent, hone:t  man,  with  an  unblemished  record. 
Gen.  Harrison  had  selected  a  Whig  cabinet.  Should 
he  retain  them,  and  thus  surround  himself  with  coun- 
sellors whose  views  were  antagonistic  to  his  own?  or, 
on  the  other  hand,  should  he  turn  against  the  party 
whicii  had  elected  him  and  select  a  cabinet  in  har- 
ir.ony  with  himself,  and  which  would  oppose  all  those 
views  which  the  Whigs  deemed  essential  to  the  pub- 
lic welfare?  This  was  his  fearful  dilemma.  He  in- 
vited the  cabinet  which  President  Haririson  had 
selected  to  retain  their  seats.  He  recconim;nded  a 
day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  that  God  would  guide  and 
bless  us. 

The  Whigs  carried  through  Congress  a  bill  for  the 
incn::inration  of  a  fiscal  bank  of  the  United  States. 
Tlie  P'esident,  after  ten  days'  delay,  returned  it  with 
ni§  .ycU).      H?  «uegested,  however,  that  he  wuld 


approve  of  a  bill  drawn  up  upon  such  a  plan  as  he 
proposed.  Such  a  bill  was  accordingly  prepared,  and 
privately  submitted  to  him.  He  gave  it  his  approval. 
It  was  passed  without  alteration,  and  he  sent  it  back 
with  his  veto.  Here  commenced  the  open  rupture. 
It  is  said  that  Mr.  Tyler  was  provoked  to  this  meas- 
ure by  a  published  letter  from  the  Hon.  John  M. 
Botts,  a  distinguished  Virginia  Whig,  who  severely 
touched  the  pride  of  the  President. 

The  opposition  now  exultingly  received  the  Presi- 
dent into  their  arms.  The  party  which  elected  him 
denounced  him  bitterly.  AH  the  members  of  his 
cabinet,  excepting  Mr.  Webster,  resigned.  The  Whigs 
of  Congress,  both  the  Senate  and  the  House,  held  a 
meeting  and  issued  an  address  to  the  people  of  the 
United  States,  proclaiming  that  all  political  alliance 
between  the  Whigs  and  President  Tyler  were  at 
an  end. 

Still  the  President  attempted  to  conciliate.  He 
appointed  a  new  cabinet  of  distinguished  Whigs  and 
Conservatives,  carefully  leaving  out  all  strong  party 
men.  Mr.  Webster  soon  found  it  necessary  to  resign, 
forced  out  by  the  pressure  of  his  Whig  friends.  Thus 
the  four  years  of  Mr.  Tyler's  unfortunate  administra- 
tion passed  sadly  away.  No  one  was  satisfied.  The 
land  was  filled  with  murmurs  and  vituperation.  Whigs 
and  Democrats  alike  assailed  him.  More  and  more, 
however,  he  brought  himself  into  sympathy  with  his 
old  friends,  the  Democrats,  until  at  the  close  of  his  term, 
lie  gave  his  whole  influence  to  the  support  of  Mr. 
Polk,  the  Democratic  candidate  for  his  successor. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1845,  he  retired  from  the 
harassments  of  office,  tothe  regret  of  neitherparty,  and 
probably  to  his  own  unspeakable  relief.  His  first  wife. 
Miss  Letitia  Christian,  died  in  Washington,  in  1842; 
and  in  June,  1844,  President  Tyler  was  again  married, 
at  New  York,  to  Miss  Julia  Gardiner,  a  young  lady  of 
many  personal  and  intellectual  accomplishments. 

The  remainder  of  his  days  Mr.  Tyler  passed  mainly 
in  retirement  at  his  beautiful  home, — Sherwood  For- 
est, Charles  city  Co.,  Va.  A  polished  gentleman  in 
his  manners,  richly  furnished  with  information  from 
books  and  experience  in  the  world,  and  possessing 
brilliant  powers  of  conversation,  his  family  circle  was 
the  scene  of  unusual  attractions.  Witlr  sufficient 
means  for  the  exercise  of  a  generous  hosjiitality,  he 
might  have  enjoyed  a  serene  old  age  with  the  few 
friends  who  gathered  aroinid  him,  were  it  not  for  the 
storms  of  civil  war  which  his  own  principles  and 
policy  had  helped  to  introduce. 

When  the  great  Rebellion  rose,  which  the  State 
rights  and  nullifying  doctrines  of  Mr.  John  C.  Ca\- 
houn  had  inaugurated,  President  Tyler  renounced  his 
allegiance  to  the  United  States,  and  joined  the  Confed- 
erates. He  was  chosen  a  member  of  their  Congress; 
and  while  engaged  in  active  measures  to  desiroy,  by 
force  of  arms,  'he  Government   over  whir h   he   had 

onee  presided,  he  was  taket]  sick  and  soon  died, 


.i^ 


^LE  VEN^TH^PRWsT'SE^tr 


59 


JAMES  3L  PDI,3i, 


I  AMESK.  POLK,  the  eleventh    I   sedentary  life,  got  a   situation   for   him   behind   the 
fS^President  of  the  United  States,       counter,  hoping  to  fit  him  for  commercial  pursuits. 


was  born  in  Mecklenburg  Co., 
N.  C,  Nov.  2,  1795.     His  par- 
ents were   Samuel   and   Jane 
(Knox)  Polk,  the  former  a  son 
1  Col.  Thomas  Polk,  who  located 
at  the  above  place,  as  one  of  the 
first  pioneers,  in  1735. 

In  the  year  1S06,  with  his  wife 
and  children,  and  soon  after  fol- 
lowed by  most  of  the  members  of 
the  Polk  famly,  Samuel  Polk  emi- 
grated some  two  or  three  hundred 
miles  farther  west,  to  the  rich  valley 
of  the  Duck  River.  Here  in  the 
midst  of  the  wilderness,  in  a  region 
which  was  subsequently  called  Mau- 
ry Co.,  they  reared  their  log  huls, 
and  established  their  homes.  In  the 
hard  toil  of  a  new  farm  in  the  wil- 
derness, James  K.  Polk  spent  the 
early  years  of  his  childhood  and 
youth.  His  father,  adding  the  pur- 
suit of  a  surveyor  to  that  of  a  farmer, 
gradually  increased  in  wealth  until 
he  became  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  region.  His 
mother  was  a  superior  woman,  of  strong  common 
sense  and  earnest  piety. 

Ver)-  early  in  life,  James-  develoi)ed  a  taste  for 
reading  and  expressed  the  strongest  desire  to  obtain 
a  liberal  education.  His  mother's  training  had  made 
him  methodical  in  his  habits,  had  taught  him  punct- 
uality and  industry,  and  liad  inspired  him  with  lofty 
principles  of  morality.  His  health  was  frail ;  and  his 
£ather,  fearing  that  he  might  not  be  able  to  endure  a 


hoping  10  ni  nmi  lor  commercial  pu; 
This  was  to  James  a  bitter  disai)jx)intment.  He 
had  no  taste  for  these  duties,  and  his  daily  tasks 
were  irksome  in  the  extreme.  He  remained  in  this 
uncongenial  occupation  but  a  few  weeks,  when  at  his 
earnest  solicitation  his  father  removed  him,  and  made 
arrangements  for  him  to  prosecute  his  studies.  Soon 
after  he  sent  him  to  Murfreesboro  Academy.  With 
ardor  which  could  scarcely  be  surpassed,  he  pressed 
forward  in  his  studies,  and  in  less  than  two  and  a  half 
years,  in  the  autumn  of  1815,  entered  the  sophomore 
class  in  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  at  Chapel 
Hill.  Here  he  was  one  of  the  most  exemplary  of 
scholars,  punctual  in  every  exercise,  never  allowing 
himself  to  be  absent  from  a  recitation  or  a  religious 
service. 

He  graduated  in  1818,  with  the  highest  honors, be- 
ing deemed  the  best  scholar  of  his  class,  both  in 
mathematics  and  the  classics.  He  was  then  twenty- 
three  years  of  age.  Mr.  Polk's  health  was  at  this 
time  much  impaired  by  the  assiduity  with  which  he 
had  prosecuted  his  studies.  After  a  short  season  of 
relaxation  he  went  to  Nashville,  and  entered  the 
office  of  Felix  Grundy,  to  study  law.  Here  Mr.  Polk 
renewed  his  acquaintance  with  Andrew  Jackson,  who 
resided  on  his  plantation,  the  Hermitage,  but  a  few 
miles  from  Nashville.  They  had  probably  been 
slightly  acquainted  before. 

Mr.  Polk's  father  was  a  Jeffersonian  Republican, 
and  James  K.  Polk  ever  adhered  to  the  same  politi- 
cal faith.  He  was  a  popular  public  speaker,  and  was 
constantly  called  upon  to  address  the  meetings  of  his 
party  friends.  His  skill  as  a  speaker  was  such  thai 
he  was  popularly  called  the  Napoleon  of  the  stumj). 
He  was  a  mail  of  unblemished    morals,   genial   and 


6a 


/AMES  K.  POLK. 


courterus  in  his  bearing,  and  with  that  sympathetic 
natui-e  in  the  jo)  s  and  griefs  of  others  which  ever  gave 
him  troops  of  friends.  In  1823,  Mr.  Polk  was  elected 
to  the  Legislature  of  Tennessee.  Here  he  gave  his 
strong  influence  towards  the  election  of  his  friend, 
Mr.  Jackson,  to  the  Presidency  of  the  United  States. 

In  January,  1824,  Mr.  Polk  married  Miss  Sarah 
Childress,  of  Rutherford  Co.,  Tenn.  His  bride  was 
altogether  worthy  of  him, — a  lady  of  beauty  and  cul- 
ture. In  the  fall  of  1825,  Mr.  Polk  was  chosen  a 
member  of  Congress.  The  satisfaction  which  he  gave 
to  his  constituents  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact,  that 
for  fourteen  successive  years,  until  1839,  he  was  con- 
tinueo*  in  that  office.  He  then  voluntarily  withdrew, 
only  l*iat  he  might  accept  the  Gubernatorial  chair 
of  If'nnessee.  In  Congress  he  was  a  laborious 
meroSer,  a  frequent  and  a  popular  speaker.  He  was 
always  in  his  seat,  always  courteous ;  and  whenever 
he  spoke  it  was  always  to  the  point,  and  without  any 
ambitious  rhetorical  display. 

During  five  sessions  of  Congress,  Mr.  Polk  was 
Speaker  of  the  House  Strong  passions  were  roused, 
and  stormy  scenes  were  witnessed  ;  but  Mr.  Polk  per- 
formed his  arduous  duties  to  a  very  general  satisfac- 
tion, and  a  unanimous  vote  of  thanks  to  him  was 
passed  by  the  House  as  he  withdrew  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1839. 

In  accordance  with  Southern  usage,  Mr.  Polk,  as  a 
candidate  for  Governor,  canvassed  the  State.  He  was 
elected  by  a  large  majority,  and  on  the  14th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1839,  took  the  oath  of  office  at  Nashville.  In  1841, 
his  term  of  office  expired,  and  he  was  again  the  can- 
didate of  the  Democratic  party,  but  was  defeated. 

On  the  4th of  March,  iS45,Mr.  Polk  was  inaugur- 
ated President  of  the  United  States.  The  verdict  of 
the  country  in  favor  of  the  annexation  of  Texas,  exerted 
its  influence  upon  Congress  ;  and  the  last  act  of  the 
administration  of  President  Tyler  was  to  affix  his  sig- 
nature to  a  joint  resolution  of  Congress,  passed  on  the 
3d  of  March,  approving  of  the  annexation  of  Texas  to 
the  American  Union.  As  Mexico  still  claimed  Texas 
as  one  of  her  provinces,  the  Mexican  minister, 
Almonte,  immediately  demanded  his  passports  and 
left  the  country,  declaring  the  act  of  the  annexation 
to  be  an  act  hostile  to  Mexico. 

In  his  first  message.  President  Polk  urged  that 
Texas  should  immediately,  by  act  of  Congress,  be  re- 
ceived into  the  Union  on  the  same  footing  with  the 
Other  States.  In  the  meantime,  Gen.  Taylor  was  sent 


with  an  army  into  Texas  to  hold  the  country.  He  was 
sent  first  to  Nueces,  which  the  Mexicans  said  was  the 
western  boundary  of  Texas.  Then  he  was  sent  nearly 
two  hundred  miles  further  west,  to  the  Rio  Grande, 
where  he  erected  batteries  which  coipmanded  the 
Mexican  city  of  Matamoras,  which  was  situated  on 
the  western  banks. 

The  anticipated  collision  soon  took  place,  and  was 
was  declared  against  Me.xico  by  President  Polk.  The 
war  was  pushed  forward  by  Mr.  Polk's  administration 
with  great  vigor.  Gen.  Taylor,  whose  army  was  first 
called  one  of  "observation,"  then  of  "occupation," 
then  of  "  invasion, "was'sent  forward  to  Monterey.  The 
feeble  Mexicans,  in  every  encounter,  were  hopelessly 
and  awfully  slaughtered.  The  day  of  judgement 
alone  can  reveal  the  misery  which  this  war  caused. 
It  v/as  by  the  ingenuity  of  Mr.  Polk's  administration 
that  the  war  was  brought  on. 

'To  the  victors  belong  the  spoils."  Mexico  was 
prostrate  before  us.  Her  capital  was  in  our  hands. 
We  now  consented  to  peace  upon  the  condition  that 
Mexico  should  surrender  to  us,  in  addition  to  Texas, 
all  of  New  Mexico,  and  all  of  Upper  and  Lower  Cal- 
ifornia. This  new  demand  embraced,  exclusive  of 
Texas,  eight  hundred  thousand  square  miles.  This 
was  an  extent  of  territory  equal  to  nine  States  of  the 
size  of  New  York.  Thus  slavery  was  securing  eighteen 
majestic  States  to  be  added  to  the  Union.  There  were 
some  Americans  who  thought  it  all  right :  there  were 
others  who  thought  it  all  wrong.  In  the  prosecution 
of  this  war,  we  expended  twenty  thousand  lives  and 
more  than  a  hundred  million  of  dollars.  Of  this 
money  fifteen  millions  were  paid  to  Mexico. 

On  the  3d  of  March,  1849,  Mr.  Polk  retired  from 
office,  having  served  one  term.  The  next  day  was 
Sunday.  On  the  5th,  Gen.  Taylor  was  inaugurated 
as  his  successor.  Mr  Polk  rode  to  the  Capitol  in  the 
same  carriage  with  Gen.  Taylor;  and  the  same  even- 
ing, with  Mrs.  Polk,  he  commenced  his  return  to 
Tennessee.  He  was  then  but  fifty-four  years  of  age. 
He  had  ever  been  strictly  temperate  in  all  his  habits, 
and  his  health  was  good.  With  an  ample  fortune, 
a  choice  library,  a  cultivated  mind,  and  domestic  ties 
of  the  dearest  nature,  it  seemed  as  though  long  years 
of  tranquility  and  happiness  were  before  him.  Buttlie 
cholera — that  fearful  scourge— was  then  sweeping  up 
the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi.  This  he  contracted, 
and  died  on  the  15th  of  June,  1849,  in  the  fiftv-fourth 
year  of  his  age,  greatly  mourned  by  his  countrymen. 


'c^,-^::>/L<:y<^<^/\y^^?t^' 


TIVELFTH  FRESIDENT. 


63 


ACHARY  TAYLOR,  twelfth 
President  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  on  the  24th  of  Nov., 
1784,  in  Orange  Co.,  Va.  His 
father,  Colonel  Taylor,  was 
■  — .-^^z  ^  Virginian  of  note,  and  a  dis- 
tinguished [latriot  and  soldier  of 
the  Revolution.  When  Zachary 
was  an  infant,  his  father  with  liis 
wife  and  two  children,  emigrated 
to  Kentucky,  where  he  settled  in 
the  pathless  wilderness,  a  few 
miles  from  Louisville.  In  this  front- 
ier home,  away  from  civilization  and 
all  its  refinements,  yjung  Zachary 
could  enjoy  but  few  social  and  educational  advan- 
tages. When  six  years  of  age  he  attended  a  common 
school,  and  was  then  regarded  as  a  bright,  active  boy, 
cather  remarkable  for  bluntness  and  decision  of  char- 
acter He  was  strong,  feailess  and  self-reliant,  and 
manifested  a  strong  desire  to  enter  the  army  to  fight 
the  Indians  wlio  were  ravaging  the  frontiers.  There 
is  little  to  l)e  recorded  of  the  uneventful  years  of  his 
childhood  0:1  his  father's  large  but  lonely  plantation. 
In  1808,  his  father  succeeded  in  obtaining  for  him 
the  commission  of  lieutenant  in  the  United  States 
army ;  and  he  joined  the  troops  which  were  stationed 
at  New  Orleans  under  Gen.  Wilkinson.  Soon  after 
this  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Smith,  a  young  lady 
from  one  of  the  first  families  of  Maryland. 

Immediately  after  the  declaration  of  war  with  Eng- 
land, in  1812,  Capt.  Taylor  (for  he  had  then  been 
promoted  to  that  rank)  was  put  in  command  of  Fort 
Harrison,  on  the  Wabash,  about  fifty  miles  above 
Vincennes.  This  fort  had  been  built  in  the  wilder- 
ness by  Gen.  Harrison, on  jiis  march  to  Tippecanoe. 
It  was  one  of  the  first  points  of  attack  by  the  Indians, 
"led  by  Tecumseh.     Its  garrison  consisted  of  a  broken 


company  of  infantry  numbering  fifty  men,  many  of 
whom  were  sick. 

Early  in  the  autumn  of  1812,  the  Indians,  stealthily, 
and  in  large  numbers,  moved  upon  the  fort.  Their 
api)roach  was  first  indicated  by  the  murder  of  two 
soldiers  just  outside  of  the  stockade.  Capt.  Taylor 
made  every  possible  preparation  to  meet  the  antici- 
pated assault.  On  the  4th  of  September,  a  band  of 
forty  painted  and  plumed  savages  came  to  the  fort, 
waving  a  white  flag,  and  informed  Capt.  Taylor  that 
in  the  morning  their  chief  would  come  to  have  a  talk 
with  him.  It  was  evident  that  their  object  was  merely 
to  ascertain  the  state  of  things  at  the  fort,  and  Capt. 
Taylor,  well  versed  in  the  wiles  of  the  savages,  kept 
them  at  a  distance. 

The  sun  went  down  ;  the  savages  disappeared,  the 
garrison  slept  upon  their  arms.  One  hour  before 
midnight  the  war  whoop  burst  from  a  thousand  lips 
in  the  forest  around,  followed  by  the  discharge  of 
musketry,  and  the  rush  of  the  foe.  Every  man,  sick 
and  well,  sprang  to  his  post.  Every  man  knew  that 
defeat  was  not  merely  death,  but  in  the  case  of  cap- 
ture, death  by  the  most  agonizing  and  prolonged  tor-, 
ture.  No  pen  can  describe,  no  immagination  can 
conceive  the  scenes  which  ensued.  The  savages  suc- 
ceeded in  setting  fire  to  one  of  the  block  houses- 
Until  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  this  awful  conflict 
continued.  The  savages  then,  baffled  at  every  point, 
and  gnashing  their  teeth  with  rage,  retired.  Capt. 
Taylor,  for  this  gallant  defence,  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  major  by  brevet. 

Until  the  close  of  the  war,  MajorTaylor  was  placed 
in  such  situations  that  he  saw  but  little  more  of  active 
service.  He  was  sent  far  away  into  the  depths  of  the 
wilderness,  to  Fort  Crawford,  on  Fox  River,  which 
empties  into  Green  Bay.  Here  there  was  but  little 
to  be  done  but  to  wear  away  the  tedious  hours  as  one 
best  could.     There  were  no  books,  no  society,  no  in- 


64 


ZACHARY  TAYLOR. 


tellectual  stimulus.  Thus  with  him  the  uneventful 
years  rolled  ou  Gradually  he  rose  to  the  rank  of 
colonel.  In  the  Black  Hawk  war,  which  resulted  in 
the  capture  of  that  renowned  chieftain,  Col  Taylor 
took  a  subordinate  but  a  brave  and  efficient  part. 

For  twenty-four  years  Col.  Taylor  was  engaged  in 
the  defence  of  the  frontiers,  in  scenes  so  remote,  and  in 
jemployments  so  obscure,  that  his  name  was  unknown 
'beyond  the  limits  of  his  own  immediate  acquaintance. 
In  the  year  1836,  he  was  sent  to  Florida  to  comiiel 
the  Seminole  Indians  to  vacate  that  region  and  re- 
tire beyond  the  Mississippi,  as  their  chiefs  by  treaty, 
liac"  promised  they  should  do.  The  services  rendered 
(iC-C  secured  for  Col.  Taylor  the  high  appreciation  of 
the  Government;  and  as  a  reward,  he  was  elevated 
ic  ;he  rank  of  brigadier-general  by  brevet ;  and  soon 
after,  in  May,  1838,  was  appointed  to  the  chief  com- 
nand  of  the  United  States  troops  in  Florida. 

After  two  years  of  sucn  wearisome  employment 
imidst  the  everglades  of  the  peninsula.  Gen.  Taylor 
obtained,  at  his  own  request,  a  change  of  command, 
iiid  was  stationed  over  the  Department  of  the  South- 
Aest.  This  field  embraced  Louisiana,  Mississippi, 
.Alabama  and  Georgia.  Establishing  his  headquarters 
lit  Fort  Jessup,  in  Louisiana,  he  removed  his  family 
^o  a  plantation  which  he  purchased,  near  Baton  Rogue. 
^L.re  he  remained  for  five  years,  buried,  as  it  were, 
fu.m  the  world,  but  faithfully  discharging  every  duty 
ji'.posed  upon  him. 

In  1846,  Gen.  Taylor  was  sent  to  guard  the  land 
be' ween  the  Nueces  and  Rio  Grande,  the  latter  river 
jbeing  the  boundary  of  Texas,  which  was  then  claimed 
by  the  United  States.  Soon  the  war  with  Me,\ico 
WL.;  brought  on,  and  at  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la 
Pa  Ima,  Gen.  Taylor  won  brilliant  victories  over  the 
Mi;xicans.  The  rank  of  major-general  by  brevet 
was  then  conferred  upon  Gen.  Taylor,  and  his  name 
Was  received  with  enthusiasm  almost  everywhere  in 
tlie  Nation.  Then  came  the  battles  of  Monterey  and 
"Euena  Vista  in  which  he  won  signal  victories  over 
fences  much  larger  than  he  commanded. 

His  careless  habits  of  dress  and  his  unafTected 
si/oplicity,  secured  for  Gen.  Taylor  among  his  troops. 
Wit  sobriquet  of  "Old  Rough  and  Ready.' 

Tne  tidings  of  the  brilliant  victory  of  Buena  Vista 
•I'read  the  wildest  enthusiasm  over  the  country.  'I'he 
n,  .me  of  Gen.  Taylor  was  on  every  one's  lips.  The 
H  hig  party  decided  to  take  advantage  of  this  wonder- 
fu(  popularity  in  bringing  forward  the  unpolished, un- 

■  "'ed,  honest  soldier  as  their  candidate  for  the 
Piesidency.  Gen.  Taylor  was  astonished  at  the  an- 
nc  uncement,  and  for  a  time  would  not  listen  to  it;  de- 
cbiring  that  he  was  not  at  all  qualified  for  such  an 
ofitice.  So  little  interest  had  he  taken  in  politics  thht, 
fni  forty  years,  he  had  not  cast  a  vote.  It  was  not 
without  chagrin  that  several  distinguished  statesmen 
v^liO  had  been  long  vears  in  the  public  service  found 
^i.ixt  claims  set  aside  in  behali  of  one  whose   name 


had  never  been  heard  of,  save  in  connection  with  Palo 
Alto,  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  Monterey  and  Buena 
Vista.  It  is  said  that  Daniel  Webster,  in  his  haste  re- 
marked, "  It  is  a  nomination  not  fit  to  be  made." 

Gen.  Taylor  was  not  an  eloquent  speaker  nor  a  fine 
writer  His  friends  took  possession  of  him,  and  pre- 
pared such  few  communications  as  it  was  needful 
should  be  presented  to  the  public.  The  popularity  of 
the  successful  warrior  swept  the  land.  He  was  tri- 
umphantly elected  over  two  opposing  candidates, — 
Gen.  Cass  and  Ex-President  Martin  Van  Buren. 
Though  he  selected  an  excellent  cabinet,  the  good 
old  man  found  himself  in  a  very  uncongenial  position, 
and  was,  at  times,  sorely  perplexed  and  harassed. 
His  mental  sufferings  were  very  severe,  and  probably 
tended  to  hasten  his  death.  The  pro-slavery  party 
was  pushing  its  claims  with  tireless  energy ,  expedi- 
tions were  fitting  out  to  capture  Cuba  ;  '",alifornia  was 
pleading  for  admission  to  the  Union,  while  slavery 
stood  at  the  door  to  bar  her  out.  Gen.  Taylor  found 
the  political  conflicts  in  Washington  to  be  far  more 
trying  to  the  nerves  than  battles  with  Mexicans  or 
Indians^ 

In  the  midst  of  all  these  troubles,  Gen.  Taylor, 
after  he  had  occupied  the  Presidential  chair  but  little 
over  a  year,  took  cold,  and  after  a  brief  sickness  of 
but  little  over  five  days,  died  on  the  9th  of  July,  1850. 
His  last  words  were,  "I  am  not  afraid  to  die.  I  am 
ready.  I  have  endeavored  to  do  my  duty."  He  died 
universally  respected  and  beloved.  An  honest,  un- 
pretending man,  he  had  been  steadily  growing  in  the 
affections  of  the  people;  and  the  Nation  bitterly  la- 
mented his  death. 

Gen.  Scott,  who  was  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
Gen.  Taylor,  gave  the  following  grajihic  and  truthful 
description  of  his  character: — "  With  a  good  store  oi 
common  sense,  Gen.  Taylor's  mind  had  not  been  en- 
larged and  refreshed  by  reading,  or  much  converse 
with  the  world.  Rigidity  of  ideas  was  the  conse- 
quence. The  frontiers  and  small  military  posts  had 
been  his  home.  Hence  he  was  quite  ignorant  for  his 
rank,  and  quite  bigoted  in  his  ignorance.  His  sim- 
plicity was  child-like,  and  with  innumerable  preju- 
dices, amusing  and  incorrigible,  well  suited  to  the 
tender  age.  Thus,  if  a  man,  however  respectable, 
chanced  to  wear  a  coat  of  an  unusual  color,  or  his  hat 
a  little  on  one  side  of  his  head;  or  an  officer  to  leave 
a  corner  of  his  handkerchief  dangling  from  an  out- 
side pocket, — in  any  such  case,  this  critic  held  the 
offender  to  be  a  coxcomb  (perhaps  something  worse), 
whom  he  would  not,  to  use  his  oft  repeated  jihrase, 
'touch  with  a  pair  of  tongs.' 

"Any  allusion  to  literature  beyond  good  old  Dil- 
worth's  spelling-book,  on  the  part  of  one  wearing  a 
sword,  was  evidence,  with  the  same  judge,  of  utter 
unfitness  for  heavy  marchings  and  combats.  In  shorf 
few  men  have  ever  had  a  more  comfortarAe,  >''"<-ii. 
saving  contempt   for  learning  of  every  kind." 


i^i/^:    J  f-'C.'^^yp'i-ocnj) 


THIRTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


1  ^'MILLftRH  FILLMDREj^         I 


-e-f 


ILLARD  FILLMORE,  thi.-- 
'   teenth  President  of  the  United 
States,    was  born  at  Summer 
f    Hill,  Cayuga  Co.,   N.  Y  .,  on 
the  7th  of  January,  1800.   His 
father  was  a  farmer,  and  ow- 
mg  to  misfortune,  in  humble  cir- 
cumstances.    Of  his  mother,  the 
daughter  of  Dr.  Abiathar  Millard, 
of  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  it   has  been 
said  that  she  |X)ssessed  an  intellect 
ofverjMiigh  order,  united  with  much 
personal  loveliness,  sweetness  of  dis- 
ixjsit'.on,  graceful  manners  and  ex- 
quisite sensibilities.      She   died   in 
1831 ;  having  lived  to  see  her  son  a 
'        young  man  of  distinguished    prom- 
ise, though  she  was  not  permitted  to  witness  the  high 
dignity  which  he  finally  attained. 

In  consequence  of  the  secluded  liome  and  limited 
iTieans  of  his  father,  Millard  enjoyed  but  slerder  ad- 
vantages for  education  in  his  early  years.  The  com- 
mon schools,  which  he  occasionally  attended  were 
verv  imperfect  institutions;  and  books  were  scarce 
and  expensive.  There  was  nothing  then  in  his  char- 
acter to  indicate  the  brilliant  career  upon  which  he 
was  about  to  enter.  He  was  a  plain  fanner's  boy ; 
intelligent,  good-looking,  kind-hearted.  The  sacred 
influences  of  home  liad  taught  him  to  revere  the  Bible, 
and  had  laid  liie  foundations  of  an  upright  character. 
When  fourteen  years  of  age,  his  father  sent  him 
some  hundred  miles  from  home,  to  the  then  wilds  of 
Livingston  County,  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  clothier. 
Near  the  mill  there  was  a  small  villiage,  wherp  some 


enterprising  man  had  commenced  the  collection  of  a 
village  librarj'.  This  i^roved  an  inestimable  blessing 
to  young  Fillmore.  His  evenings  were  spent  in  read- 
ing. Soon  every  leisure  moment  was  occupied  with 
books.  His  thirst  for  knowledge  became  insatiate 
and  the  selections  which  he  made  were  continually 
more  elevating  and  instructive.  He  read  history, 
biography,  oratory,  and  thus  gradually  there  was  en- 
kindled in  his  heart  a  desire  to  be  something  more 
than  a  mere  worker  with  his  hands;  and  he  was  be- 
coming,  almost  unknown  to  himself,  a  well-informed, 
educated  man. 

The  young  clothier  had  now  attained  the  age  0/ 
nineteen  years,  and  was  of  fine  personal  appearance 
and  of  gentlemanly  demeanor.  It  so  happened  that 
there  was  a  gentleman  m  the  neighborhood  of  ample 
pecuniary  means  and  of  benevolence, — Judge  Walter 
Wood, — who  was  struck  with  the  prepossessing  ap- 
pearance of  young  Fillmore.  He  made  his  acquaint- 
ance, and  was  so  much  impressed  with  his  ability  and 
attainments  that  he  advised  him  to  abandon  his 
trade  and  devote  himself  to  the  study  of  the  law.  The 
young  man  replied,  that  he  had  no  means  of  his  own. 
r.o  friends  to  help  him  and  that  his  previous  educa- 
tion had  been  very  imperfect.  But  Judge  Wood  liad 
so  much  confidence  in  him  that  he  kindly  offered  to 
take  him  into  his  own  office,  and  to  loan  him  such 
money  as  he  needed.  Most  gratefully  the  generous 
offer  was  accepted. 

There  is  in  many  minds  a  strange  delusion  about) 
a- collegiate  education.  A  young  man  is  supposed  to 
be  liberally  educated  if  he  has  graduated  at  some  col- 
lege. But  many  a  boy  loiters  through  university  hall ; 
•ind  then  enters  a  law  office,  who  is  by  no  means  as 


06 


Millard  FiLLMokR. 


well  prepared  to  prosecute  his  legal  studies  as  was 
Millard  Fillmore  when  he  graduated  at  the  clothing- 
mill  at  the  end  of  four  years  of  manual  labor,  during 
which  every  leisure  moment  had  been  devoted  to  in- 
tense mental  culture. 

In  1S23,  when  twenty-three  years  of  age,  he  v/as 
admitted  to  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  He  then 
went  to  the  village  of  Aurora,  and  commenced  the 
practice  of  law.  In  this  secluded,  peaceful  region, 
his  practice  of  course  was  limited,  and  there  was  no 
opportunity  for  a  sudden  rise  in  fortune  or  in  fame. 
Here,  in  the  year  1826,  he  married  a  lady  of  great 
moral  worth,  and  one  capable  of  adorning  any  station 
she  might  be  called  to  fill, — Miss  Abigail  Powers. 

His  elevation  of  character,  his  untiring  industry, 
his  legal  acquirements,  and  his  skill  as  an  advocate, 
gradually  attracted  attention  ;  and  he  was  invited  to 
enter  into  partnership  under  highly  advantageous 
circumstances,  with  an  elder  member  of  the  bar  in 
Buffalo.  Just  before  removing  to  Buffalo,  in  1829, 
he  took  his  seat  in  the  House  of  Assembly,  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  as  a  representative  from  Erie 
County.  Though  he  had  never  taken  a  very  active 
part  in  politics,  his  vote  and  his  sympathies  were  with 
the  Whig  party.  The  State  was  then  Democratic, 
and  he  found  himself  in  a  helpless  minority  in  the 
Legislature  ,  still  the  testimony  comes  from  all  parlies, 
that  his  courtesy,  ability  and  integrity,  won,  to  a  very 
unusual  degrte  the  respect  of  his  associates. 

In  the  autumn  of  1832,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in 
the  United  States  Congress  He  entered  that  troubled 
arena  in  some  of  the  most  tunmltuous  hours  of  our 
national  history.  The  great  conflict  respecting  the 
national  bank  and  the  removal  of  the  deposits,  was 
then  raging. 

His  term  of  two  years  closed  ;  and  he  returned  to 
his  profession,  which  he  pursued  with  increasing  rep- 
utation and  success.  After  a  lapse  of  two  years 
he  again  became  a  candidate  for  Congress ;  was  re- 
elected, and  took  his  seat  in  1837.  His  past  expe- 
rience as  a  representative  gave  him  stiength  and 
confidence.  The  first  term  of  service  in  Congress  to 
any  man  can  be  but  little  more  than  an  introduction. 
He  was  now  prepared  for  active  duty.  All  his  ener- 
gies were  brought  to  bear  upon  the  public  good.  Every 
measure  received  his  impress. 

Mr.  FilliTiore  was  now  a  man  of  wide  repute,  and 
his  popularity  filled  the  State,  and  in  the  year  1847, 
he  was  elected  Comptroller  of    the   State. 


Mr.  Fillmore  had  attained  the  age  of  forty-seven 
years.  His  labors  at  the  bar,  in  the  Legislature,  in 
Congress  andas  Comptroller,  had  given  him  very  con- 
siderable fame.  The  Whigs  were  casting  about  to 
find  suitable  candidates  for  President  and  Vice-Presi- 
dent at  the  approaching  election.  Far  away,  on  the 
waters  of  the  Rio  Grande,  there  was  a  rough  old 
soldier,  who  had  fought  one  or  two  successful  battles 
with  the  Mexicans,  which  had  caused  his  name  to  be 
proclaimed  in  tiumpet-tones  all  over  the  land.  But 
it  was  necessaiy  to  associate  with  him  on  the  same 
ticket  some  man  of  reputation  as  a  statesman. 

Under  the  influence  of  these  considerations,  the 
namesofZachary  Taylor  and  Millard  Fillmore  became 
the  rallying-cry  of  the  Whigs,  as  their  candidates  for 
President  and  Vice-Peesident.  The  Whig  ticket  was 
signally  triumphant.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1849, 
Gen.  Taylor  was  inaugurated  President,  and  Millard 
Fillmore  Vice-President,  of  the  United  States. 

On  the  9th  of  July,  1850,  President  Taylor,  but 
about  one  year  and  four  months  after  his  inaugura 
tion,  was  suddenly  taken  sick  and  died.  By  the  Con- 
stitution, Vice-President  Fillmore  thus  became  Presi- 
dent. He  appointed  a  very  able  cabinet,  of  which 
the  illustrious  Daniel  Webster  was  Secretary  of  State. 
Mr.  Fillmore  had  very  serious  difficulties  to  contend 
with,  since  the  opposition  had  a  majority  in  both 
Houses.  He  did  everything  in  his  power  to  cone  iliate 
the  South ;  but  the  pro-slavery  party  in  the  South  felt 
the  inadequacy  of  all  measuresof  transient  conciliation. 
The  population  of  the  free  States  was  so  rapidly  in- 
creasing over  that  of  the  slave  States  that  it  was  in- 
evitable that  the  power  of  the  Government  should 
soon  pass  into  the  hands  of  the  free  States.  The 
famous  compromise  measures  were  adopted  under  Mr. 
Fillmcre's  adminstration,  and  the  Japan  Expedition 
was  sent  out.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1853,  Mr.  Fill- 
more, having  served  one  term,  retired. 

In  1856,  Mr.  Fillmore  was  nominated  for  the  Pres- 
idency by  the  "  Know  Nothing  "  party,  but  was  beaten 
by  Mr.  Buchanan.  After  that  Mr.  Fillmore  lived  in 
retirement.  During  the  terrible  conflict  of  civil  war, 
he  was  mostly  silent.  It  was  generally  supposed  lha» 
his  sympathies  were  rather  with  those  who  were  en- 
deavoring to  overthrow  our  institutions.  President 
Fillmore  kept  aloof  from  the  conflict,  without  any 
cordial  words  of  cheer  to  the  one  party  or  the  other. 
He  was  thus  forgotten  by  both.  He  lived  to  a  ripe 
old  age,  and  died  in  Buffalo.  N.  Y.,  March  8,    1874. 


tl»/iVF(,.,.,j^, 


OF  THF 


POURTEENTH  PRESIDENT 


-^  ■:. 


-^'-' 


^'T^ 


P 

K;■•■;■■-*■^•  ,•,;;-; 

15)  (ov 


fourteenth    President  of  the 
■  United  States,  was  born  in 
Hillsborough,    N.    H.,    Nov. 
23,  1804.     His  father  was  a 
Revolutionary   soldier,   who, 
with   his   own    strong    arm, 
hewed   out  a   liome   in    the 
wilderness.     He  was  a  man 
of    inflexible    integrity;     of 
strong,  though   uncultivated 
mind,  and  an  uncompromis- 
ing Democrat.      The   mother   of 
Franklin  Pierce  was  all  that  a  son 
y        could  desire, — an  intelligent,  pru- 
dent, affectionate.  Christian  wom- 
an.    Franklin  was  the  sixth  of  eight  children. 

Franklin  was  a  very  bright  and  handsome  boy,  gen- 
erous, warm-hearted  and  brave.  He  won  alike  the 
love  of  old  and  young.  The  boys  on  the  play  ground 
loved  him.  His  teachers  loved  him.  The  neighbors 
looked  upon  him  with  pride  and  affection.  He  was 
by  instinct  a  gentleman;  always  speaking  kind  words, 
doing  kind  deeds,  with  a  peculiar  unstudied  tact 
which  taught  him  what  was  agreeable.  Without  de- 
veloping any  precocity  of  genius,  or  any  unnatural 
devotion  to  books,  he  was  a  good  scholar;  in  body, 
in  mind,  in  affections,  a  finely-developed  boy. 

When  sixteen  years  of  age,  in  the  year  1820,  he 
entered  Bowdoin  College,  at  Brunswick,  Me  He  was 
one  of  the  most  jxapular  young  men  in  the  college. 
The  purity  of  his  moral  character,  the  unvarying 
courtesy  of  his  demeanor,  his  rank  as  a  scholar,  and 


genial  nature,  rendered  him  a  universal  favorite. 
There  was  something  very  peculiarly  winning  in  his 
address,  and  it  was  evidently  not  in  the  slightest  de- 
gree studied:  it  was  the  simple  outgushing  of  his 
own  magnanimous  and  loving  nature. 

Upon  graduating,  in  the  year  1824,  Franklin  Pierce 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Judge 
Woodbury,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  lawyers  of 
the  State,  and  a  man  of  great  private  worth.  The 
eminent  social  qualities  of  the  young  lawyer,  his 
father's  prominence  as  a  public  man,  and  the  brilliant 
]x>litical  career  into  which  Judge  Woodbury  was  en- 
tering, all  tended  to  entice  Mr.  Pierce  into  the  faci- 
nating  yet  perilous  path  of  political  life.  With  all 
the  ardor  of  his  nature  he  espoused  the  cause  of  Gen. 
Jackson  for  the  Presidency.  He  commenced  the 
practice  of  law  in  Hillsborough,  and  was  soon  elected 
to  represent  the  town  in  the  State  Legislature.  Here 
he  served  for  four  yeais.  The  last  two  years  he  was 
chosen  speaker  of  the  house  by  a  very  large  vote. 

In  1833,  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine,  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  Congress.  Without  taking  an  active 
part  in  debates,  he  was  Hiithful  and  laborious  in  duty 
and  ever  rising  in  the  estimation  of  those  with  whom 
he  was  associatad. 

In  1837,  being  then  but  thirty-three  years  of  age, 
he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States; 
taking  his  seat  just  as  Mr.  Van  Buren  commenced 
his  administration.  He  was  the  youngest  member  in 
the  Senate.  In  the  year  1834,  he  married  Miss  Jane 
Means  Appleton,  a  lady  of  rare  beauty  and  accom- 
plishments, and  one  admirably  fitted  to  adorn  even' 
station  with  which  her  husband  was  honoied.    Of  the 


p 


hkANKLtN  Pl&kcn. 


three  sons  who  were  born  to  them,  all  now  sleep  with 
their  parents  in  the  grave. 

In  the  year  1838,  Mr.  Pierce,  with  growing  fame 
and  increasing  business  as  a  lawyer,  took  up  his 
residence  in  Concord,  the  capital  of  New  Hampshire. 
President  Polk,  upon  his  accession  to  office,  appointed 
Mr.  Pierce  attorney-general  of  the  United  States;  but 
the  offer  was  declined,  in  consequence  of  numerous 
professional  engagements  at  home,  and  the  precariuos 
state  of  Mrs.  Pierce's  health.  He  also,  about  the 
same  time  declined  the  nomination  for  governor  by  the 
Democratic  party.  The  war  with  Mexico  called  Mr. 
Pierce  in  the  army.  Receiving  the  appointment  of 
brigadier-general,  he  embarked,  with  a  portion  of  his 
troops,  at  Newport,  R.  I.,  on  the  27th  of  May,  1847. 
He  took  an  important  part  in  this  war,  proving  him- 
self a  brave  and  true  soldier. 

When  Gen.  Pierce  reached  his  home  in  his  native 
State,  he  was  received  enthusiastically  by  the  advo- 
cates of  the  Mexican  war,  and  coldly  by  his  oppo- 
nents. He  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
very  frequently  taking  an  active  part  in  political  ques- 
tions, giving  his  cordial  support  to  the  pro-slavery 
wing  of  the  Democratic  party.  The  compromise 
measures  met  cordially  with  his  approval ;  and  he 
strenuously  advocated  the  enforcement  of  the  infa- 
mous fugitive-slave  law,  which  so  shocked  the  religious 
sensibilities  of  tlie  North.  He  thus  became  distin- 
guished as  a  "  Northern  man  with  Southern  principles.' 
The  strong  partisans  of  slavery  in  the  South  conse- 
quently regarded  him  as  a  man  whom  they  could 
safely  trust  in  office  to  carry  out  their  plans. 

On  the  i2th  of  June,  1852,  the  Democratic  conven- 
tion met  in  Baltimore  to  nominate  a  candidate  for  the 
Presidency.  For  four  days  they  continued  in  session, 
r.nd  in  thirty-five  ballotings  no  one  had  obtained  a 
two-thirds  vote.  Not  a  vote  thus  far  had  been  thrown 
for  Gen.  Pierce.  Then  the  Virginia  delegation 
brought  forward  his  name.  There  were  fourteen 
more  ballotings,  during  which  Gen.  Pierce  constantly 
gained  strength,  until,  at  the  forty-ninth  ballot,  he 
received  two  hundred  and  eighty-two  votes,  and  all 
other  candidates  eleven.  Gen.  Winfield  Scott  was 
the  Whig  candidate.  Gen.  Pierce  was  chosen  with 
great  unanimity.  Only  four  States — Vermont,  Mas- 
sachusetts, Kentucky  and  Tennessee  —  cast  their 
electoral  votes  against  him  Gen.  Franklin  Pierce 
was  therefore  inaugurated  President  of  the  United 
States   on    the  4th  of  March,    1853. 


His  administration  proved  one  of  the  most  stormy  our 
country  had  ever  experienced.  The  controversy  be 
tween  slavery  and  freedom  was  then  approaching  its 
culminating  point.  It  became  evident  that  there  was 
an  "  irrepressible  conflict  "  between  them,  and  that 
tliis  Nation  could  not  long  exist  "  half  slave  and  half 
free."  President  Pierce,  during  the  whole  of  his  ad- 
ministration, did  every  thing  he  could  to  conciliate 
the  South  ;  but  it  was  all  in  vain.  The  conflict  every 
year  grew  more  violent,  and  threats  of  the  dissolution 
of  the  Union  were  borne  to  the  North  on  every  South- 
ern breeze. 

Such  was  the  condition  of  affairs  when  President 
Pierce  approached  the  close  of  his  four-years'  term 
of  office.  The  North  had  become  thoroughly  alien- 
ated from  him.  The  anti-slavery  sentiment,  goaded 
by  great  outrages,  had  been  rapidly  increasing;  all 
the  intellectual  ability  and  social  worth  of  President 
Pierce  were  forgotten  in  deep  reprehension  of  his  ad- 
ministrative acts.  The  slaveholders  of  the  South,  also, 
unmindful  of  the  fidelity  with  which  he  had  advo- 
cated those  measures  of  Government  which  they  ap- 
proved, and  perhaps,  also,  feeling  that  he  had 
rendered  himself  so  unpopular  as  no  longer  to  be 
able  acceptably  to  serve  them,  ungratefully  dropped 
him,  and  nominated  James  Buchanan  to  succeed  him. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1857,  President  Pierce  re- 
tired to  his  home  in  Concord.  Of  three  children,  two 
had  died,  and  his  only  surviving  child  had  been 
killed  before  his  eyes  by  a  railroad  accident ,  and  his 
wife,  one  of  the  most  estimable  and  accomplished  of 
ladies,  was  rapidly  sinking  in  consumption.  The 
hour  of  dreadful  gloom  soon  came,  and  he  was  left 
alone  in  the  world,  without  wife  or  child. 

When  the  terrible  Rebellion  burst  forth,  which  di- 
vided our  country  into  two  parties,  and  two  only,  Mr. 
Pierce  remained  steadfast  in  the  principles  which  he 
had  always  cherished,  and  gave  his  sympathies  to 
that  pro-slavery  party  with  which  he  had  ever  been 
allied.  He  declined  to  do  anything,  either  by  voice 
or  pen,  to  strengthen  the  hand  of  the  National  Gov- 
ernment. He  continued  to  reside  in  Concord  until 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  October, 
1869.  He  was  one  of  the  most  genial  and  social  ol 
men,  an  honored  communicant  of  the  Episcopni 
Church,  and  one  of  the  kindest  of  neighbors.  Gen 
erous  to  a  fault,  he  contributed  liberally  for  the  al- 
leviation of  sufferingand  want, and  manyof  his  towns 
people  were  often  gladened  by  his  material   bounty. 


''tl^7z^^  (2-^UC- 


I'IFTEENTH  PRESIDENT 


««c ►- 


-» »*- 


»»> 


m;^ 


Hif'f 


AMES  BUCHANAN,  the  fif- 
teenth President  of  the  United 
States,  was  born  in  a  small 
Irontier  town,  at  the  foot  of  the 
eastern  ridge  of  the  AUegha- 
nies,  in  Franklin  Co.,  Penn.,  on 
c  23d  of  April,  1791.  The  place 
A  Here  the  humble  cabin  of  his 
t  ither  st'od  was  called  Stony 
'  Batter.  It  was  a  wild  and  ro- 
mantic spot  in  a  gorge  of  the  moun- 
tains, with  towering  summits  rising 
f  grandly  all  around.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  the  north  of  Ireland; 
a  ixx)r  man,  who  had  emigrated  in 
f  1783,  with  little  property  save  his 
own  strong  arms.  Five  years  afterwards  he  married 
Elizabeth  Spear,  the  daughter  of  a  respectable  farmer, 
and,  with  his  young  bride,  plunged  into  the  wilder- 
ness, staked  his  claim,  reared  his  log-hut,  opened  a 
clearing  with  his  axe,  and  settled  down  there  to  per- 
form his  obscure  part  in  the  drama  of  life.  In  this  se- 
cluded home,  where  James  was  born,  he  remained 
for  eight  years,  enjoying  but  few  social  or  intellectual 
advantagi  s.  VVlien  James  was  eight  years  of  age,  his 
father  removed  to  the  village  of  Mercersburg,  where 
Lis  son  was  placed  at  school,  and  commenced  a 
course  of  study  in  English,  Latin  and  Greek.  His 
progress  was  rapid,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  he 
entered  Dickmson  College,  at  Carlisle.  Here  he  de- 
veloped remarkable  talent,  and  took  his  stand  among 
the  fir'it  sciiolars  in  the  institution.  His  application 
\0  stud\  was  intense,  and  j-et  his  native  powers    en- 


abled him  to  master  the  most  abstruse  subjects  wf  "- 
facility. 

In  the  year  rSog,  he  graduated  with  the  highest 
honors  of  his  clas:..  He  was  then  eighteen  years  ot 
age;  tall  and  graceful,  vigorous  in  health,  fond  of 
athletic  sport,  an  unerring  shot,  and  enlivened  with 
an  exuberant  flow  of  animal  spirits.  He  immediately 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  city  of  Lancaster, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  t8i2,  when  he  was 
but  twenty-one  years  of  age.  Verv  rapidly  lie  rose 
in  his  profession,  and  at  once  took  undisputed  stand 
with  the  ablest  lawyers  of  the  State.  When  but 
twenty-si.x  years  of  age,  unaided  by  counsel,  he  suc- 
cessfully defended  before  the  State  Senate  01  e  of  the 
judges  of  the  State,  who  was  tried  upon  articles  01 
impeachment.  At  the  age  of  thirty  it  was  generally 
admitted  that  he  stood  at  the  head  of  the  bar;  anc 
there  was  no  lawyer  in  the  State  who  had  a  more  lu- 
crative practice. 

In  1820,  he  reluctantly  consented  to  run  as  s 
candidate  for  Congress.  He  was  elected,  and  fo: 
ten  years  he  remained  a  member  of  the  Lower  House 
During  the  vacations  of  Congress,  he  occasionally 
tried  some  important  case.  In  1831,  he  retired 
altogether  from  the  toils  of  his  profession,  having  ac- 
quired an  ample  fortune. 

Gen.  Jackson,  upon  his  elevation  to  the  Presidency, 
apjxjinted  Mr.  Buchanan  minister  to  Russia.  The 
duties  of  his  mission  he  performed  with  ability,  which 
gave  satisfaction  to  all  parties.  Upon  his  return,  ir; 
1833,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  United  States 
Senate.  He  there  met,  as  his  associates,  WeLsier, 
Clay,  Wright  and  Calhoun.  He  advocated  tl'.e  meas- 
mes  proposed  by  President  Jackson,  of  making  rejjn- 


70 


JAMES  BUCHANAN. 


sals  against  France,  to  enforce  the  payment  of  our 
claims  against  that  country  ;  and  defended  the  course 
of  the  President  in  his  unprecedented  and  wholesale 
removal  from  office  of  those  who  were  not  the  sup- 
porters of  his  administration.  Upon  this  question  he 
was  brought  into  direct  collision  with  Henry  Clay. 
He  also,_  with  voice  and  vote,  advocated  expunging 
from  the  journal  of  the  Senate  the  vote  of  censure 
against  Gen.  Jackson  for  removing  the  deposits. 
Earnestly  he  opposed  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  the 
District  of  Columbia,  and  urged  the  prohibition  of  the 
circulation  of  anti-slavery  documents  by  the  United 
States  mails. 

As  to  petitions  on  the  subject  of  slavery,  he  advo- 
cated that  they  should  be  respectfully  received;  and 
that  the  reply  should  be  returned,  that  Congress  had  _ 
no  [X)wer  to  legislate  upon  the  subject.  "  Congress," 
said  he,  "  might  as  well  undertake  to  interfere  with 
slavery  under  a  foreign  government  as  in  any  of  the 
States  where  it  now  exists." 

Upon  Mr.  Polk's  accession  to  the  Presidency,  Mr. 
Buchanan  became  Secretary  of  State,  and  as  such, 
took  his  share  of  the  responsibility  in  the  conduct  of 
the  Mexican  War.  Mr.  Polk  assumed  that  crossing 
the  Nueces  by  the  American  troops  into  the  disputed 
territory  was  not  wrong,  but  for  the  Mexicans  to  cross 
the  Rio  Grande  into  that  territory  was  a  declaration 
of  war.  No  candid  man  can  read  with  pleasure  the 
account  of  the  course  our  Government  pursued  in  that 
movement. 

Mr.  Buchanan  identified  himself  thoroughly  with 
the  party  devoted  to  the  pi":rpetuation  and  extension 
of  slavery,  and  brouglit  all  the  energies  of  his  mind 
to  bear  agdinst  the  Wilmot  Proviso.  He  gave  his 
cordial  approval  to  the  compromise  measures  of  1S50, 
which  included  the  fugitive-slave  law.  Mr.  Pierce, 
upon  his  election  to  the  Presidency,  honored  Mr. 
Buchanan  with  the  mission  to  England. 

In' the  year  1856,  a  national  Democratic  conven- 
tion nominated  Mr.  Buchanan  for  the  Presidency.  The 
political  conflict  was  one  of  the  most  severe  in  which 
our  country  has  ever  engaged.  All  the  friends  of 
slavery  were  on  one  side;  all  the  advocates  of  its  re- 
striction and  final  abolition,  on  the  other.  Mr.  Fre- 
mont, the  candidate  of  the  enemies  of  slavery,  re- 
reived  114  electoral  votes.  Mr.  Buchanan  received 
174,  and  was  elected.  The  popular  vote  stood 
1,340,618,  for  Fremont,  r, 224, 750  for  Buchanan.  On 
March   4th,    1857,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  inaugurated. 

Mr.  Buchanan  was  far  advanced  in  life.  Only  four 
years  were  wanting  to  fill  up  his  threescore  years  and 
ten.  His  own  friends,  those  with  whom  he  had  been 
allied  in  political  principles  and  action  for  years,  were 
seeking  the  destruction  of  the  Government,  that  tliey 
might  rear  upon  the  ruins  of  our  free  institutions  a 
nation  whose  corner-stone  should  be  human  slavery. 
In  this  emergency,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  hopelessly  be- 
wildered     He  could  not,  with  his  long-avowed  prin^ 


ciples,  consistently  oppose  the  State-rights  party  in 
their  assumptions.  As  President  of  the  United  States, 
bound  by  his  oath  faithfully  to  administer  the  laws, 
he  could  not,  without  perjury  of  the  grossest  kind, 
unite  with  those  endeavoring  to  overthrow  the  repub- 
lic.    He  therefore  did  nothing. 

The  opponents  of  Mr.  Buchanan's  administration 
nominated  Abraham  Lincoln  as  their  standard  bearer 
in  the  next  Presidential  canvass.  The  pro-slaverv 
party  declared,  that  if  he  were  elected,  and  the  con- 
trol of  the  Government  were  thus  taken  from  their 
hands,  they  would  secede  from  the  Union,  taking 
with  them,  as  they  retired,  the  National  Capitol  at 
Washington,  and  the  lion's  share  of  the  territory  of 
the  United  States. 

Mr.  Buchanan's  sympatjiy  with  the  pro-slaver^' 
party  was  such,  that  he  had  been  willing  to  ofiferthem 
far  more  than  they  liad  ventured  to  claim.  All  the 
South  had  professed  to  ask  of  the  North  was  non- 
intervention upon  the  subject  of  slavery.  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan had  been  ready  to  offer  them  the  active  co- 
operation of  the  Government  to  defend  and  extend 
the  institution. 

As  the  storm  increased  in  violence,  the  slaveholders 
claiming  the  right  to  secede,  and  Mr.  Buchanan  avow- 
ing that  Congress  had  no  power  to  prevent  it,  one  of 
the  most  pitiable  exhibitions  of  governmental  im- 
becility was  exhibited  the  world  has  ever  seen.  He 
declared  that  Congress  had  no  power  to  enforce  its 
laws  in  any  State  which  had  withdrawn,  or  which 
was  attempting  to  withdraw  from  the  Union.  This 
was  not  the  doctrine  of  Andrew  Jackson,  when,  with 
his  hand  upon  his  sword  hilt,  he  exclaimed,  "  The 
Union  must  and  sliall  be  preserved!" 

South  Carolina  seceded  in  December,  i860;  nearly 
three  months  before  the  inauguration  of  President 
Lincoln.  Mr.  Buchanan  looked  on  in  listless  despair. 
The  rebel  flag  was  raised  in  Charleston:  Fort  Sumpter 
was  besieged;  our  forts,  navy-yards  and  arsenals 
were  seized  ;  our  depots  of  military  stores  were  plun- 
dered ;  and  our  custom-houses  and  post-offices  were 
appropriated  by  the  rebels. 

The  energy  of  the  rebels,  and  the  imbecility  of  our 
Executive,  were  alike  marvelous.  The  Nation  looked 
on  in  agony,  waiting  for  the  slow  weeks  to  glide  away, 
and  close  the  administration,  so  terrible  in  its  weak- 
ness At  length  the  long-looked-for  hour  of  deliver- 
ance came,  when  Abraham  Lincoln  was  to  receive  the 
scepter. 

The  administration  of  President  Buchanan  was 
certainly  the  most  calamitous  our  country  has  ex- 
perienced. His  best  friends  cannot  recall  it  with 
pleasure.  And  still  more  deplorable  it  is  for  his  fame, 
that  in  that  dreadful  conflict  which  rolled  its  billows 
of  flame  and  blood  over  our  whole  land,  no  word  came 
from  his  lips  to  indicate  his  wish  that  our  country's 
banner  should  triumph  over  the  flag  of  the  rebellion 
He  died  at  his  Wheatland   retreat,   June    i,    i868. 


/'»,,,, 


d-, 


7-^-f 


'V-<i— ^^  ,        C^-i 


.-^/^SZ*^- 


'tiT^^ 


SIXTEENTH  PRES/DENT. 


79 


<ABRAHAM>   " 


s^sas^g' 


ii>f^<ip  <  LINCOLN.  >  I 


BRAHAM    LINCOLN,    the 
,,    sixteenth    President     of     the 
lii^L' lilted   States,   was   born    in 
Hardin    Co.,  Ky.,    Feb.     12, 
1 809.     About  the  year  1 7  80,  a 
man  by  the  name  of  Abraham 
Lincoln  left  Virginia  with    his 
I'aniily  and  moved   into    the  tlien 
wilds  of  Kentucky.  Only  two  years 
after  this  emigration,  still  a   yonng 
man,  while  working  one  day  in  a 
field,  was  stealthily  appro::ched  by 
an  Indian  and  shot  dead.   His  widow 
was  left  in  extreme  ix)verty  with  five 
little  children,  three  boys  and    two 
girls.     Thomas,  the  youngest  of  the 
loys,  was  four  years  of  age   at  his 
father's  death.      This   Thomas  was 
the  father  of  .\braham  Lincoln,  the 
President     of     the     United     States 
whose  name   must    henceforth    foi-ever   be    enrolled 
with  the  most  prominent  in  the  annals  of  our  world. 
Of  course    no  record   has  been    kept   of  the    life 
of  one  so  lowly  as  Thomas  Lincoln.     He  was  among 
the  poorest  of  the  [X)or.     His  home  was  a  wretched 
log -cabin ;  his  food  the  coarsest    and    the    meanest. 
Education  he  had  none;  he  could  never  either   read 
or  write.     As  soon  as  he  was  able  to  do  anything  for 
himself,  he  was  compelled  to  leave  the   cabin   of  his 
starving  mother,  and  push  out  into  the  world,  a  friend- 
.ess,  wandering  boy,  seeking  work.      He  hired  him- 
self out,  and  thussijent  the  whole  of  his   youth  as  a 
?il)orer  in  the  fields  of  others. 

V\'hen  twenty-eight  years  of  age  he  buili  a  log- 
labin  of  his  own,  and  married  Nancy  Hanks,  the 
daughter  of  another  family  of  poor  Kentucky  emi- 
grants, who  had  also  come  from  Virginia.  Their 
second  cb.ild  was  Aliraham  Lincoln,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  The  mother  of  Abraham  was  a  noble 
woman,  gentle,  loving,  pensive,  created  to  adorn 
a  palace,  doomed  to  toil  and  pine,  and  die  in  a  hovel. 
"  .All  <hat  I  am,  or  hope  to  be,"  e.Nclaims  the  grate- 
ful son  '  I  owe  to  my  angel-mother.  " 

When  he  was  eight  years  of  age,  his  father  sold  his 


cabin  and  small  farm,  and  moved  to  Indiana    Whei^ 
two  years  later  his  mother  died. 

Abraham  soon  became  the  scribe  of  the  uneducated 
community  around  him.  He  could  not  have  had  j 
better  school  than  this  to  teach  him  to  put  thoughts 
into  words.  He  also  became  an  eager  reader.  The 
books  he  could  obtain  were  few;  but  these  he  ead 
and  re-read  until  they  were  almost  committt'  <  tc 
memory. 

As  the  years  rolled  on,  the  lot  of  this  lowly  fair.ily 
was  the  usual  lot  of  humanity.  There  were  joys  and 
griefs,  weddings  and  funerals.  Abraham's  sisto 
.Sarah,  to  whom  he  was  tenderly  attached,  was  mai 
ried  when  a  child  of  Init  fourteen  years  of  age,  and 
soon  died.  The  family  was  gradually  scattered.  Mr 
Thomas  Lincoln  sold  out  his  squatter's  claim  in  1830 
and  emigrated  to  Macon  Co.,  111. 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  then  twenty-one  years  of  age. 
With  vigorous  hands  he  aided  his  father  in  rearing 
another  log-cabin,  .\brahani  worked  diligently  at  this 
until  he  saw  the  family  comfortably  settled,  and  theii 
small  lot  of  enclosed  prairie  planted  with  corn,  when 
he  announced  to  his  father  his  intention  to  leave 
home,  and  to  go  out  into  the  world  and  seek  his  for- 
tune. Little  did  he  or  his  friends  imagine  how  bril- 
liant that  fortune  was  to  be.  He  saw  the  value  ol 
education  and  was  intensely  earnest  to  improve  liis 
mind  to  the  utmost  of  his  power.  He  saw  the  ruin 
which  ardent  spirits  were  causing,  and  I  e<  ame 
strictly  temperate;  refising  to  allow  a  drop  of  intoxi- 
eating  liquor  to  pass  his  lips.  And  he  had  read  in 
God's  word,  "Thou  shalt  not  take  the  name  of  tha 
Lord  thy  God  in  -'  .1..;"  and  a  profane  expression  ha 
was  never  heard  to  utter.  Religion  he  revered.  Hii 
morals  were  pure,  and  he  was  uncontaminated  by  a 
single  vice. 

Voung  Abraham  worked  for  a  time  as  a  hired  labore) 
among  the  farmers.  Then  he  went  to  Springfield 
where  he  was  employed  in  building  a  large  flat-boat 
In  this  he  took  a  herd  of  swine,  floated  them  dowi 
ihe  Sangamon  to  the  Illinois,  and  thence  by  the  Mis 
sissippi  to  New  Orleans.  Whatever  Abraham  Lin 
coin  undertook,  he  performed  so  faithfully  as  to  givv 
great  satisfaction  to  his  employers.      In  this  adven 


io 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 


ture  his  employers  were  so  well  pleased,  that  upon 
his  return  tliey  placed  a  store  and  mill  under  his  care. 

In  1832,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  he 
enlisted  and  was  cliosen  captain  of  a  company.  He 
returned  to  Sangamon  County,  and  although  only  23 
years  of  age,  was  a  candidate  for  the  Legislature,  but 
was  defeated.  He  soon  after  received  from  Andrew 
Jackson  the  appointmentof  Postmaster  of  New  Salem, 
His  only  post-oftice  was  his  hat.  All  the  letters  he 
received  he  carried  there  ready  to  deliver  to  those 
he  chanced  to  meet.  He  studied  surveying,  and  soon 
made  this  his  business.  In  1834  he  again  became  a 
candidate  for  the  Legislature,  and  was  elected  Mr. 
Stuart,  of  Springfield,  advised  him  to  study  law.  He 
walked  from  New  Salem  to  Springfield,  borrowed  of 
Mr.  Stuart  a  load  of  books,  carried  them  back  and 
began  his  legal  studies.  When  the  Legislature  as- 
sembled he  trudged  on  foot  with  his  pack  on  his  back 
one  hundred  miles  to  Vandalia,  then  the  capital.  In 
1836  he  was  re-elected  to  the  Legislature.  Here  it 
was  he  first  met  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  In  1839  he  re- 
moved to  Springfield  and  began  the  practice  of  law. 
His  success  with  the  jury  was  so  great  that  he  was 
soon  engaged  in  almost  every  noted  case  in  the  circuit. 

In  1854  the  great  discussion  began  between  Mr. 
Lincoln  and  Mr.  Douglas,  on  the  slavery  question. 
In  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  in  Illinois, 
in  1856,  he  took  an  active  part,  and  at  once  became 
one  of  the  leaders  in  that  party.  Mr.  Lincoln's 
speeches  in  opposition  to  Senator  Douglas  in  the  con- 
test in  1858  for  a  seat  in  the  Senate,  form  a  most 
notable  part  of  his  history.  The  issue  was  on  the 
slavery  question,  and  he  took  the  broad  ground  of 
;he  Declaration  of  Independence,  that  all  men  are 
created  equal.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  defeated  in  this  con- 
test, but  won  a  far  higher  prize. 

The  great  Republican  Convention  met  at  Chicago 
on  the  i6th  of  June,  i860.  The  delegates  and 
strangers  who  crowded  tlie  city  amounted  to  twenty- 
five  thousand.  An  immense  building  called  "The 
Wigwam,"  was  reared  to  accommodate  the  Conven- 
tion. There  were  eleven  candidates  for  whom  votes 
were  thrown.  William  H  Seward,  a  man  whose  fame 
as  a  statesman  had  long  filled  the  land,  was  the  most 
orominent.  It  was  generally  supposed  he  would  be 
the  nominee.  Abraham  Lincoln,  however,  received 
the  nomination  on  the  third  ballot.  Little  did  he  tiien 
dream  of  the  weary  years  of  toil  and  care,  and  the 
bloody  death,  to  which  that  nomination  doomed  him: 
andaslittledid  hedream  that  he  was  to  render  services 
to  his. country,  which  would  fix  upon  him  the  eyes  of 
the  whole  civilized  world,  and  which  would  give  him 
a  place  in  the  affections  of  his  countrymen,  second 
tnly,  if  second,  to  that  of  Washington. 

Election  day  came  and  Mr.  Lincoln  received  180 
electoral  votes  out  of  203  cast,  and  was,  therefore, 
constitutionally  elected  President  of  the  United  States. 
The  tirad?  of  fibus§  that  was  poured  upon  this   gcx)4 


and  merciful  man,  especially  by  the  slaveholders,  was 
greater  than  upon  any  other  man  ever  elected  to  this 
high  position.  In  February,  i86i,  Mr.  Lincoln  started 
for  Washington,  stopi>ing  in  all  the  large  cities  on  his 
way  making  speeches.  The  whole  journey  was  frought 
with  much  danger.  Many  of  the  Southern  States  had 
already  seceded,  and  several  attempts  at  assassination 
were  afterwards  brought  to  liglrt.  A  gang  in  Balti- 
more had  arranged,  upon  his  arrival  to"  get  up  a  row,' 
and  in  the  confusion  to  make  sure  of  his  death  with 
revolvers  and  hand-grenades.  A  detective  unravelled 
the  plot,  k  secret  and  special  train  was  provided  to 
take  him  from  HarrisL'urg,  through  Baltimore,  at  an 
unexpected  hour  of  the  night.  The  train  started  at 
half-past  ten  ;  and  to  prevent  any  possible  communi- 
cation on  the  part  oi  the  Secessionists  with  their  Con- 
federate gang  in  Baltimore,  as  soon  as  the  train  had 
started  the  telegraph-wires  were  cut.  Mr.  Lincoln 
reached  Washington  in  safety  and  was  inaugurated, 
although  great  anxiety  was  felt  by  all  loyal  people 

In  the  selection  of  his  cabinet  Mr.  Lincoln  gave 
to  Mr  Seward  the  Department  of  State,  and  to  other 
prominent  opponents  before  the  convention  he  gave 
important  positions. 

During  no  otlier  administration  have  the  duties 
devolving  upon  the  President  been  so  manifold,  and 
the  responsibilities  so  great,  as  those  which  fell  to 
the  lot  of  President  Lincoln.  Knowing  this,  and 
feeling  his  own  weakness  and  inability  to  meet,  and  in 
his  own  strength  to  cope  with,  the  difficulties,  he 
learned  early  to  seek  Divine  wisdom  and  guidance  in 
determining  his  plans,  and  Divine  comfort  in  all  his 
trials,  bo'h  personal  and  national  Contrary  to  his 
own  estimate  of  himself,  Mr.  Lincoln  was  one  of  the 
most  courageous  of  men.  He  went  directly  into  the 
rebel  capital  just  as  the  retreating  foe  was  leaving, 
with  no  guard  but  a  few  sailors.  From  the  time  he 
had  left  Springfield,  in  1861,  however,  plans  liad  been 
made  for  his  assassination, and  he  at  last  fell  a  victim 
to  one  of  them.  April  14,  1865,  he,  with  Gen.  Grant, 
was  urgently  invited  to  attend  Fords'  Theater.  It 
was  announced  that  they  would  Le  present.  Gen. 
Grant,  however,  left  the  city.  President  Lincoln,  feel- 
ing, witli  his  characteristic  kindliness  of  heart,  that 
it  would  be  a  disappointment  if  he  should  fail  them, 
very  reluctantly  consented  to  go.  While  listening  to 
the  play  an  actor  by  the  name  of  John  Wilkes  Booth 
entered  the  box  where  the  President  and  family  were 
seated,  and  fired  a  bullet  into  his  brains.  He  died  the 
next  morning  at  seven  o'clock. 

Never  before,  in  the  history  of  the  world  was  a  nation 
plunged  into  such  deep  gnefby  the  death  of  its  ruler. 
Strong  men  met  in  the  streets  and  wept  in  speechless 
anguish.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  tliat  a  nation  was 
in  tears.  His  was  a  life  which  will  fitly  become  a 
model.  His  name  as  the  savior  of  his  country  '"'iil 
live  with  that  of  Washington's,  its  father;  hisc^'intry- 
mer.  being  unable  to  (jecide    whii  K  is   ti'e   ereate;. 


„w.VF»SlTY  Of   >H'*'"'S' 


'^<:^^-^^-:l{^^-:yi^ 


SEVENTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


3j 


Ai^r  D  U  [If  vr    >iTM(tM?5aM^ 


MDREW  JOHNSON,  seven- 
teenth President  of  the  United 
States.  The  early  life  of 
Vndrew  Johnson  contains  but 
the  record  of  poverty,  destitu- 
tion and  friendlessness.  He 
/  was  born  December  29,  180S, 
m  Raleigh,  N.  C.  His  parents, 
belonging  to  the  class  of  the 
"  poor  whites  "  of  the  South,  -were 
in  such  circumstances,  that  they 
could  not  c-5nf:r  ::.'ei\  the  slight- 
est advantages  of  education  upon 
their  child.  When  Andrew  was  five 
years  of  age,  his  father  accidentally 
lost  iiis  life  while  herorically  endeavoring  to  save  a 
friend  from  drowning,  ''niil  teri  years  of  age,  .*^idrew 
was  a  ragged  boy  about  the  streets,  supjxjrted  by  the 
labor  of  his  mother,  who  obtained  her  living  with 
her  own  hands. 

He  then,  having  never  attended  a  school  one  day, 
and  being  unable  either  to  read  or  write,  was  ap- 
prenticed to  a  tailor  in  his  native  town.  A  gentleman 
was  in  the  habit  of  going  to  the  tailor's  shop  occasion- 
ally, and  reading  to  the  boys  at  work  there.  He  often 
read  from  the  speeches  of  distinguished  British  states- 
men. Andrew,  who  was  endowed  with  a  mind  of  more 
than  ordinary  native  ability,  became  much  interested 
in  these  speeches ;  his  ambition  was  roused,  and  he 
was  inspired  with  a  strong  desire  to  learn  to  read. 

He  accordingly  applied  himself  to  tlie  alphabet,  and 
with  the  assistance  of  some  of  his  fellow-workmen, 
learned  his  letters.  He  then  called  upon  the  gentle- 
man to  borrow  the  book  of  speeches,      The  owner, 


pleased  with  his  zeal,  not  only  gave  him  the  book 
but  assisted  him  in  learning  to  combine  the  letters 
into  words.  Under  such  difficulties  he  pressed  01. 
ward  laboriously,  spending  usually  ten  or  twelve  hours 
at  work  in  the  shop,  and  then  robbing  himself  of  rest 
and  recreation  to  devote  such  time  as  he  could  to 
reading. 

He  went  to  Tennessee  in  1826,  and  located  at 
Greenville,  where  he  married  a  young  lady  who  pos 
sessed  some  education.  Under  her  instructions  he 
learned  to  write  and  cipher.  He  became  prominent 
in  the  village  debating  society,  and  a  favorite  with 
the  students  of  Greenville  College.  In  1828,  he  or- 
ganized a  working  man's  party,  which  elected  him 
alderman,  and  in  1830  elected  him  mayor,  which 
position  he  held  three  years. 

He  now  began  to  take  a  lively  interest  in  political 
affairs;  identifying  himself  with  the  working-classes, 
to  which  be  belonged.  In  1835,  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  Tennes- 
see. He  was  then  just  twenty-seven  years  of  age. 
He  became  a  very  active  member  of  the  legislature 
gave  his  adhesion  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  in 
1840  "stumped  the  State,"  advocating  Martin  Van 
Buren's  claims  to  the  Presidency,  in  opposition  to  thoSv 
of  Gen.  Harrison.  In  this  campaign  he  acquired  much 
readiness  as  a  speaker,  and  extended  and  increased 
his  reputation. 

In  1841,  he  was  elected  Stale  Senator;  in  1843,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  Congress,  and  by  successive 
elections,  held  that  important  post  for  ten  years.  In 
1853,  he  was  elected  Governor  of  Tennessee,  and 
was  re-elected  in  1855.  In  all  these  resi)onsible  ix)si- 
tions,  he  discharged  his  duties  with  distinguished  abi'. 


84 


ANDRE  W  JOHNSON. 


ity,  and  proved  himself  the  warm  friend  of  the  work- 
ing classes.  In  1857,  Mr.  Johnson  was  elected 
United  States  Senator. 

Years  before,  in  1S45,  ^^  ^'^^  warmly  advocated 
the  annexation  of  Texas,  stating  however,  as  his 
reason,  that  he  thought  this  annexation  would  prob- 
ably prove  "  to  be  the  gateway  out  of  which  the  sable 
sons  of  Africa  are  to  pass  from  bondage  to  freedom, 
and  become  merged  in  a  population  congenial  to 
themselves. "  In  1S50,  he  also  supported  the  com- 
promise measures,  the  two  essential  features  of  which 
were,  that  the  white  people  of  the  Territories  should 
be  permitted  to  decide  for  themselves  whether  they 
would  enslave  the  colored  people  or  not,  and  that 
the  *'ree  States  of  the  North  should  return  to  the 
South  persons  who  attempted  to  escape  from  slavery. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  neverashamedof  his  lowly  origin: 
on  the  contrary,  he  often  took  piide  in  avowing  that 
he  owed  his  distinction  to  his  own  exertions.  "Sir," 
said  he  on  the  floor  of  the  Senate,  "  I  do  not  forget 
that  I  am  a  mechanic ;  neither  do  I  forget  that  Adam 
was  a  tailor  and  sewed  fig-leaves,  and  that  our  Sav- 
ior was  the  son  of  a  carpenter." 

In  the  Charleston- Baltimore  convention  of  iSuo,  ae 
{Was  the  choice  of  the  Tennessee  Democrats  for  the 
presidency.  In  1861,  when  the  purpose  of  the  Soutli- 
irn  Democracy  became  apparent,  he  took  a  decided 
stand  in  favor  of  the  Union,  and  held  that  "  slavery 
must  be  held  subordinate  to  the  Union  at  whatever 
cost."  He  returned  to  Tennessee,  and  repeatedly 
imperiled  his  own  life  to  protect  the  Unionists  of 
Tennesee.  Tennessee  having  seceded  from  the 
Union,  President  Lincoln,  on  March  4th,  1862,  ap- 
pointed him  Military  Governor  of  the  State,  and  he 
established  the  most  stringent  military  rule.  His 
numerous  proclamations  attracted  *ide  attention.    In 

1864,  he  was  elected  Vice-President  of  the  United 
States,  and  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  April   15, 

1865,  became  President.  In  a  speech  two  days  later 
he  said,  "  The  American  people  must  be  taught,  if 
they  do  not  already  feel,  that  treason  is  a  crime  and 
must  be  punished ;  that  the  Government  will  not 
always  beai  with  its  enemies ;  that  it  is  strong  not 
only  to  protect,  but  to  punish.  *  *  The  people 
must  understand  that  it  (treason)  is  the  blackest  of 
crimes,  and  will  surely  be  punished."  Yet  his  whole 
administration,  the  history  of  which  is  so  well  known, 
was  in  utter  icKonsistency  with,  and  the  most  violent 


opposition  to.  the  principles  laid  down  in  that  speech. 

In  his  loose  policy  of  reconstruction  and  general 
amnesty,  he  was  opposed  by  Congress;  and  he  char- 
acterized Congress  as  a  new  rebellion,  and  lawlessly 
defied  it,  in  everything  possible,  to  the  utmost.  In 
the  beginnirig  of  1868,  on  account  of  "  high  crimes 
and  misdemeanors,"  the  principal  of  which  was  the 
removal  of  Secretary  Stanton,  in  violation  of  the  Ten- 
ure of  Office  Act,  articles  of  impeachment  were  pre- 
ferred against  him,  and  the   trial   began    March   23. 

It  was  very  tedious,  continuing  for  nearly  three 
months.  A  test  article  of  the  impeachment  was  at 
length  submitted  to  the  court  for  its  action.  It  was 
certain  that  as  the  court  voted  upon  that  article  so 
would  it  vote  upon  all.  Thirty-four  voices  pronounced 
tiie  President  guilty.  As  a  two-thirds  vote  was  neces- 
sary to  his  condemnation,  he  was  pronounced  ac- 
quitted, notwithstanding  the  great  majority  against 
him.  The  change  of  one  vote  from  the  not  guilty 
side  would  have  sustained  the  impeachment. 

The  President,  for  the  remainder  of  his  term,  was 
but  little  regarded.  He  continued,  though  impotent!;-, 
his  conflict  with  Congress.  His  own  party  did  not 
think  it  expedient  to  renominate  him  for  the  Presi- 
dency. The  Nation  rallied,  with  enthusiasm  unpar- 
alleled since  the  days  of  Washington,  around  the  name 
of  Gen.  Grant.  Andrew  Johnson  was  forgotten. 
The  bullet  of  the  assassin  introduced  him  to  the 
President's  chair.  Notwithstanding  this,  never  was 
there  presented  to  a  man  a  better  opportunity  to  im- 
mortalize his  name,  and  to  win  the  gratitude  of  a 
nation.  He  failed  utterly.  He  retired  to  his  home 
in  Greenville,  Tenn.,  taking  no  very  active  part  in 
politics  until  1875.  On  Jan.  26,  after  an  exciting 
struggle,  he  was  chosen  by  the  Legislature  of  Ten- 
nessee, United  States  Senator  in  the  forty-fourth  Con- 
gress, and  took  his  seat  in  that  body,  at  the  special 
session  convened  by  President  Grant,  on  the  5th  of 
March.  On  the  27th  of  July,  1875,  the  e.x-President 
made  a  visit  to  his  daughter's  home,  near  Carter 
Station,  Tenn.  When  he  started  on  his  journey,  he  was 
apparently  in  his  usual  vigorous  health,  but  on  reach- 
ing the  residence  of  his  child  the  following  day,  was 
stricken  with  paralysis,  rendering  him  unconscious. 
He  rallied  occasionally,  but  finally  passed  away  at 
2  A.M.,  July  31,  aged  sixty-seven  years.  His  fun- 
eral was  attended  at  Geenville,  on  the  3d  of  August, 
with  every  demonstration  of  respect 


y- 12. 


..:^ 


EIGHTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


*t 


LYSSES  S.  GR.\NT,  the 
eighteenth  President  of  the 
"■ ''  United  States,  was  bom  on 
'i  the  29th  of  April,  1822,  of 
s  Christian  parents,  in  a  humble 
_;Jy  home,  at  Point  Pleasant,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Ohio.  Shortly  after 
his  father  moved  to  George- 
town, Brown  Co.,  O.  In  this  re- 
mote frontier  hamlet,  Ulysses 
received  a  common-school  edu- 
cation. At  the  age  of  seven- 
teen, in  the  year  1839,  he  entered 
the  Military  Academy  at  West 
Point.  Here  he  was  regarded  as  a 
solid,  sensible  young  man  of  fair  abilities,  and  of 
sturdy,  honest  character.  He  took  respectable  rank 
as  a  scholar.  In  June,  1843,  he  graduated,  about  the 
middle  in  his  class,  and  was  sent  as  lieutenant  of  in- 
fantry to  one  of  the  distant  military  posts  in  the  Mis- 
souri Territory.  Two  years  he  past  in  these  dreary 
solitudes,  watching  the  vagabond  and  exasperating 
Indians. 

The  war  with  Mexico  came,  Lieut.  Grant  was 
sent  with  his  regiment  to  Corpus  Christi.  His  first 
battle  was  at  Palo  Alto.  There  was  no  chance  here 
for  the  exhibition  of  either  skill  or  heroism,  nor  at 
Resacade  la  Palma,  his  second  battle.  At  the  battle 
of  Monterey,  his  third  engagement,  it  is  said  that 
ne  performed  a  signal  service  of  daring  and  skillful 
horsemanship.  His  brigade  had  exhausted  its  am- 
munition. A  messenger  must  be  sent  for  more,  along 
a  route  exposed  to  the  bullets  of  the  foe.  Lieut. 
Grant,  adopting  an  expedient  learned  of  the  Indians, 
grasped  the  mane  of  his  horse,  and  hanging  upon  one 
side  of  the  anin\al,  ran  the  gauntlet  in  entire  safety. 


From  Monterey  he  was  sent,  with  the  fourth  infantry, 
to  aid  Gen.  Scott,  at  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz.  In 
preparation  for  the  march  to  the  city  of  Mexico,  he 
was  apfxjinted  quartermaster  of  his  regiment.  At  the 
battle  of  Molino  del  Rey,  he  was  promoted  to  a 
first  lieutenancy,  and  was  brevetted  captain  at  Cha- 
pultepec. 

At  the  close  of  the  Mexican  War,  Capt.  Grant  re- 
turned with  his  regiment  to  New  York,  and  was  again 
sent  to  one  of  the  military  posts  on  the  frontier.  The 
discover)'  of  gold  in  California  causing  an  immense 
tide  of  emigration  to  flow  to  the  Pacific  shores,  Capt. 
Grant  was  sent  with  a  battalion  to  Fort  Dallas,  in 
Oregon,  for  the  protection  of  the  interests  of  the  im- 
migrants. Life  was  wearisome  in  those  wilds.  Capt. 
Grant  resigned  his  commission  and  returned  to  the 
States;  and  having  married,  entered  upon  the  cultiva- 
tion of  a  small  farm  near  St.  I^uis,  Mo.  He  had  but 
little  skill  as  a  farmer.  Finding  his  toil  not  re- 
munerative, he  turned  to  mercantile  life,  entering  into 
the  leather  business,  with  a  younger  brother,  at  Ga- 
lena, 111.  This  was  in  the  year  i860.  .\s  the  tidings 
of  the  rebels  firing  on  Fort  Sumpter  reached  the  ears 
of  Capt.  Grant  in  his  counting-room,  he  said, — 
"Uncle  Sam  has  educated  me  for  the  army,  though 
I  have  served  him  through  one  war,  I  do  not  feel  that 
I  have  yet  repaid  the  debt.  I  am  still  ready  to  discharge 
my  obligations.  I  shall  therefore  buckle  on  my  tword 
and  see  Uncle  Sam  through  this  war  too." 

He  went  into  the  streets,  raised  a  company  of  vol- 
unteers, and  led  them  as  their  captain  to  Springfield, 
the  capital  of  the  State,  where  their  services  were 
offered  to  Gov.  Yates.  The  Governor,  impressed  by 
the  zeal  and  straightforward  executive  ability  of  Capt. 
Grant,  gave  him  a  desk  in  his  office,  to  assist  in  the 
volunteer  organization  that  was  being  formed  in  the 
State  in  behalf  of  the  Government.     On  the  if''  of 


ULYSSES  S.  GRANT. 


)une,  t86i,  Capt.  Grant  received  a  commission  as 
Colonel  of  the  Twenty-first  Regiment  of  Illinois  Vol- 
unteers. His  merits  as  a  West  Point  graduate,  who 
had  served  for  15  years  in  the  regular  army,  were  such 
that  he  was  soon  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier- 
General  and  was  placed  in  command  at  Cairo.  The 
rebels  raised  their  banner  at  Paducah,  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Tennessee  River.  Scarcely  had  its  folds  ap- 
peared in  the  breeze  ere  Gen.  Grant  was  there.  The 
rebels  fled.  Their  banner  fell,  and  the  star  and 
stripes  were  unfurled  in  its  stead. 

He  entered  the  service  with  great  determination 
and  immediately  began  active  duty.  This  was  the  be- 
ginning, and  until  the  surrender  of  Lee  at  Richmond 
he  was  ever  pushing  the  enemy  with  great  vigor  and 
effectiveness.  At  Belmont,  a  few  days  later,  he  sur- 
prised and  routed  the  rebels,  then  at  Fort  Henry 
won  another  victory.  Then  came  the  brilliant  fight 
at  Fort  Donelson.  The  nation  was  electrified  by  the 
victory,  and  the  brave  leader  of  the  boys  in  blue  was 
immediately  made  a  Major-General,  and  the  military 
iistrict  of  Tennessee  was  assigned  to  him. 

Like  all  great  captains.  Gen.  Grant  knew  well  how 
to  secure  the  results  of  victory.  He  immediately 
Dushed  on  to  the  enemies'  lines.  Then  came  the 
terrible,battles  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  Corinth,  and  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  where  Gen.  Pemberton  made  an 
unconditional  surrender  of  the  city  with  over  thirty 
thousand  men  and  one-hundred  and  seventy-two  can- 
non. The  fall  of  Vicksburg  was  by  far  the  most 
severe  blow  which  the  rebels  had  thus  far  encountered, 
and  opened  up  the  Mississippi  from  Cairo  to  the  Gulf. 

Gen.  Grant  was  next  ordered  to  co-operate  with 
Gen.  Banks  in  a  movement  upon  Texas,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  New  Orleans,  where  he  was  thrown  from 
his  horse,  and  received  severe  injuries,  from  which  he 
was  laid  up  for  months.  He  then  rushed  to  the  aid 
of  Gens.  Rosecrans  and  Thomas  at  Chattanooga,  and 
by  a  wonderful  series  of  strategic  and  technical  meas- 
ures put  the  Union  Army  infighting  condition.  Then 
followed  the  bloody  battles  at  Chattanooga,  Lookout 
Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge,  in  which  the  rebels 
were  routed  with  great  loss.  This  won  for  him  un- 
bounded praise  in  the  North.  On  the  4th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1864,  Congress  revived  the  grade  of  lieutenant- 
general,  and  the  rank  was  conferred  on  Gen.  Grant. 
He  repaired  to  Washington  to  receive  his  credentials 
ind  enter  upon  \hi'  duties  of  his  new  ofifice 


Gen.  Grant  decided  as  soon  as  he  took  charge  of 
the  army  to  concentrate  the  widely-dispersed  National 
troops  for  an  attack  upon  Richmond,  the  nominal 
capital  of  the  Rebellion,  and  endeavor  there  to  de- 
stroy the  rebel  armies  which  would  be  promptly  as- 
sembled from  all  quarters  for  its  defence.  The  whole 
continent  seemed  to  tremble  under  the  tramp  of  these 
majestic  armies,  rushing  to  the  decisive  battle  field. 
Steamers  were  crowded  with  troops.  Railway  trains 
were  burdened  ^\lh.  closely  packed  thousands.  His 
plans  were  comprehensive  and  involved  a  series  of 
campaigns,  which  were  executed  with  remarkable  en- 
ergy and  ability,  and  were  consummated  at  the  sur- 
render of  Lee,  April  9,  1865. 

The  war  was  ended.  The  Union  was  saved.  The 
almost  unanimous  voice  of  the  Nation  declared  Gen. 
Grant  to  be  the  most  prominent  instrument  in  its  sal- 
vation. The  eminent  services  he  had  thus  rendered 
the  country  brought  him  conspicuously  forward  as  the 
Republican  candidate  for  the  Presidential  chair. 

At  the  Republican  Convention  held  at  Chicago. 
May  21,  r868,  he  was  unanimously  nominated  for  the 
Presidency,  and  at  the  autumn  election  received  a 
majority  of  the  popular  vote,  and  214  out  of  294 
electoral  votes. 

The  National  Convention  of  the  Republican  party 
which  met  at  Philadelphia  on  the  5th  of  June,  1872, 
placed  Gen.  Grant  in  nomination  for  a  second  tenii 
by  a  unanimous  vote.  The  selection  was  emphati- 
cally indorsed  by  the  people  five  months  later,  292 
electoral  votes  being   cast   for  him. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  his  second  term.  Gen.  Grant 
started  upon  his  famous  trip  around  the  world.  He 
visited  almost  every  country  of  the  civilized  world, 
and  was  everywhere  received  with  such  ovations 
and  demonstrations  of  respect  and  honor,  private 
as  well  as  public  and  official,  as  were  never  before 
bestowed  upon  any  citizen  of  the  United   States. 

He  was  the  most  prominent  candidate  before  the 
Republican  National  Convention  in  1880  for  a  re- 
nomination  for  President.  He  went  to  New  York  and 
embarked  in  the  brokerage  business  under  the  firm 
nameof  Grant  &  Ward.  The  latter  proved  a  villain, 
wrecked  Grant's  fortune,  and  for  larceny  was  sent  to 
the  penitentiary.  The  General  was  attacked  with 
cancer  in  the  throat,  but  suffered  in  his  stoic-like 
manner,  never  complaining.  He  was  re-instated  as 
General  of  the  Army  and  retired  by  Congress.  The 
cancer  soon  finished  its  deadly  work,  and  July  23, 
1885,  the  nation  went  in  mourning  over  the  death  oif 
the  illustrious  General. 


s 


NINETEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


91 


••^.y.^i'.^(5s>^Vi':.'.'V.n-.,'.--.'.'i^,v.' 


•.  ■'^.'^.^fj.^'g'i'iiga'^'gga'igti'^t^'^t^t^'iSita;?.  \ 


m  MIJTHElMFORD  Be  Mm'TSS. 


UTHERFORD  B.  HAYES, 
the  nineteenth  President  of 
*the  United  States,  was  born  in 
Delaware,  O.,  Oct.  4,  1822,  al- 
most three  months  after  the 
''"^^  death  of  his  father,  Rutherford 
Hayes.  His  ancestry  on  both 
the  paternal  and  maternal  sides, 
was  of  the  most  honorable  char- 
acter. It  can  be  traced,  it  is  said, 
as  far  back  as  1280,  when  Hayes  and 
Rutherford  were  two  Scottish  chief- 
tains, fighting  side  by  side  with 
Baliol,  William  Wallace  and  Robert 
Bruce.  Both  families  belonged  to  the 
nobility,  owned  extensive  estates, 
and  had  a  large  following.  Misfor- 
rane  cvtrtaking  the  family,  George  Hayes  left  Scot- 
land in  i6iSo,  and  settled  in  Windsor,  Conn.  His  son 
George  wat  born  in  Windsor,  and  remained  there 
during  his  liJe.  Daniel  Hayes,  son  of  the  latter,  mar- 
ried Sarah  Lee,  and  lived  from  the  time  of  his  mar- 
riage until  his  death  in  Simsbury,  Conn.  Ezekiel, 
son  of  Daniel,  was  born  in  1724,  and  was  a  manufac- 
turerof  scythes  at  Bradford,  Conn.  Rutherford  Hayes, 
son  of  Ezekiel  aiid  grandfather  of  President  Hayes,  was 
born  in  New  Haven,  in  August,  1756.  He  was  a  farmer, 
blacksmith  and  tavern-keeper.  He  emigrated  to 
Vermont  at  an  utiknown  date,  settling  in  Erattleboro, 
where  he  established  a  hotel.  Here  his  son  Ruth- 
erford Hayes    the  father   of  President  Hayes,  was 


born.  He  was  married,  in  September,  1813,  to  Sophia 
Birchard,  of  Wilmington,  Vt.,  whose  ancestors  emi- 
grated thither  from  Connecticut,  they  having  been 
among  the  wealthiest  and  best  famlies  of  Norwich. 
Her  ancestry  on  the  male  side  are  traced  back  to 
1635,  to  John  Birchard,  one  of  the  principal  founders 
of  Norwich.  Both  of  her  grandfathers  were  soldiers 
in  the  Revolutionary  War. 

The  father  of  President  Hayes  was  an  industrious 
frugal  and  opened-hearted  man.  He  was  of  a  me- 
chanical turn,  and  could  mend  a  plow,  knit  a  stock, 
ing,  or  do  almost  anything  else  that  he  choose  to 
undertake.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Church,  active 
in  all  the  benevolent  enterprises  of  the  town,  and  con- 
ducted his  business  on  Christian  principles.  After 
the  close  of  the  war  of  181 2,  for  reasons  inexplicable 
to  his  neighbors,  he  resolved  to  emigrate  to   Ohio. 

The  journey  from  Vermont  to  Ohio  in  that  day 
when  there  were  no  canals,  steamers,  not  railways, 
was  a  very  serious  affair.  A  tour  of  inspection  was 
first  made,  occupying  four  months.  Mr.  Hayes  deter 
mined  to  move  to  Delaware,  where  the  fainily  arrived 
in  1817.  He  died  July  22,  1822,  a  victim  of  malarial 
fever,  less  than  three  months  before  the  birth  of  the 
son, of  whom  we  now  write.  Mrs.  Hayes,  in  her  sore  be- 
reavement, found  the  support  she  so  much  needed  in 
her  brother  Sardis,  who  had  been  a  member  of  the 
household  from  the  day  of  its  departure  from  Ver- 
mont,  and  in  an  orphan  girl  whom  she  had  adopted 
some  time  before  as  an  act  of  charity. 

Mrs.  Hayes  at  this  period  was  very  weak,  and  the 


92 


RUTHERFORD  B.  HA  YES. 


subject  of  this  sketch  was  so  feeble  at  birth  that  he 
was  not  expected  to  live  beyond  a  month  or  two  at 
most.  As  the  months  went  by  he  grew  weaker  and 
weaker,  so  that  the  neighbors  were  in  the  habit  of  in- 
quiring from  time  to  time  "  if  Mrs.  Hayes'  baby  died 
last  night."  On  one  occasion  a  neighbor,  who  was  on 
fimiliar  terms  with  the  family,  after  alluding  to  the 
•boy's  big  head,  and  the  mother's  assiduous  care  of 
nim,  said  in  a  bantering  way,  "  That's  right!  Stick  to 
him.  You  have  got  him  along  so  far,  and  I  shouldn't 
wonder  if  he  would  really  come  to  something  yet." 

"  You  need  not  laugh,"  said  Mrs.  Hayes.  "  You 
vait  and  see.  You  can't  tell  but  I  shall  make  him 
President  of  the  United  States  yet."  The  boy  lived, 
in  spite  of  the  universal  predictions  of  his  speedy 
death;  and  when,  in  1825,  his  older  brother  was 
drowned,  he  became,  if  possible,  still  dearer  to  his 
mother. 

The  boy  was  seven  years  old  before  he  went  to 
school.  His  education,  however,  was  not  neglected. 
He  probably  learned  as  much  from  his  mother  and 
iister  as  he  would  have  done  at  school.  His  sports 
were  almost  wholly  within  doors,  his  playmates  being 
his  sister  and  her  associates.  These  circumstances 
tended,  no  doubt,  to  foster  that  gentleness  of  dispo- 
sition, and  that  delicate  consideration  for  the  feelings 
of  others,  which  are  marked  traits  of  his  character. 
His  uncle  Sardis  Birchard  took  the  deepest  interest 
in  his  education ;  and  as  the  boy's  health  had  im- 
'proved,  and  he  was  making  good  progress  in  his 
studies,  he  proposed  to  send  hirii  to  college.  His  pre- 
paration commenced  with  a  tutor  at  home;  bit  he 
was  afterwards  sent  for  one  year  to  a  professor  in  the 
Wesleyan  University,  in  Middletown,  Conn.  He  en- 
tered Kenyon  College  in  1838,  at  the  age  of  sixteen, 
and  was  graduated  at  the  head  of  his  class  in  1842. 
Immediately  after  his  graduation  he  began  the 
study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Thomas  Sparrow,  Esq., 
in  Columbus.  Finding  his  opportunities  for  study  in 
Columbus  somewhat  limited,  he  determined  to  enter 
the  Law  School  at  Cambridge,  Mass.,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years. 

In  1845,  after  graduating  at  the  Law  School,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  at  Marietta,  Ohio,  and  shortly 
afterward  went  into  practice  as  an  attorney-at-law 
with  Ralph  P.  Buckland,  of  Fremont.  Here  he  re- 
mained three  years,  acquiring  but  a  limited  practice, 
and  apparently  unambitious  of  distinction  in  his  pro- 
Cession. 

\n  1849  he  moved  to  Cincmnari,  where  his  ambi- 
tion found  a  new  stimulus.  For  several  years,  how- 
ever, his  progress  was  slow.  Two  events,  occurring  at 
this  period,  had  a  powerful  influence  upon  his  sul)se- 
quent  'ife.  One  of  these  was  his  marrage  with  Miss 
Lucy  Ware  Webb,  daughter  of  Dr.  James  Webl),  of 
Chilicothe;  the  other  was  his  introduction  to  the  Cin- 
cinnati Literary  Club,  a  body  embracing  among  its 
members  suck  men  as'^hief  Justice  Salmon  P.  Chase, 


Gen.  John  Pope,  Gov.  Edward  F.  Noyes,  and  many 
others  hardly  less  distinguished  in  afterlife.  The 
marriage  was  a  fortunate  one  in  every  respect,  as 
everybody  knows.  Not  one  of  all  the  wives  of  our 
Presidents  was  more  universally  admired,  reverenced 
and  beloved  than  was  Mrs.  Hayes,  and  no  one  did 
more  than  she  to  reflect  honor  upon  American  woman 
hood.  The  Literary  Cluu  brought  Mr.  Hayes  into 
constant  association  with  young  men  of  high  char- 
acter and  noble  aims,  and  lured  him  to  display  the 
qualities  so  long  hidden  by  his  bashfulneis  and 
modesty. 

In  1856  he  was  nominated  to  the  office  of  Judgs  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas;  but  he  declined  to  ac. 
cept  the  nomination.  Two  years  later,  the  office  ol 
city  solicitor  becoming  vacant,  the  City  Counci'k 
elected  him  for  the  unexpired  term. 

In  1 86 1,  when  the  Rebellion  iiroke  out,  he  was  al 
tne  zenith  of  his  professional  I'f,.  His  rank  at  the 
bar  was  among  the  the  first.  But  the  news  of  the 
attack  on  Fort  Sumpter  found  him  eager  to  take  -id 
arms  for  the  defense  of  his  country. 

His  military  record  was  bright  and  illustrious.  In 
October,  1861,  he  was  made  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and 
in  August,  1862,  promoted  Colonel  of  the  79th  Ohio 
regiment,  but  he  refused  to  leave  his  old  comrades 
and  go  among  strangers.  Subsequently,  however,  h^ 
was  made  Colonel  of  his  old  regiment.  At  the  battle 
of  South  Mountain  he  received  a  wound,  and  while 
faint  and  bleeding  displayed  courage  and  fortitude 
that  won  admiration  from  all. 

Col.  Hayes  was  detached  from  his  regiment,  after 
his  recovery,  to  act  as  Brigadier-General,  and  i)laced 
in  command  of  the  celebrated  Kanawha  division, 
and  for  gallant  and  meritorious  setvices  in  the  battles 
of  Winchester,  Fisher's  Hill  and  Cedar  Creek,  he  was 
promoted  Brigadier-General.  He  was  also  brevetted 
Major-General,  "forgallant  and  distirguished  services 
during  the  campaigns  of  1864,  in  ^V'est  Virginia."  In 
the  course  of  his  arduous  services,  four  horses  were 
shot  from  under  him,  and  he  was  wounded  four  times 
In  1864,  Gen.  Hayes  was  elected  to  Congress,  from 
the  Second  Ohio  District,  wliich  had  long  been  Dem- 
ocratic. He  was  not  present  during  the  campaign, 
and  after  his  election  was  inqMrtuned  to  resign  his 
commission  in  the  army  ;  but  be  finally  declared,  "  1 
shall  never  come  to  Washington  until  I  can  come  by 
the  way  of  Richmond."  He  was  re-elected  in  1866. 

Ir.  1867,  Gen  Hayes  was  elected  Governor  of  Ohio, 
over  Hon.  Allen  G.  Thurman,  a  populai  Democrat. 
In  1869  was  re-eiected  over  George  H.  Pendleton. 
He  was  elected  Governor  for  the  third  term  in  1875. 
in  1876  he  was  the  standard  beaier  of  the  Repub- 
lican P.irty  in  the  Presidential  contest,  and  after  a 
hard  long  contest  was  chosen  President,  and  was  in 
aunurated  Monday,  March  5,  1875.  He  served  his 
full  term,  not,  h.  wever,  with  satisfaction  to  his  party, 
but  his  administration  was  an  average  or>.? 


L  Cy^'^;f-^^-<<7{ 


TiVENTIETH  PRESIDENT. 


95 


fMm 


A$;;g^^s'--ja>-p;K^*^;::c'S'-5;:;:-<*^;i:$*-g;g<i>$;!;^*-5::::-'*^ 


AMES  A.  GARt'IELD,  twen- 
tieth President  of  the  United 
States,    was    born    Nov.    19, 
1S31,  ill  the  woods  of  Orange, 
Cuyahoga  Co.,  O      His    par- 
ents were  Abram  and    Eliza 
(Ballou)    Garfield,   both   of  New 
England  ancestry  and  from  fami- 
lies well  known  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  that  section  of  our  coun- 
try, but  had  moved  to  the  Western 
Reserve,  in  Ohio,  early  in  its  settle- 
ment. 

The  house  in  which  James  A.  was 
born  was  not  unlike  the  houses  of 
poor  Ohio  farmers  of  that  day.  It 
.,ic  about  20x30  feet,  built  of  logs,  with  the  spaces  be- 
.W2en  the  logs  filled  witji  clay.  His  father  was  a 
.lard  working  farmer,  and  he  soon  had  his  fields 
jleared,  an  orcliard  planted,  and  a  log  barn  built. 
The  liousehold  comprised  the  father  and  mother  and 
•heir  four  cliildren — iMehetabel,  Thomas,  Mary  and 
'ames.  In  May,  i823j  the  father,  from  a  cold  con- 
.racted  in  helping  to  put  out  a  forest  fire,  died.  At 
ihis  time  James  was  about  eighteen  months  old,  and 
riiomas  about  ten  years  old.  No  one,  ])erhaps,  can 
fell  how  much  James  was  indebted  to  his  biother's 
ceil  and  self  sacrifice  during  the  twenty  years  suc- 
ceeding his  father's  death,  but  undoubtedly  very 
much.  He  now  lives  in  Michigan,  and  the  two  sis- 
ters live  in  Solon,  O.,  near  their  birthplace. 

The  early  educational  advantages  young  Garfield 
enjoyed  were  very  limited,  yet  he  made  the  most  of 
them.  He  labored  at  farm  work  for  others,  did  car- 
penter work,  chopped  wood,  or  did  anything  that 
would  bring  in  a  few  dollars  to  aid  his  widowed 
mother  in  he'  'tmggles  to  keep  the  little   family  to- 


gether. Nor  was  Gen.  Garfield  ever  ashamed  of  his 
origin,  and  he  never  forgot  the  friends  of  his  strug- 
gling childhood,  youth  and  manhood,  neither  did  they 
ever  forget  him.  When  in  the  highest  seats  of  honor, 
the  humblest  fiicnd  of  his  boyhood  was  as  kindly 
greeted  as  ever.  The  poorest  laborer  was  sureof  the 
sympathy  of  one  who  had  known  all  the  bitterness 
of  want  and  the  sweetness  of  bread  earned  by  the 
sweat  of  tlie  brow.  He  was  ever  the  simple,  plain, 
modest  gentleman. 

The  highest  ambition  of  young  Garfield  until  hi 
was  about  si.xteen  years  old  was  to  be  a  captain  of 
a  vessel  on  Lake  Erie.  He  was  anxious  to  go  aboard 
a  vessel,  which  his  mother  strongly  opposed.  She 
finally  consented  to  his  going  to  Cleveland,  with  the 
understanding,  however,  tliat  he  should  try  to  obtair 
some  other  kind  of  employment.  He  walked  all  the 
way  to  Cleveland.  This  was  his  first  visit  to  the  city 
After  making  many  applications  for  work,  and  trying 
to  get  aboard  a  lake  vessel,  and  not  meeting  with 
success,  he  engaged  as  a  driver  for  his  cousin,  Amos 
Letcher,  on  the  Ohio  &  Pennsylvania  Canal.  He  re- 
mained at  this  work  but  a  short  time  when  he  wen"; 
home,  and  attended  the  seminary  at  Chester  for 
about  three  years,  when  he  entered  Hiram  and  the 
Eclectic  Institute,  teaching  a  few  terms  of  school  in 
tlie  meantime,  and  doing  other  work.  This  school 
was  started  by  the  Disciples  of  Christ  in  1850,  of 
which  church  he  was  then  a  member.  He  became 
janitor  and  bell-ringer  in  order  to  help  pay  his  way 
He  then  became  both  teacher  and  pupil.  He  soon 
"  exhausted  Hiram  "  and  needed  more  ;  hence,  in  the 
fall  of  1854,  he  entered  Williams  College,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1856,  taking  one  of  the  highest  h(V.- 
ors  of  his  class.  He  afterwards  returned  to  Hiram 
College  as  its  President.  As  above  stated,  he  early 
united  with  the  Christian  or  Diciples  Church  at 
Hiram,  and  was  ever  after  a  devoted,  zealous  mem- 
ber, often  preaching  in  its  pulpit  and  places  where 
he  haiipened  to  be.  Dr.  Noah  Porter,  President  of 
Yale  College,  says  of  him  in  reference  to  his  religion; 


90 


JAMES  A.  GARFIELD. 


"President  Garfield  was  more  than  a^man  of 
strong  moral  and  religious  convictions.  His  whole 
history,  from  boyhood  to  the  last,  shows  that  duty  to 
man  and  to  God,  and  devotion  to  Christ  and  life  and 
faith  and  spiritual  commission  were  controlling  springs 
of  his  being,  and  to  a  more  than  usual  degree.  In 
my  judgmeuL  there  is  no  more  interesting  feature  of 
his  character  than  his  loyal  allegiance  to  the  body  of 
Christians  in  which  he  was  trained,  and  the  fervent 
sympathy  which  he  ever  showed  in  their  Christian 
communion.  Not  many  of  the  few  'wise  and  mighty 
and  noble  who  are  called'  show  a  similar  loyalty  to 
the  less  stately  and  cultured  Christian  comnmnions 
in  which  they  have  been  reared.  Too  often  it  is  true 
that  as  they  step  upward  in  social  and  political  sig- 
nificance they  step  upward  from  one  degree  to 
another  in  some  of  the  many  types  of  fashionable 
Christianity.  President  Garfield  adhered  to  the 
:hurch  of  his  mother,  the  church  in  which  he  was 
trained,  and  in  which  he  served  as  a  pillar  and  an 
evangelist,  and  yet  with  the  largest  and  most  unsec- 
',arian  charity  for  all  '  wlio  loveour  Lord  in  sincerity.'" 

Mr.  Garfield  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Lucretia  Rudolph,  Nov.  ir,  rSsS,  who  proved  herself 
worthyasthewifeof  one  whom  allthe  world  loved  and 
mourned.  To  them  were  born  seven  children,  five  of 
whom  are  still  living,  four  boys  and  one  girl. 

Mr.Garfieldmade  his  first  politicalspeechesin  1856, 
Jn  Hiram  and  the  neighboring  villages,  and  three 
years  later  he  began  to  speak  at  county  mass-meet- 
ings, and  became  the  favorite  speaker  wherever  he 
was.  During  this  year  he  was  elected  to  the  Ohio 
Senate.  He  also  began  to  study  law  at  Cleveland, 
and  in  i86r  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  The  great 
Rebellion  broke  out  in  the  early  part  of  this  year, 
and  Mr.  Garfield  at  once  resolved  to  fight  as  he  liad 
talked,  and  enlisted  to  defend  the  old  flag.  He  re- 
ceived his  commission  as  Lieut. -Colonel  of  the  Forty- 
second  Regiment  of  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  Aug. 
14,  t86i.  He  was  immediately  put  into  active  ser- 
vice, and  before  he  had  ever  seen  a  gun  fired  in  action, 
was  placed  in  command  of  four  regiments  of  infantry 
and  eight  companies  of  cavalry,  charged  with  the 
work  of  driving  out  of  his  native  State  the  officer 
'.Humphrey  Mirshall)  reputed  to  be  the  ablest  of 
those,  not  educated  to  war  whom  Kentucky  had  given 
to  the  Rebellion.  This  work  was  bravely  and  speed- 
ily accomplished,  although  against  great  odds.  Pres- 
ident Lincoln,  on  his  success  commissioned  him 
Brigadier-General,  Jan.  ro,  1862;  and  as  "he  had 
been  the  youngest  man  in  the  Ohio  Senate  two  years 
before,  so  now  he  was  the  youngest  General  in  the 
arniy."  He  was  with  Gen.  Buell's  army  at  Shiloh, 
in  itsoperations  around  Corinth  and  its  march  through 
Alabama.  He  was  then  detailed  as  a  member  of  the 
General  Court-Martial  for  the  trial  of  Gen.  Fitz-John 
Porter.  He  was  then  ordered  to  report  to  Gen.  Rose- 
crans,  and  was  assigned  to  the  "  Chief  of  Staff." 

The  military  history  of  Gen.  Garfield  closed  with 


his  brilliant  services  at  Chickamauga,  where  he  won 
the  stars  of  the  Major-General. 

Without  an  effort  on  his  part  Ges  Garfield  was 
elected  to  Congress  in  the  fall  of  1862  from  the 
Nineteenth  District  of  Ohio.  This  section  of  Ohio 
had  been  represented  in  Congiess  for  sixty  year» 
mainly  by  two  men — Elisha  Whittlesey  and  Joshui, 
R.  Giddings.  It  was  not  without  a  struggle  that  he 
resigned  his  place  in  the  army.  At  the  time  he  en- 
tered Congress  he  was  the  youngest  member  in  that 
body.  Thert;  he  remained  by  successive  re- 
elections  until  he  was  elected  President  in  1880. 
Of  his  la.bors  in  Congress  Senator  Hoar  says  :  "  Since 
the  year  1864  you  cannot  think  of  a  question  which 
has  been  debated  in  Congress,  or  discussed  before  & 
tribunel  of  the  American  people,  in  regard  to  whict 
you  will  not  find,  if  you  wish  instruction,  the  argu» 
ment  on  one  side  stated,  in  almost  every  instance 
better  than  by  anybody  else,  in  some  speech  made  in 
the  House  of  Representatives  or  on  the  hustings  by 
Mr.  Garfield." 

Upon  Jan.  r4,  1880,  Gen.  Garfield  was  elected  to 
the  U.  S.  Senate,  and  on  the  eighth  of  June,  of  the 
same  year,  was  nominated  as  the  candidate  of  his 
party  for  President  at  the  great  Chicago  Convention. 
He  was  elected  in  the  following  November,  and  on 
March  4,  r88r,  was  inaugurated.  Probably  no  ad- 
ministration ever  opened  its  existence  under  brighter 
auspices  than  that  of  President  Garfield,  and  every 
day  it  grew  in  favo."  with  the  people,  and  by  the  first 
of  July  he  had  completed  all  the  initiatory  and  pre- 
liminary work  of  his  administration  and  was  prepar- 
ing to  leave  the  city  to  meet  his  friends  at  Williams 
College.  While  on  his  way  and  at  the  depot,  in  com- 
pany with  Secretary  Blaine,  a  man  stejiped  behind 
him,  drew  a  revolver,  and  fired  directly  at  his  back. 
The  President  tottered  and  fell,  and  as  lie  did  so  the 
assassin  fired  a  second  shot,  the  bullet  cutting  the 
left  coat  sleeve  of  his  victim,  but  in.licting  no  farther 
injury.  It  has  been  very  truthfully  said  that  this  was 
"  the  shot  that  was  heard  round  the  world  "  Never 
before  in  the  history  of  the  Nation  had  anything  oc- 
curred which  so  nearly  froze  the  blood  of  the  peop"'; 
for  the  moment,  as  this  awful  deed.  He  was  smit- 
ten on  the  brightest,  gladdest  day  of  all  his  life,  and 
was  at  the  summit  of  his  ]iower  and  hope.  For  eighty 
days,  all  during  the  hot  months  of  July  and  August, 
he  lingered  and  suffered.  He,  however,  remained 
master  of  himself  till  the  last,  and  by  his  magnificent 
bearing  was  teaching  the  country  and  the  world  the 
noblest  of  human  lessons— how  to  live  grandly  in  the 
very  clutch  of  death.  Great  in  life,  he  was  surpass- 
ingly great  in  death.  He  passed  serenely  away  Sept. 
rg,  1883,  at  Elberon,  N.  J  ,  on  the  very  bank  of  the 
ocean,  where  he  had  been  taken  shortly  previous.  The 
world  wept  at  his  death,  as  it  never  had  done  on  the 
death  of  any  other  man  who  had  ever  lived  upon  it. 
The  murderer  was  duly  tried,  found  guilty  and  exe- 
cuted, in  one  year  after  he  committ«d  the  fou?  deed. 


TWENTY-FIRST  PRESIDENT. 


99 


HESTER      A.      ARTHUR, 

twenty-first    Presi^'.^iu   of  the 

^7' United   States,    was    born    in 

f  ranklin  Cour  ty,  Vermont,  on 

9    the fifthofOc'ober,  1830,  andis 

the  oldest   of  a    family    of  two 

sons  and    five   daughters.     His 

father  was  the  Rev.  Dr.  William 

Arthur,  a  Baptist  d'.fgyman,  who 

emigrated  to  tb'.s  country  from 

the  county  Ant.-im,   Ireland,   in 

his  i8th  year,  and  died  in  1875,  in 

Newtonville,   neai    Albany,   after  a 

long  and  successful  ministry. 

Young  Arthur  was  educated  at 
Union  College,  S(  henectady,  where 
he  excelled  in  all  his  studies.  Af- 
ter his  graduation  he  taught  school 
in  Vermont  for  two  years,  and  at 
the  expiration  cf  that  time  came  to 
New  York,  with  $500  in  his  jwcket, 
and  entered  the  ofifice  of  ex-Judge 
E.  D.  Culver  as  student,  .^fter 
being  admitted  to  the  bar  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  his  intimate  friend  and  room-mate, 
Henry  D.  Gardiner,  with  the  intention  of  practicing 
in  the  West,  and  for  three  months  they  roamed  about 
in  the  Western  States  in  search  of  an  eligible  site, 
but  in  the  end  returned  to  New  York,  where  they 
hung  out  their  shingle,  and  entered  upon  a  success^ 
ful  career  almost  from  the  start.  General  Arthur 
soon  afterward  majprd  the  daughter  of  Lieutenant 


Herndon,  of  the  United  States  Navy,  who  was  lost  at 
sea.  Congress  voted  a  gold  medal  to  his  widow  in 
recognition  of  the  bravery  he  displayed  on  that  occa- 
sion. Mrs.  Arthur  died  shortly  before  Mr.  Arthur's 
nommation  to  the  Vice  Presidency,  leaving  two 
children. 

Gen.  Arthur  obtained  considerable  legal  celebrity 
in  his  first  great  case,  the  famous  Lemmon  suit, 
brought  to  recover  possession  of  eight  slaves  who  had 
been  declared  free  by  Judge  Paine,  of  the  Superior 
Court  of  New  York  City.  It  was  in  1852  that  Jon, 
athan  Lemmon,  of  Virginia,  went  to  New  York  with 
his  slaves,  intending  to  ship  them  to  Texas,  when 
they  were  discovered  and  freed.  The  Judge  decided 
that  they  could  not  be  held  by  the  owner  under  the 
Fugitive  Slave  Law.  A  howl  of  rage  went  up  from 
tlie  South,  and  the  Virginia  Legislature  authorized  the 
Attorney  General  of  that  State  to  assist  in  an  appeal. 
Wm.  M.  Evarts  and  Chester  A.  Arthur  were  employed 
to  represent  the  People,  and  they  won  their  case, 
which  then  went  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States.  Charles  O'Conor  here  espoused  the  cause 
of  the  slave-holders,  but  he  too  was  beaten  by  Messrs 
Evarts  and  Arthur,  and  a  long  step  was  taken  toward 
the  emancipation  of  the  black  race. 

Another  great  service  was  rendered  by  General 
Arthur  in  the  same  cause  in  1856.  Lizzie  Jennings, 
a  respectable  colored  woman,  was  put  off  a  Fourth 
Avenue  car  with  violence  after  she  had  paid  her  fare. 
General  Arthur  sued  on  her  behalf,  and  secured  a 
verdict  of  $500  damages.  The  next  day  the  compa- 
ny issued  an  order  to  admit  colored  persons  to  ride 
on  their  cars,  and  the  other  car  companies  quickly 


CHESTER  A.  AitTfftJR. 


followed  their  example.  Before  that  the  Sixth  Ave- 
nue Company  ran  a  few  special  cars  for  colored  per- 
sons and  the  other  lines  refused  to  let  them  ride" at  all. 

General  Arthur  was  a  delegate  to  the  Convention 
at  Saratoga  that  founded  the  Republican  party. 
Previous  to  the  war  he  was  Judge-Advocate  of  the 
Second  Brigade  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  Gov- 
ernor Morgan,  of  that  State,  appointed  hmi  Engineer- 
in-Chief  of  his  staff.  In  1861,  he  was  made  Inspec- 
tor General,  and  soon  afterward  became  Quartermas- 
ter-General. In  each  of  these  offices  he  rendered 
great  service  to  the  Government  during  the  war.  At 
the  end  of  Governor  Morgan's  term  he  resumed  the 
practice  of  the  law,  forming  a  partnership  with  Mr. 
Ransom,  and  then  Mr.  Phelps,  the  District  Attorney 
of  New  York,  was  added  to  the  firm.  The  legal  prac- 
tice of  this  well-known  firm  was  very  large  and  lucra- 
tive, each  of  the  gentlemen  composing  it  were  able 
lawyers,  and  possessed  a  splendid  local  reputation,  if 
not  indeed  one  of  national  extent. 

He  always  took  a  leading  part  in  State  and  city 
politics.  He  was  appointed  Collector  of  the  Port  of 
New  York  by  President  Grant,  Nov.  21  1872,  to  suc- 
ceed Thomas  Murphy,  and  held  the  office  until  July, 
20,  1878,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Collector  Merritt. 

Mr.  Arthur  was  nominated  on  the  Presidential 
ticket,  with  Gen.  James  A.  Garfield,  at  the  famous 
National  Republican  Convention  held  at  Chicago  in 
June,  1880.  This  was  perhaps  the  greatest  political 
convention  that  ever  assembled  on  the  continent.  It 
was  composed  of  the  )2ading  politicians  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  all  able  men,  and  each  stood  firm  and 
fought  vigorously  and  with  signal  tenacity  for  their 
respective  candidates  that  were  before  the  conven- 
tion for  the  nomination.  Finally  Gen.  Garfield  re- 
ceived the  nomination  for  President  and  Gen.  Arthur 
for  Vice-President.  The  campaign  which  followed 
was  one  of  the  most  animated  known  in  the  history  of 
our  country.  Gen.  Hancock,  the  standard-bearer  of 
the  Democratic  party,  was  a  popular  man,  and  his 
party  made  a  valiant  fight  for  his  election. 

Finally  the  election  came  and  the  country's  choice 
was  Garfield  and  Arthur.  They  were  inaugurated 
March  4,  1881,  as  President  and  Vice-President. 
A.  few  months  only  had  passed  ere  the  newly  chosen 
President  was  the  victim  of  the  assassin's  bullet.  Then 
came  terrible  weeks  of  suffering, — those  moments  of 
anjcious  suspense,  when  the  hearts  of  all  civilized  na- 


tions were  throbbing  in  unison,  longing  for  the  re 
covery  of  the  noble,  the  good  President.  The  remark- 
able patience  that  he  manifested  during  those  hours 
and  weeks,  and  even  months,  of  the  most  terrible  suf- 
fering man  has  often  been  called  upon  to  endure,  was 
seemingly  more  than  human.  It  was  certainly  God- 
like. During  all  this  period  of  deepest  anxiety  Mr, 
Arthur's  every  move  was  watched,  and  be  it  said  to  his^ 
credit  that  his  every  action  displayed  only  an  earnest 
desire  that  the  suffering  Garfield  might  recover,  to 
serve  the  remainder  of  the  term  he  had  so  auspi- 
ciously begun.  Not  a  selfish  feeling  was  manifested 
in  deed  or  look  of  this  man,  even  though  the  most 
honored  position  in  the  world  was  at  any  moment 
likely  to  fall  to  him. 

At  last  God  in  his  mercy  relieved  President  Gar- 
field from  further  suffering,  and  the  world,  as  nevei 
before  in  its  history  over  the  death  of  any  othei 
man,  wept  at  his  bier.  Then  it  became  the  duty  of 
the  Vice  President  to  assume  the  responsibilities  of 
the  high  office,  and  he  took  the  oath  in  New  York, 
Sept.  20,  1 88 1.  The  position  was  an  embarrassing 
one  to  him,  made  doubly  so  from  the  facts  that  all 
eyes  were  on  him,  anxious  to  know  what  he  would  do, 
what  policy  he  would  pursue,  and  who  he  would  se- 
lect as  advisers.  The  duties  of  the  office  had  been 
greatly  neglected  during  the  President's  long  illness,' 
and  many  important  measures  were  to  be  immediately 
decided  by  him ;  and  still  farther  to  embarrass  him  he 
did  not  fail  to  realize  under  what  circumstances  he 
became  President,  and  knew  the  feelings  of  many  on 
this  point.  Under  these  trying  circumstances  President 
Arthur  took  the  reins  of  the  Government  in  his  owr. 
hands;  and,  as  embarrassing  as  were  the  condition  of 
affairs,  he  happily  surprised  the  nation,  acting  so 
wisely  that  but  few  criticisea  \iis  administration. 
He  served  the  nation  well  and  faithfully,  until  the 
close  of  his  administration,  March  4,  1885,  and  was 
a  popular  candidate  before  his  party  for  a  second 
term.  His  name  was  ably  presented  before  the  con- 
vention at  Chicago,  and  was  received  with  great 
favor,  and  doubtless  but  for  the  personal  popularity 
of  one  of  the  opposing  candidates,  he  would  have 
been  selected  as  the  standard-bearer  of  his  party 
for  another  campaign.  He  retired  to  private  life  car- 
rying with  him  the  best  wishes  of  the  American  peo- 
ple, whom  he  had  served  in  a  manner  satisfactory 
to  them  and  with  credit  to  himself. 


Y  l^€rL£y/     C/^^^t^/c^'^y^Z^^ 


TWENTY-SECOND  PRESIDENT. 


103 


A^^f/sr<>:^^^ 


%xm^x  Clti^elHHti 


w,s=*T-;3r<»^:isl 


TEPHEN  GROVER  CLEVE- 
LAND,the  twenty  second  Pres- 
I  ident  of  the  United  States,  was 
\  born  in  1837,  in  the  obscure 
town  of  Caldwell,  Essex  Co., 
N.  J.,  and  in  a  little  two-and-a- 
h  ilf  story  white  house  which  is  still 
St  mding,  characteristically  to  mark 
the  liu:nble  birth-place  of  one  of 
\nn.nca's  great  men  in  striking  con- 
trast with  the  Old  World,  where  all 
men  high  in  office  must  be  high  in 
origin  and  born  in  the  cradle  of 
wealth.  Wiien  the  subjei;t  of  this 
sketch  was  three  years  of  age,  his 
father,  who  was  a  Presbyterian  min- 
ister, with  a  large  family  and  a.  small  salary,  moved, 
by  way  c.  the  Ha  Isou  River  and  Erie  Canal,  to 
Fayetteville,  in  search  of  an  inceased  income  and  a 
larger  field  of  work.  Fayetteville  was  then  the  most 
straggling  of  country  villages,  about  five  miles  from 
Pompey  Hill,  where  Governor  Seymour  was  born. 

At  the  last  mentioned  place  young  Grover  com- 
menced going  to  school  in  the  "good,  old  fashioned 
way,"  and  presum  ibly  distinguished  himself  after  the 
manner  of  all  village  boys,  in  doing  the  things  he 
ought  not  to  do.  Such  is  the  distinguishing  trait  of 
all  geniuses  and  indepe:ident  thinkers.  When  he 
arrived  at  the  age  of  14  years,  he  had  outgro^vn  the 
capacity  of  the  village  school  and  expressed  a  most 


emphatic  desire  to  be  sent  to  an  academy.  To  thia 
his  father  decidedly  objected.  Academies  in  those 
days  cost  money;  besides,  his  father  wanted  him  to 
become  self-supporting  by  the  quickest  possible 
means,  and  this  at  that  time  in  Fayetteville  seemed 
to  be  a  position  in  a  country  store,  where  nis  father 
and  the  large  family  on  his  hands  had  considerable 
inflaence.  Grover  was  to  be  paid  $jo  for  his  services 
tlie  first  year,  and  if  he  proved  trustworthy  he  was  to 
receive  ;|ioo  the  second  year.  Here  the  lad  com- 
menced his  career  as  salesman,  and  in  two  years  he 
had  earned  so  good  a  reputation  for  trustworthiness 
that  his  employers  desired  to  letain  him  for  an  in- 
definite length  of  time.  Otherwise  he  did  not  ex- 
hibit as  yet  any  particular  "  flashes  of  genius  "  or 
eccentricities  of  talent.  He  was  simply  a  good  boy. 
But  instead  of  remaining  with  this  firm  in  Fayette- 
ville, he  went  with  the  family  in  their  removal  to 
Cliiito:i,  whire  he  had  an  opportunity  of  attending  a 
high  school.  Here  he  industriously  pursued  his 
studies  until  the  fami'y  removed  with  him  to  a  point 
on  Black  River  known  as  the  "  Holland  Patent,"  a 
village  of  500  or  600  people,  15  miles  north  of  Utica, 
.M.  Y.  .\t  this  [)lace  his  father  died,  after  preaching 
bat  three  Sundays.  This  event  broke  up  the  family, 
and  Grover  set  out  for  Mew  York  Ciiy  to  accept,  at  a 
small  salary,  the  position  of  "  under-teacher  "  in  an 
asylum  for  the  blind.  He  taught  faithfully  for  two 
years,  and  although  he  obtained  a  good  reputation  in 
this  capacity,  he  concluded  that  teaching  was  not  his 


S.   GROVE R   CLEVELAND. 


calling  for  life,  and,  reversing  the  traditional  order, 
fte  left  the  city  to  seek  his  fortune.  !n=t=^''  •)*'  crnlnw 
to  a  city.  He  liisc  xnougnt  ot  Cleveland,  Ohio,  as 
there  was  some  charm  in  that  name  for  him;  but 
before  proceeding  to  that  place  he  went  to  Buffalo  to 
isk  the  advice  of  his  uncle,  Lewis  F.  Allan,  a  noted 
stock-breeder  of  that  place.  The  latter  did  not 
speak  enthusiastically.  "What  is  it  you  want  to  do, 
my  boy?"  he  asked.  "Well,  sir,  I  want  to  stady 
lavf,"  was  the  reply.  "Good  gracious!"  remarked 
ih«  old  gentleman ;  "  do  you,  indeed  1  What  ever  put 
that  into  your  head?  How  much  money  have  you 
got?"  "Well,  sir,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  haven't  got 
any." 

After  a  long  consultation,  his  uncle  offered  him  a 
place  temporarily  as  assistant  herd-keeper,  at  $50  a 
year,  wriile  iic  cuuld  "  look  around."  One  day  soon 
ifterward  he  boldly  walked  in»o  the  office  of  Rogers, 
Bowen  &  Rogers,  of  Buffalo,  and  told  lliem  what  he 
wanted.  A  number  of  young  men  were  already  en- 
gaged in  the  office,  but  Grover's  persistency  won,  a:id 
ne  was  finally  permitted  to  come  as  an  office  boy  and 
Have  the  use  of  the  law  library,  for  the  nominal  sum 
of  $3  or  $4  a  week.  Out  of  this  he  had  to  pay  for 
his  board  and  washing.  The  walk  to  and  from  his 
uncle's  was  a  long  and  rugged  one;  and,  although 
the  first  winter  was  a  memorably  severe  one,  his 
shoes  were  out  of  repair  and  his  overcoat — he  had 
none — yet  he  was  nevertheless  prompt  and  regular. 
On  the  first  day  of  his  service  here,  his  senior  em- 
ployer threw  down  a  copy  of  Blackstone  before  him 
with  a  bang  that  made  the  dust  fly,  saying  "Thai's 
where  they  all  begin."  A  titter  ran  around  the  little 
circle  of  clerks  and  students,  as  they  thought  that 
was  enough  to  scare  young  Grover  out  of  his  plans  ; 
Dut  indue  time  he  mastered  that  cumbersome  volume. 
Then,  as  ever  afterward,  however,  Mr.  Cleveland 
exhibited  a  talent  for  executiveness  rather  than  for 
chasing  principles  through  all  their  metaphysical 
possibil'ties.  "  Let  us  quit  talking  and  go  and  do 
It,"  was  practically  his  motto. 

The  first  public  office  to  which  Mr.  Cleveland  was 
eiected  was  that  of  Sheriff  of  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in 
which  Buffalo  is  situated;  and  in  such  capacity  it  fell 
to  his  duty  to  inflict  capital  pi'.ishment  upon  two 
caiminals.  Li  iSSi  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  the 
City  of  Buffalo,  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  with  es- 
pecial reference  to  the  bringing  about  certain  reforms 


in  the  administration  of  the  municipal  affairs  of  that 
c-'t"  Tn  thir  office,  a?  w»l.)  as  that  of  Sheriff,  his 
pertormance  oi  duty  iias  generally  been  considered 
fair,  with  possibly  a  few  exce])tions  which  were  fer- 
reted out  and  magnified  during  the  last  Presidential 
campaign.  As  a  specimen  of  his  plain  language  in 
a  veto  message,  we  quote  from  one  vetoing  an  inioui 
tons  street-cleaning  contract:  "This  is  a  time  foi 
plain  speech,  and  my  objection  to  your  action  shall 
be  plainly  stated.  I  regard  it  as  the  culmination  of 
a  mos  bare-faced,  impudent  and  shameless  scheme 
to  betray  the  interests  of  the  people  and  to  worsj 
than  squander  tiie  people's  money."  The  New  York 
Sun  afterward  very  highly  commended  Mr.  Cleve- 
land's administration  as  Mayor  of  Buffalo,  and  there- 
upon recommended  him  for  Governor  of  the  Empire 
State.  To  the  latter  office  he  was  elected  in  1882, 
and  his  administration  of  the  affairs  of  State  was 
generally  satisfactory.  The  mistakes  he  made,  if 
any,  were  made  very  public  throughout  tlie  nation 
after  he  was  nominated  for  President  of  the  United 
States.  For  this  high  office  he  was  nominated  July 
ir,  1884,  by  the  National  Democratic  Convention  at 
Chicago,  when  other  competitors  were  Thomas  F. 
Bayard,  Roswell  P.  Flower,  Thomas  A.  Hendricks, 
Beniamin  F.  Butler,  Allen  G.  Thurman,  etc.:  and  he 
was  elected  by  the  people,  by  a  majority  of  aI>out  a 
thousand,  over  the  brilliant  and  long-tried  Repub- 
lican statesman,  James  G.  Blaine.  President  Cleve- 
l.md  resigned  his  office  as  Governor  of  New  York  in 
January,  1885,  in  order  to  prepare  for  his  duties  as 
the  Ciiief  Executive  of  the  United  States.  ,in  which 
capacity  his  term  commenced  at  noon  on  the  4th  ol 
March,  1885.  For  his  Cabinet  officers  he  selected 
tlie  following  gentlemen:  For  Secretary  of  State, 
Thomas  F.  Bayard,  of  Delaware  ;  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  Daniel  Manning,  of  New  York  ;  Secretary 
of  War,  William  C.  Endicott,  of  Massachusetts ; 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,  William  C.  Whitney,  of  New 
York;  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  L.  Q.  C.  Lamar,  of 
Mississippi;  Postmaster-General,  William  F.  Vilas, 
of  Wisconsin ;  Attorney-General,  A.  H.  Garland,  of 
Arka.isas. 

The  silver  question  precipitated  a  controversy  be- 
tween those  who  were  in  favor  of  the  continuance  of 
silver  coinage  and  those  who  were  opposed,  Mr. 
Cleveland  answering  for  the  latter,  even  before  his 
inauguration. 


(^uY    O^^ 


TWENTY-THIRD  PRESIDENT. 


i07 


■'kS 


.o#o«©Xl®-o*o- 


:ENJAMIN   HARRISON,  the 

twenty-third  President,  is 
the  descendant  of  one  of  the 
liistorieal  families  of  this 
1  'Uintry.  The  head  of  the 
tuinily  was  a  l^Iajor  General 
Harrison,  one  of  Oliver 
Cromwell's  triioted  follow- 
ers and  fighters.  lu  the  zenith  of  Crom- 
well's power  it  became  th.:.  duty  of  this 
Harrison  to  participate  xu  ttie  trial  of 
Charles  I,  and  afterward  tc  sign  the 
deyih  warrant  of  the  king.  He  subse- 
quent!} paid  for  this  with  his  life,  being 
hung  Oct.  13,  16C0.  His  descendants 
came  to  America,  and  the  next  of  the 
family  that  appears  in  history  is  Benja- 
."zin  'larrison,  of  Virginia,  great-grand- 
father of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and 
after  wbom  he  was  named.  Benjamin  Harrison 
•s-as  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress  during 
the  years  1 774-5-6,  and  was  one  of  the  original 
signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  Be 
wa  thi-ee  times  elected  Governor  of  Virginia, 
Gen    William  Henry  Harrison,  the  son  of  the 


distinguished  patriot  of  the  Revolution,  after  a  suc- 
cessful career  as  a  soldier  during  the  War  of  1812, 
and  with -a  clean  record  as  Governor  of  the  North- 
western Territory,  was  elected  President  of  the 
United  States  in  1840.  His  saroer  was  cut  short 
by  dc.ith  within  one  month  .fter  Ids  in-uguration. 
President  Harrison  vi"  bcrn  at  ^oi"-.  ijr^ud, 
Hamilton  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  "0, 18a3  His  life  up  to 
the  time  of  his  graduation  by  the  Miami  University 
at  Oxford,  Ohio,  was  the  uneventful  one  of  a  coun- 
try' lad  of  a  family  of  small  means.  His  father  was 
able  to  give  him  a  good  education,  and  nothing 
more.  He  became  engaged  while  at  college  to  thi 
daughter  of  Dr.  Scott,  Principal  of  a  female  schoo 
at  Oxford.  After  graduating  he  determined  to  en- 
ter upon  the  study  of  the  law.  He  went  to  Cin 
cinnati  and  then  read  law  for  two  years.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  time  young  Harrison  receiv-d  tbi 
only  inheritance  of  his  life ;  his  aunt  dying  left  LiiE 
a  lot  valued  at  $800.  He  regarded  this  legacy  as  a 
fortune,  and  decided  to  get  married  at  once,  «aks 
this  money  and  go  to  some  Eastern  town  an '.  be- 
gin the  practice  of  law.  He  sold  his  lot,  and  with 
the  money  in  his  pocket,  he  started  out  wita  his 
young  wife  to  fight  for  a  place  in  the  world-    E« 


108 


BENJAMIN  HARRISON. 


decided  to  go  to  Indianapolis,  which  was  even  at 
lliat  time  a  town  of  promise.  He  met  with  slig'.it 
encouragement  at  first,  making  scarcely  anything 
the  first  year.  He  worked  diligently,  applj'ing  him- 
self closely  to  his  calling,  built  up  an  extensive 
practice  and  took  a  leading  rank  in  the  legal  pro- 
ression.     He  is  the  father  of  two  children. 

In  1860  Mr.  Harrison  was  nominated  for  the 
position  of  Supreme  Court  Reporter,  and  then  be- 
gan his  experience  as  a  stump  speaker  He  can- 
vassed the  State  thoroughly,  and  was  elected  by  a 
handsome  majority.  In  1862  be  raised  the  17th 
Indiana  Infantry,  and  was  chosen  its  Colonel.  His 
regiment  w.is  composed  of  ■^he  rawest  of  material, 
out  Col.  Harrison  employed  all  his  time  at  first 
mastering  military  tactics  and  drilling  his  men, 
when  he  therefore  came  to  move  toward  the  East 
with  Sherman  his  I'egiment  was  one  of  the  best 
'.Jrilled  and  organized  in  the  army.  At  Resaca  he 
■jspecially  distinguished  himself,  and  for  his  bravery 
at  Peachtree  Creek  he  was  made  a  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral, Gen.  Hooker  speaking  of  him  in  the  most 
complimentary  terms. 

During  tiie  absence  of  Gen.  Harrison  in  the  field 

lie  Supreme  Court  declared  the  olHee  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  Reporter  vacant,  and  another  person 
was  elected  to  the  position.  From  the  time  of  leav- 
irg  Indiana  with  his  regiment  until  the  fall  oi  1864 
he  had  taken  no  leave  of  absence,  but  having  been 
nominated  that  year  for  the  same  office,  he  got  a 
thirty-day  leave  of  absence,  and  during  that  time 
made  a  brilliant  canvass  ot  the  State,  and  was  elected 
for  another  terra.  He  then  started  to  rejoin  Sher- 
man, but  on  the  way  was  stricken  down  with  scarlet 
;ever,  and  after  a  most  trying  siege  made  his  way 
to  the  front  in  time  to  participate  in  the  closing 
incidents  of  the  war 

In  1868  Gen.  Harrison  declined  ^  re-election  as 
.-eporter,  and  resumed  the  practice  of  law  In  1876 
ne  was  a  candidate  for  Governor.     Although  de- 

ieated,  the  brilliant  campaign  ht^  iLade  won  iorhim 
a  National  reputation,  and  he  was  aiuch  sought,  es- 
pecial.y  in  the  East,  to  make  speeches.  In  1880, 
as  usual,  he  took  an  active  par*'  in  iae  campaign, 
unH  WW  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate.  Here 
uc  sei-ved  six  years,  and  ras  known  as  one  ox  the 
ibiest  men,  best  i&wyer"^  «.ud  strongest  debaters  in 


that  body.  With  the  expiration  of  his  Senatorial 
term  he  returned  to  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
becoming  the  head  of  one  of  the  strongest  firms  in 
the  State. 

The  political  campaign  of  1888  was  one  of  the 
most  memorable  in  the  history  of  our  country.  The 
convention  which  assembled  in  Chicago  in  .June  and 
named  Mr.  Harrison  as  the  chief  standard  bearer 
of  the  Republican  party,  was  great  in  every  partic- 
ular, and  on  this  account,  and  the  attitude  it  as- 
sumed  upon  the  vital  questions  of  the  day,  chief 
among  which  w.as  the  tariff,  awoke  a  deep  interest 
in  the  campaign  throughout  the  Nation.  Shortly 
after  the  nomination  delegations  began  to  visit  Mr. 
Harrison  at  Indianapolis,  his  home.  This  move- 
ment became  popul.ar,  and  from  all  sections  of  the 
country  societies,  clubs  and  deleg.ations  journeyed 
thither  to  pay  their  respects  to  the  distinguished 
statesman.  The  popularity  of  these  was  greatly 
increased  on  account  of  the  remarkable  speeches 
made  by  Mr.  Harrison.  He  spoke  daily  all  through 
the  summer  and  autumn  to  these  visiting  delega- 
tions, and  so  varied,  masterly  and  eloquent  were 
his  speeches  that  they  at  once  placed  him  in  the 
foremost  rank  of  American  orators  and  statesmen. 

On  account  of  his  eloquence  as  a  speaker  and  hit 
power  as  a  debater,  he  was  called  upon  at  an  un- 
cornmonly  early  age  to  take  part  in  the  discussion 
of  the  great  questions  that  then  began  to  agitate 
the  eountrj'.  He  was  an  uncompromising  anti 
slavery  man,  and  was  matched  against  some  of  t'.:e 
most  eminent  Democratic  speakers  of  his  Statvj 
No  man  who  felt  the  touch  of  his  blade  ds  'red  tc 
be  pitted  with  him  again.  With  all  his  e'oq-^ence 
as  an  orator  he  never  spoke  for  oratorical  effect, 
but  his  words  always  went  like  bullets  to  the  mark 
He  is  purely  American  in  his  ideas  and  k  a  splec 
did  type  of  the  American  statesman.  Gifted  witli 
quick  perception,  a  logical  mind  and  a  ready  tongue, 
he  is  one  of  the  most  distinguished  impromptu 
speakers  in  the  Nation.  Many  of  these  speeches 
sparlded  with  the  rarest  of  eloquence  and  contained 
arguments  of  greatest  weight.  IMany  of  his  terse 
statements  have  alreadj"  become  aphorisms.  Origi- 
nal in  thought  precise  ia  logic,  terse  m  statement, 
yet  withal  faultless  in  eloquence,  he  is  recognized  as 
the  sound  statesman  and  bri.ilan    orator  c    ta^  day 


'^t 


St.  Clair  County, 


ILLINOIS. 


-4—•^ 


_i-®) 


INTRODUCTORY. 


#^ 


■-.r^ 


_r^'  ^  1  IK  time  has  arrived  when  it 
becomes  the    duty    of  the 
people  of  this  county  to  per- 
petuate the  names  of  their 
pioneers,  lo  furnish  a  record 
of  their    early    settlement, 
and  relate  the  story  of  their 
progress.     The  civilization  of  our 
day,  the  enlightenment  of  the  age 
and  the  duty  that  men  of  the  pres- 
ent time  owe  to  their  ancestors,  to 
themselves  and  to  their  posterity, 
demand  that  a  record  of  their  lives 
and  deeds  should  be  made.  In  bio- 
graphical history  is  found  a  power 
to  instruct  man  by  precedent,  to 
enliven   the  mental  faculties,  and 
to  waft  down  the  river  of  time  a' 
safe  vessel  in  which  the  names  and   actions  of  the 
people  who  contributed  to  raise  this  country  from  its 
primitive  state  may  be  preserved.   Surely  and  raiiidly 
the  great  and  aged  men,  who  in  their  prime  entered 
the  wilderness  and  claimed  the  virgin   soil   as  their 
heritage,  are  passing  to  tlieir  graves.  The  number  re- 
maining who  can  relate  the  incidents  of  the  first  days 
of  settlement  is  becoming  small  indeed,  so  that  an 
actual  necessity  exists  for  the  collection  and   |)reser- 
vation  of  events   without  delay,  before  all   the  earlv 
settlers  are  cut  down  by  the  scythe  of  Time. 

To  be  forgotten  has  been  the  great  dread  of  mankind 
from  remotest  ages.  All  will  be  forgotten  soon  enough, 
in  spite  of  their  best  works  and  the  most  e.irnest 
efforts  of  their  friends  to  perserve  the  memory  of 
their  lives.  The  means  employed  to  prevent  oblivion 
and  to  perpetuate  their  memory  has  been  in  propor- 
tion .jto  the  amount  of  intelligence  they  possessed. 
Th-  pyramids  of  Egypt  were  built  to  perpetuate  the 
names  and  deeds  of  their  great  rulers.  The  exhu- 
mations made  by  the  archeologists  of  Egyiit  from 
buried  Memphis  jndiwte  a  desire  of  vhose  people 


to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  their  achievements 
The  erection  of  tlie  great  obelisks  were  for  the  same 
pur[X)se.  Coming  down  to  a  later  period,  we  find  the 
Greeks  and  Romans  erecting  mausoleums  and  monu- 
ments, and  carving  out  statues  to  chronicle  their 
great  achievements  and  carry  them  down  the  ages. 
It  is  also  evident  that  the  Mound-builders,  in  piling 
up  their  great  mounds  of  earth,  had  but  this  idea— 
to  leave  something  to  show  that  they  had  lived.  All 
these  works,  though  many  of  them  costly  in  the  ex- 
treme, give  L)ut  a  faint  idea  of  the  lives  and  charac- 
ters of  those  whose  memory  they  were  intended  to 
perpetuate,  and  scarcely  anything  of  the  masses  of 
the  people  that  then  lived,  the  great  pyramids  and 
some  of  the  obelisks  remain  objects  only  of  curiosity; 
the  mausoleums,  monuments  and  statues  are  crum- 
bling into  dust. 

It  was  left  to  modern  ages  to  establish  an  intelli- 
gent, undecaying,  immutable  method  of  perpetuating 
a  full  history— immutable  in  that  it  is  almost  un- 
hmited  in  extent  and  perpetual  in  its  action ;  and 
this  is  through  the  art  of  printing. 

To  the  present  generation,  however,  we  are  in- 
debted for  the  introduction  of  the  adinirable  systeiD 
of  local  biogriphy.  By  this  system  every  man,  though 
he  has  not  achieved  what  the  wodd  calls  greatness, 
his  the  means  to  perpetuate  his  life,  his  history! 
through  the  coming  ages. 

The  scythe  of  Time  cuts  down  all ;  nothing  of  the 
physical  man  is  left.  The  monument  which  his  chil- 
drer.  or  friends  may  erect  to  his  memory  in  the  ceme- 
tery will  crumble  into  dust  and  pass  away;  but  his 
life,  his  achievements,  the  work  he  has  accomplished, 
which  otherwise  would  be  forgotten,  is  perpetuated 
by  a  record  of  this  kind. 

To  preserve  the  lineaments  of  our  companions  we 
engrave  their  |x)riraits,  for  the  same  reason  we  col- 
lect the  attainable  facts  of  their  history.  Nor  do  we 
thir.k  it  necessary,  as  we  speak  only  truth  of  them,  to 
wait  until  they  are  dead,  or  until  those  who  know 
them  are  gone:  to  do  this  we  are  ashamed  only  to 
publish  to  the  world  the  history  of  thos?  whose  !ivi>p 
are  unworthy  of  puljllc  record. 


LIBRARY 
Of  THE 

UNivfRsny  OF  Illinois. 


^  ^^^-r  ^ 


-^(^^ 


f  >i. 


f/  ON.  CHARLES  BKCKER.  ex-Stalo  Treas- 
urer. It  is  diftieull  in  few  words  to  accu- 
rately describe  a  character.  Only  the  mo-st 
salient  features  can  be  fitl^-  expressed — tlie 
ligiits  and  shades  can  be  understood  only  by  tiiose 
who  come  in  contact  with  the  man  under  various 
circumstances.  It  is  ditticult.  also,  to  point  out  the 
exact  traits  to  which  a  man  owes  his  success;  suHice 
it  to  say  that  tenacity  of  purpose,  energy  and  un- 
deniable intellectual  ability  have  been  Mr.  Beck- 
er's most  distinguishing  traits,  and  were,  without 
doubt,  his  stepping  stones  to  success.  Despite  ob- 
stacles which  to  many  would  seem  insurmountable, 
he  pushed  his  undertakings  to  a  successful  issue, 
and  in  the  political  arena  his  unerring  judgment 
and  fine  intellectual  powers  have  found  full  scope. 
Mr.  Becker  was  born  in  Rockenhausen,  Rhenish- 
Bavaria,  Germany,, lune  24,  1840.  Ilis  father,  Urlian 
liecker,  was  an  architect  and  builder  of  more  than 
ordinary  ability,  liad  a  large  and  lucrative  business, 
and  many  are  tiie  handsome  structures  that  stand 
as  monuments  to  his  skill.  His  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Mary  Spross,  bore  him  a  family  of  thir- 
teen children,  and  with  them  he  emigrated  to 
America,  and  settled  in  Belleville,  111.,  in  18.')  I, 
crossing  the  stormy  Atlantic  in  order  to  secure  a 
home  for  himself  and  family.  lie  at  once  identi- 
fied himself  with  American  interests,  and,  being  an 
honorable  business  man  and  of  a  genial  and  kindly- 
disposition,  he  won  the  friendship  and  esteem  of 
all  who  knew  him  cither  in  a  business  or  social 
way.  He  followed  his  calling  of  an  architect  in 
this  section    until   his  death,   which   occurred    in 


1874.     His  widow  survived   him  until   March   2'), 

1881,  when  she,  too,  passed  awa}'. 

Charles  Becker  inherited  from  his  parents  quick 
mental  perception,  steadfastness  of  purpose,  and 
uncompromising  determination,  which  overcomes 
every  obstacle  in  the  way  of  success.  He  passed 
an  uneventful  boyhood  attending  the  public  schools 
of  Belleville  until  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age,  at 
which  time  he  laid  aside  his  books  to  enter  Harri- 
son's Machine  Works  of  Belleville,  to  learn  the 
trade  of  a  molder.  He  remained  with  that  com- 
pany until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age.  The 
war,  which  overturned  everything  in  the  United 
States  except  the  fundamental  principles  of  indis- 
soluble union  and  universal  liberl_y,  called  a  halt 
to  the  various  kinds  of  labor,  and  Mr.  Becker 
left  the  workshop  to  enlist  in  the  Union  service, 
becoming  a  member  of  Company  B,  Twelfth  Mis- 
souri Infantr3\  ]\Iarch  8,  1802,  he  was  wounded  in 
the  right  thigh  and  leg  at  Pea  Ridge,  and  while 
he  lay  on  the  battlefield  his  leg  was  amputated 
aljove  the  knee.  He  received  his  discharge  the 
following  December,  and  when  able  to  travel  re- 
turned home  and  attended  school  for  a  short  time. 
He  took  a  commercial  course,  but  continued  to 
work  in  Harrison's  shop  until  he  was  married,  Jan- 
uary 23,  1864,  to  Miss  Louisa  Fleischbein,  a  native 
of  Belleville,  and  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Louisa 
Fleischbein,  who  came  to  the  county  in  1832. 

Soon  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Becker  removed  to 
West  Belleville,  where  he  kept  an  hotel  until  18G(). 
At  that  time  he  was  elected  to  the  position  of 
County  Sheriff,  which  he  filled  with  ability  for  two 


118 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


3eai-s.  Succeeding  that,  he  became  the  proprietor, 
in  connection  with  Mr.  Erhardt,  of  a  brewery,  the 
firm  being  known  as  ErharcU  &  Becker.  In  1872, 
Mr.  Becker  was  elected  Circuit  Clerk  and  Recorder, 
being  tlie  only  Republican  elected  at  that  time. 
In  1876,  upon  his  re-election,  although  iiis  party 
was  defeated  by  eleven  hundred  and  eighty-three 
votes,  he  was  elected  by  eight  hundred  majority, 
two  tliousand  in  excess  of  his  party  vote.  He  was 
Cliairman  of  the  Republican  Central  Committee 
for  one  }ear,  and  to  him  the  part}'  owes  much  of 
its  success.  In  tlie  capacity  of  State  Treasurer,  to 
which  responsible  and  honoralile  position  he  was 
elected  in  1888,  he  showed  himself  capable,  con- 
scientious, painstaking  and  eflicient.  His  duties 
were  discharged  in  a  manner  liighly  satisfactory  to 
those  concerned,  and  to  his  own  honor  and  credit. 
For  a  number  of  years  he  has  been  connected  with 
the  Belleville  Stove  Works,  and  is 'now  President 
of  the  same. 

In  disposition,  Mr.  Becker  is  cordial,  hospitable, 
kind  and  generous,  but  very  unassuming  and  un- 
pretentious, and  what  lionors  he  has  received  in 
the  way  of  ollicial  position  liave  been  unsought  by 
him,  but  have  come  to  liim  as  the  natural  reward 
of  deserved  merit.  He  belongs  to  several  social 
and  musical  German  societies,  and  for  the  past 
twenty  five  years  has  been  a  member  of  the  Phil- 
harmonic society.  His  surviving  children  are 
Bertha,  Casimir,  Gustave,  Arthur  Carl  and  Kay. 
Fred  is  deceased. 


^  OHN  K.  WHITE  owns  and  occupies  a  well- 
developed  farm  in  Marissa  Township,  which 
consists  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres 
and  is  tillable  tliroughout  its  entire  ex- 
tent. It  is  a  portion  of  the  old  homestead,  and 
since  it  came  into  his  possession  he  has  by  well- 
directed  efforts  brought  it  to  a  good  condition,  it 
now  being  supplied  with  neat  fences,  good  stock 
of  various  kinds,  and  all  tlie  needful  machinery 
used  in  its  cultivation. 

Our  sniijoct  was  born  in  this  county,  near  wliere 


he  is  at  present  residing,  in  1860,  and  is  tlie  son 
of  John  K.  and  Margaret  (Hamilton)  Wliite.  The 
father  was  born  in  Chester  County,  S.  C,  and  the 
mother  in  Randolph  Count}',  HI.  The  father,  who 
was  born  in  182.5,  was  the  son  of  John  White, 
wlio  was  born  about  1790,  also  in  South  Carolina. 
The  grandfather  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  re- 
mained in  his  native  State  throughout  his  entire 
life.  He  fought  in  the  War  of  1812,  acting  as  a 
substitute  for  his  father.  He  was  very  much  op- 
posed to  slavery  and,  although  living  in  a  South- 
ern State,  never  owned  a  slave.  The  maiden  name 
of  his  wife  was  Margaret  Kennedy;  she  was  the 
daughter  of  John  Kennedy,  wlio  was  of  Irish  de- 
scent. To  them  was  born  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  our  subject's  father  was  the 
youngest. 

The  great-grandparents  of  our  subject,  William 
and  Margaret  White,  were  born  in  the  North  of 
Ireland,  and  soon  after  marriage  came  to  Amer- 
ica, locating  in  Chester  District,  S.  C,  several 
years  prior  to  the  Revolutionarj'  War,  in  which 
struggle  the  former  participated  from  beginning 
to  end.  AVilliam  AVhite's  father  bore  the  name  of 
John,  and  on  coming  to  America  departed  this  life 
in  South  Carolina,  thus  making  three  generations 
of  the  White  family  who  are  buried  in  Chester 
District.  They  were  all  Presbyterians  religiously, 
and  people  greatly  respected  in   their  community. 

.John  K.  White,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
married  in  1854  to  Margaret,  daughter  of  John 
and  Sarah  (Elder)  Hamilton.  He  came  to  this 
county  in  1849,  having  the  year  previous  accom- 
panied his  parents  on  their  removal  to  Indiana. 
As  a  farmer,  which  calling  he  followed  through- 
out life,  he  was  vei-y  successful  and  left  at  his  de- 
cease, which  occurred  in  1866,  a  valuable  estate, 
comprising  two  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  Of  the 
six  children  born  to  him,  the  three  living  are 
Margaret,  now  Mrs.  J.  W.  T.  Dixon;  our  subject, 
and  Elizabeth,  who  married  Samuel  Boyle.  Those 
deceased  are  Willie,  who  died  in  infancy;  Jennie, 
the  wife  of  Charles  Ritchie;  Sarah,  Mrs.  James 
Wylie.  The  mother  of  our  subject,  who  is  still  liv- 
ing, makes  her  home  with  jNIr.  Wylie  and  cares  for 
his  three  children. 

He    whose  name    heads    this   sketch    began    life 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


119 


for  himself  at  the  age  of  sixteen  yeai-s,  taking 
charge  of  the  home  farm,  in  wliich  he  now  lias  one 
liundred  and  eighty  acres.  His  fields  yield  abun- 
dantly of  the  various  grains  and  are  a  source  of 
sufficient  Income  to  surround  tiie  family  with  llie 
comforts  and  many  of  the  luxuries  of  life.  The 
lady  to  whom  he  was  married  in  1889  was  Miss 
Elizabeth  A.,  daughter  of  George  W.  and  Kebcccn 
Guthra.  To  them  has  been  born  one  child,  a 
son,  Joseph  G.  Tiie  principles  of  Democracy  meet 
with  the  hearty  approbation  of  Air.  White,  who 
never  fails  to  cast  his  vote  for  the  party  of  his 
choice.  He  is  an  active  worker  in  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church,  and,  as  a  reliable  citizen  and 
an  intelligent  man.  wins  respect  from  those  about 
him. 


-=1-^4^1 


^ILLIAM  P.  RriTENHOl^SE,  the  subject 
'  of  the  present  sketch,  resides  upon  survey 
^^^'  381,  Smithton  Township, St.  Clair  County, 
whose  attractive  and  homelike  residence  is  almost 
hidden  from  the  highway  by  a  row  of  beautiful 
shade  trees,  which  make  the  place  very  pictur- 
esque. Our  subject  was  the  son  of  Elijah  Rittenliouse, 
who  was  born  in  the  Keystone  State  in  1801,  came 
to  St.  Clair  County  in  1805  with  his  parents  and 
settled  on  the  place  where  our  subject  now  resides. 
The  grandfather,  Peter  Rittenhouse,  was  one  of 
the  earliest  settlers  of  this  township  and  entered 
(iovernment  land  here.  The  father  of  our  subject, 
Elijah,  married  Leah  Walker,  the  daughter  of  an 
old  sea-captain,  who  spent  his  Last  days  as  a  farmer 
in  Illinois.  After  his  marriage.  Elijah  settled  on 
the  place  where  our  subject  now  lires,  and  re- 
mained there  until  his  death  in  1870.  He  reared 
a  family  of  four  daughters  and  two  sons,  all  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity.  They  were  Elizabeth, 
Sarah,  Eleanor,  Caroline,  Elisha  and  our  subject. 
The  father  was  in  the  Indian  campaigns  of  the 
early  days  and  fought  in  the  war  against  the  Win- 
nebago Indians. 

Our  subject  was  lx)ru  April  9,  1844,  on  tiie  place 
of  his  present  residence;  here  he  w.as  reared  and 
attended   tlu'  district  school  and    was    married,    in 


1870,  to  Miss  Sarah  Hill,  daughter  of  Peter  and 
Emily  (Thrift)  Hill;  her  father  was  born  and 
reared  in  this  count)'  and  still  lives  near  Ereeburg, 
111.,  and  her  mother  first  saw  the  light  in  the  State 
of  Kentucky.  After  his  marriage,  our  subject  be- 
gan housekeeping,  and  on  the  home  pl.ace  his  three 
children  were  born,  two  of  whom  are  living, 
George  E.  and  Charles  D.,  William  having  died  on 
the  13th  of  February,  1892.  William  Ritten- 
house and  his  wife  have  two  hundred  and  seven 
.^cres  of  good  land,  all  of  which  is  well  im- 
proved, a  great  deal  of  it  in  the  locality  of  the 
richest  beds  of  coal,  upon  which  is  raised  grain, 
principally,  but,  there  is  also  kept  up  a  first-class 
variety  of  stock.  The  husband  is  a  member  of  the 
Grange,  and,  politically,  a  Republican.  The  home 
of  Mr.  Rittenhouse  is  so  beautifully  located  that 
we  can  understand  his  affection  for  it,  hidden 
away  behind  the  shade  of  the  trees  and  concealed 
from  the  prying  (-ye  of  curiosity.  A  place  of  con- 
tentment it  is,  whose  Inmates  have  won  the  regard 
of  neighbors  and  friends  on  account  of  their  mental 
and  social  qualities.  One  of  the  oldest  families  of 
that  region,  its  members  preserve  and  cherish  the 
good  name  handed  down  to  them,  and  their  lives 
point  the  moral  that  good  and  honest  living  ever 
brings  with  it  the  approval  of  friends  as  well  as  of 
one's  conscience. 


ff  NDREW  J.  M<  CULLEY.  The  subject  of 
^Q  the  present  sketch,  born  July  12,  1814, 
within  three  miles  of  the  "Hermitage,"  in 
Tennessee,  w.as  the  son  of  William  and 
Mary  (Phillips)  McCulley,  who  moved  to  Tennes- 
see frojn  North  Carolina.  The  father  w.as  born  on 
the  sea  when  his  jjarents  were  coming  from  Scot- 
land, and  became  asoldier  under  J.ackson  during  the 
Indian  War  and  the  War  of  1812.  While  fighting  the 
Indians,  he  was  struck  on  the  edge  of  the  forehead  by 
a  ball,  but  tied  his  head  up  in  a  handkerchief  and 
continued  the  fight.  .Seeing  an  Indian's  head  peer 
over  the  log  bchinil    wliicli    he    was   lying,   a  sharj) 


120 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


report  rang  out  and  soon  there  was  one  savage 
less.  The  illustrious  Gen.  .Tackson  and  the  fatiier 
were  great  friends  and  our  subject  was  named  for 
their  hero  neighbor.  According  to  custom,  a 
negro  slave  was  to  have  been  given  as  a  present, 
but  events  prevented  the  gift. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  brought  him  to  Illi- 
nois when  very  young  to  live  with  his  grand- 
father, David  Phillips,  who  then  lived  two  miles 
south  of  Belleville.  This  old  gentleman  only  lived 
until  Andrew  was  twelve  years  of  age  and  then,  as 
he  says  of  himself,  he  had  to  do  the  best  he  could. 
The  exact  events  of  those  far-off  days  we  may  not 
know,  but  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years  our  subject 
entered  the  employ  of  Thomas  Harrison  &  Co., 
millers,  managed  an  engine  for  them  until  1830, 
and  remained  with  them  until  he  was  of  age.  He 
then  went  into  partnership  with  William  H.  Gale 
in  the  business  of  putting  up  milling  machinery 
in  different  parts  of  the  State.  He  soon  became 
not  only  a  practical  miller,  but  also  a  milling  ma- 
chinist. Afterward  he  was  associated  with  Julius 
Wright,  who  was  killed  at  Pittsburg  Landing 
during  the  late  war.  In  the  year  1845,  our  sub- 
ject bought  fifty-five  and  one-half  acres  of  land, 
on  which  he  still  lives,  but  never  has  engaged  in 
farming  himself,  renting  the  land  out  until  his 
own  boys  were  old  enough  to  manage  it,  when  they 
took  charge  of  it. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  McCuUe}-  took  place  March 
18,  1844,  just  before  the  great  flood.  His  wife,  Miss 
Clarinda  Fisher,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Fisher,  was 
born  in  New  Hampshire,  and  died  September  11, 
1877,  aged  about  flfty  years.  Their  children 
were  as  follows:  John,  an  engineer,  is  married 
and  lives  at  HoUister,  Cal.,  and  has  one  daugh- 
ter; Ellen  Amelia,  who  died  in  the  year  1878,  was 
the  wife  of  Walter  Craft,  who  lives  in  Belleville 
and  has  two  daughters,  Ada  and  P^lla;  William  has 
lived  in  Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  since  188G,  a  carpenter 
and  builder;  Julia,  who  married  Thomas  White  and 
resides  in  Los  Angeles,  where  her  husband  and 
brother  are  in  business  together,  has  one  child; 
Sarah,  wife  of  Adam  Harshey,  lives  in  Stookey 
Township  and  has  one  boy;  Thomas,  married  to 
Sadie  Rider,  lives  in  Belleville  and  has  one  child; 
Klraer  lives  in  Belleville  and  is  an  engineer.     Our 


subject  married  for  his  second  wife  Miss  Louisa 
Clemma,  February  9,  1884,  whose  parents  died  when 
she  was  very  young.  Mr.  McCulley  has  been  a  very 
industrious  man  all  his  life  and  followed  his  milling- 
business  until  a  few  3'ears  since.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican liut  a  great  admirer  of  Gen.  Jackson,  and  has 
never  desired  oflice,  as  he  has  always  found  liis 
business  recpiired  all  his  time  and  attention. 


ULIUS  W.  STGFFEL.  One  of  the  leading 
merchants  in  the  flourishing  little  city  of 
Mascoutah  is  the  original  of  this  sketch,  a 
dealer  in  stoves,  tinware,  hardware,  lamps, 
wringers  .and  all  the  usual  accompaniments  of  the 
trade.  Mr.  Stoffel  is  a  native  of  this  city  and  has 
seen  it  grow  with  his  growth,  and  h.as  found  here 
a  very  pleasant  home  and  a  business  in  which  he  is 
very  successful. 

The  father  of  our  subject  wjis  one  of  the  self- 
made  and  progressive  busmess  men  of  Mascoutah 
in  its  early  days.  Louis  Stoffel  was  born  in  Ger- 
man}', and  came  to  this  country  at  an  early  day  to 
"make"  his  fortune,  as  one  used  to  say,  but  in 
these  days  we  put  it  to  "earn"  his  fortune.  After 
coming  and  settling  in  Mascoutah,  he  engaged  in 
the  saloon  business  and  followed  that  occupation 
until  his  death.  He  was  a  pleasant  man,  who  made 
many  friends,  and  was  acquainted  with  every  one 
in  those  days,  and  the  father  of  a  family  of  twelve 
children,  all  of  whom  still  survive  as  respected 
and  useful  citizens.  Of  these  cluldren,the  subject 
of  our  sketch  was  the  third.  The  mother  of  our 
subject  still  lives  and  tin<ls  a  pleasant  home  in 
Mascoutah. 

Julius  ^Y.  Stoffel  was  born  July  12,  1858.  He 
was  reared  here  in  his  native  place,  and  was  given 
every  advantage  of  a  full  course  in  the  excellent 
schools.  After  he  had  completed  his  course  here, 
he  went  to  work  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  tinsmith 
with  Fred  Hottes,  and  after  finishing  his  work, 
made  a  trip  into  the  world,  trying  his  luck  in  St. 
Louis.  Being  a  good  workman,  he  had  no  difM- 
cultv  in  securing  employment,  and  so  remained  in 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


121 


that  fity  for  five  or  six  yeai>:,  when  he  i-etucned  and 
bought  out  Mr.  Ilottes,  and  for  a  few  months  c<ar- 
ried  on  the  business  at  the  old  stand;  he  then  re- 
moved farther  up  the  street,  and  later  bought  the 
building  where  he  is  now  located.  Here  was  the 
beginning  of  a  most  successful  career. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  took  place  October 
25,  1880,  with  Miss  Anna  Weber  the  daughter  of 
I'liillil)  Weber,  of  West  Belleville.  111.,  as  bride. 
Mr.  Weber  is  an  old  settler  of  that  place.  The 
children  who  now  compose  the  household  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Stoffel,  happy,  if  noisy,  are  four  hright 
lads,  that  promise  to  be  very  smart  men  some  day, 
unless  their  looks  woefully  belie  them.  They  are 
Frank,  Walter,  Hugo  and  Otto.  Mr.  Stoflfel  is  a 
prominent  member  of  Lodge  No.  361,  A.  F.  it  A. 
!M.,  and  also  belongs  tf)  the  Independent  Order 
of  JIutual  Aid. 

This  gentleman  has  done  much  for  the  advance- 
ment of  the  town  and  is  much  interested  in  all  edu- 
cational affairs,  having  been  an  intelligent  member 
of  tlie  Board  of  Education  for  many  veal's.  In 
the  political  field,  Mr.  .Stoffel  stands  an  ardent  Re- 
publican, always  voting  with  this  party,  which  he 
believes  will  best  carry  out  the  principles  of  good 
government.  The  business  in  which  our  subject 
is  engaged  is  a  verj'  nece.ssar\'  one  and  requires 
close  attention,  that  the  different  branches,  such  as 
roofing,  spouting,  guttering,  etc., are  properly  done. 
In  tliis.  as  in  everything  else,  "knowledge  is  power." 


*^^! 


Tip-i//  lU'B.VCII,  M.  I).  I'rominciit  among  the 
l^to  successful  physicians  of  the  city  of  Belle- 
Jv  "'  ville  is  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads 
this  brief  sketch.  Dr.  Rubach  is  one  of  the  good, 
sterling  men  that  Oerraany  has  given  us,  having 
been  born  in  Nassau,  German}',  November  29, 
1837,  being  the  son  of  Augustus  Rub.icli.  This 
last-named  gentleman  received  his  education  in 
the  military  schools  of  liis  native  land  and  served 
his  country  as  an  officer  in  the  army. 

In  1841,  the  father  of  our  subject  emigrated  to 
America  and  settled  in   riiiladeliiliia.   whore  he  re- 


mained for  two  years,  then  came  West  to  .St.  Clair 
County  to  eng.ige  in  farming,  subsequently  remov- 
ing to  Belleville,  entered  mercantile  pursuits  and 
continued  to  reside  in  this  city  until  1871.  His 
wife  was  of  a  distinguished  family,  being  the 
youngest  daughter  of  President  Schenck.  of  the 
Ducliy  of  Nassau,  and  her  name  was  Wilhclmina 
Sciienck.  Both  are  now  dead.  She  bore  her  hus- 
band two  children,  sons,  who  lived  to  maturity. 
The  youngest,  AVilliam  R.,was  a  soldier  in  the  late 
war  and  acquitted  himself  with  credit  in  the 
Twelfth  Missouri  ^'olunteers;  he  re-enlisted  for 
three  \ears  at  the  end  of  his  three  months'  service, 
and   was  promoted  to  be  Adjutant. 

Ferdinand,  our  subject,  received  his  primary 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  Belleville,  sup- 
plementing the  instruction  received  there  by 
private  instruction.  When  he  was  only  eighteen, 
he  entered  the  office  of  D.  A.  Hammer,  of  .St.  Louis, 
to  read  medicine  under  his  tuition.  In  addition 
to  his  studies  with  Dr.  Hammer,  he  took  two  full 
courses  of  lectures  at  the  Humboldt  College,  and 
then  attended  the  .St.  Louis  3Iedical  College  and 
graduated  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.,  in  1K.')8.  Jn 
the  May  following,  lie  went  to  Germany  and  en- 
tered the  medical  department  of  the  University  of 
Wurtzburg,  where  he  remained  for  eighteen 
months,  going  thence  to  Prague  and  then  to 
Vienna,  where  he  received  special  instruction  from 
Prof.  Arit,  thence  to  Berlin,  where  he  studied  dis- 
ejises  of  the  e^-e,  under  the  celebrated  Von  (Jraefe. 
Then  he  returned  home  after  an  absence  of  three 
3-ears  spent  iir  fitting  himself  for  general  practice. 

Dr.  Rubach  commenced  his  practice  in  Belleville 
and  has  continued  it  here  ever  since,  building  up 
so  large  a  practice  that  he  is  overtaxed  in  comply- 
ing with  the  demands  made  upon  him.  In  addi- 
tion to  his  enormous  practice,  he  was  appointed 
I'nited  States  Examining  Surgeon  in  1862,  and  still 
holds  that  office;  he  was  County  Physician  from 
1866  to  1888,  and  is  Treasurer  for  the  County 
Medical  Association,  having  held  that  office  for 
many  j-eai-s.  Dr.  Rubach  was  married.  May  4, 
1866,  to  Miss  .Sophia  Maus,  daughter  of  John 
Maus,  this  union  being  blessed  with  four  chil- 
dren, namely:  Johanna,  wife  of  Dr.  C.  II.  .Starkel, 
of  this  city:  Jennie.  Otto  and   Ferdinand,  .Ir.     Dr. 


122 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Rubach  possesses  a  most  agreeable  manner,  which 
makes  him  a  favorite  among  all  classes,  and  this 
pleasant  quality  coupled  with  Uis  skill  and  knowl- 
edge of  his  profession  renders  him  one  of  the  most 
popular  and  successful  physicians  in  the  county, 
where  he  has  practiced  for  a  third  of  a  century. 


J f|  OHN  JOSEPH.  The  gentleman  wliosc  sketch 
I  now  occupies  our  attention  is  the  prosper- 
\\  ous  farmer  who  lives  on  section  16,  New 
^J  Athens  Township,  St.  Clair  County.  The 
German  Fatlierland  was  the  birthplace  of  his 
father,  Claus  Joseph,  who  was  born  in  Baden  in 
1802,  was  reared  there,  and  in  the  same  country 
married  Mary  Ann  Vagtlin.  Following  the  great 
company  of  relatives  and  friends  who  had  already 
found  a  home  in  this  countr}',  Claus  Joseph  came 
to  America  in  1837  and  located  in  St.  Clair 
Count}',  choosing  land  one  and  one-half  miles 
north  of  Freeburg,  where  he  lived  for  two  years. 
He  then  removed  to  the  place  on  which  our 
subject  now  lives,  and  in  the  year  1871  died 
there,  leaving  four  children:  Mary  Magdalene,  who 
married  George  Buechler,and  has  since  died;  John, 
our  subject;  Claus,  who  died  at  the  age  of  ten 
years;  and  Catherine,  who  died  at  the  age  of  six 
months. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  only  one  of  the 
family  left.  His  father  was  a  successful  farmer, 
and  both  he  and  his  wife,  who  died  in  1886,  were 
faithful  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  being 
liberal  supporters  of  it.  John  Joseph,  born  De- 
cember 28, 1827,  in  Baden,  German}',  was  ten  years 
old  when  his  parents  brought  him  to  this  country. 
He  was  reared  and  educated  in  this  county,  and 
acquired  a  knowledge  of  the  English  language 
with  remarkable  quickness.  He  became  acquainted 
with  the  family  of  John  Lortz,  an  early  settler  in 
this  county,  and  in  1850  the  daughter,  Caroline, 
became  his  wife.  After  the  ceremon}',  he  brought 
his  bride  to  the  place  where  they  now  live,  and 
wheio  four  cliildrcn   have  Ih'Cu  born    to  them,  one 


of  whom  died  in  infancy;  George  died  when  a 
bright  little  fellow  of  four  years.  Louis  was  born 
in  January,  1860,  is  married,  and  lives  in  New 
Athens  in  this  township;  and  Edward,  born  in 
1861,  is  married  and  lives  u|)on  his  father's  farm, 
which  he  operates. 

Our  subject  has  made  all  the  improvements  upon 
this  place,  and  has  a  good  brick  house  and  all 
the  modern  improvements.  The  farm  is  a  fine 
piece  of  land  of  five  hundred  and  sixty-one  acres, 
all  of  which  is  iu  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  His 
principal  crop  is  of  wheat,  and  sometimes  the  yield 
is  wonderful.  Jlr.  Joseph  and  family  belong  to 
the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  of  which  they 
are  devoted  members.  In  his  political  convic- 
tions, he  prefers  the  principles  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  and  he  has  held  the  office  of 
School  Director  in  several  districts.  He  has 
lived  a  hard,  work-a-daj'  life,  which  has  been 
crowned  with  success  iu  a  worldly  sense,  and,  what 
is  better,  with  the  reward  .of  an  approving  con- 
science and  the  approbation  and  esteem  of  his 
neighbors.  His  estimable  wife  and  himself  are 
among  the  most  prominent  people  of  the  town- 
ship, whom  all  deem  it  a  happy  privilege  to  know. 


='-5"5"{"{-'^®'''5"5"!"5-F 


% „^ENHY1\EIS.     The  gentleman    whose  name 

appears  at  the  head  of  this  sketch  is  a 
member  of  the  prominent  lumber  firm  of 
M.  ife  H.  Reis,  who  have  carried  on  their 
large  and  successful  business  in  this  city  for  (lie 
past  twenty-six  years. 

Mr.  Henry  Reis,  the  junior  partner  of  this  firm, 
is  a  native  of  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany,  born 
there  September  24,  1839,  being  the  son  of  Val- 
entine Reis,  also  a  native  of  the  Fatherland, 
who  came  to  America  in  1849,  bringing  his  wife 
and  famil}'.  He  stopped  in  St.  Louis,  where  he 
remained  until  1857,  and  then  removed  to  Scott 
County.  !Minn.,  and  carried  on  his  business  of  lum- 
berman. Mr.  Reis  had  married  Catherine  Freehaut 
in  German}-  and  they  reared  nine  children,  of 
whom  four  sons  are  located  in  St.  Clair  County, 
namelv:     IMichael,  A'alentine,  Ceorge  and   Henry. 


K)RTRAIT  AND  BIOGKAPHICAL  RECORD. 


123 


Henry  received  his  educalion  iu  tlie  excellent 
schools  of  St.  Lonis.  Removing  with  his  f.ither  ti) 
Minnesot-i.  he  reni.Tined  for  one  year,  but  not  lik- 
ing that  State  he  returned  to  St.  Louis,  residing 
there  for  some  time:  he  then  went  back  to  Shakopee, 
Minn.,  .ind  engaged  in  the  grocery  business 
until  18t>6.  when  he  came  to  Belleville  to  en- 
gage permanently  in  the  lumber  business  with  his 
brother,  M.  Reis.  The  yard  is  situated  on  West 
Main  Street,  has  a  frontage  of  one  hundred  feet 
and  is  the  full  depth  of  the  block.  This  firm  is  the 
second  oldest  of  its  kind  in  the  city,  and  carries 
on  an  extensive  business.  In  addition  to  bis  other 
interests.  Mr.  Reis  is  a  Director  in  the  Fii-st  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Belleville,  and  owns  a  one-third  in- 
terest in  the  nail  mill,  which  carries  on  a  very 
llourishing  trade,  giving  employment  to  a  large 
force  of  men. 

When  -Mr.  Keis  chose  a  wife,  he  select€d  one  of 
the  maidens  of  this  city,  namely.  Miss  Elizabeth 
Kissel,  who  was  born  in  Belleville  in  .\ugust,  184.'i.a 
daughter  of  \'alentine  Kissel,  the  marriage  occur- 
ring in  July.  186(5.  To  this  couple  have  been  given 
ten  children,  namely:  Mary,  wife  of  Jarob  Reis, 
of  Shakopee,  Minn.;  Valentine;  Henry;  Michael; 
Louise;  Lizzie:  George;  Herman;  Adelhied  and 
Charles.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reis  are  prominent  mem- 
bei-s  of  St.  Peter's  Roman  Catholic  Cathedral 
and  Mr.  Reis  is  Treasiner  of  St.  Peter's  Cath- 
olic Benevolent  Society.  The  pleasant  home  of 
this  entertaining  family  is  on  tlie  corner  of  Race 
and  Second  South  .Streets,  where  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Reis  receive  their  large  circle  of  friends  in  a  trulv 
hospital)le  manner. 


"^ 


!T_^  EHMAN  MOOTZ.  The  gentleman  whose 
r  J  name  opens  this  brief  notice  is  the  accom- 
Xj^  modating  pharmacist  located  on  the  corner 
(^y)  of  Fourth  Street  and  Brady  Avenue,  in 
East  .St.  Louis.  Mr.  Mootz  was  born  in  Hoheneggel- 
sen,  August  .5,  1848.  He  was  reared  and  educated  in 
Germany  and  attended  the  gymnasium  at  Gifhorn, 
near  Brunswick:  lie  was  gr-aduated  there,  and  then 


entered  upon  the  stud}-  of  pharmacy  with  the 
Commissary,  llr.  Proellius.  at  the  Raatz  Apotheke. 
in  Hanover. 

In  18t!7,  our  subject  came  to  America  to  escape 
military  oppression  after  linishing  his  course, 
leaving  Bremen  in  December.  186*;,  in  the  sailing- 
vessel  ".Atlanta,"  for  Xew  York,  and  was  almost 
drowned  on  the  p.assage.  .as  on  the  25th  of  De- 
cember the  vessel  ran  upon  a  cliff  on  the  English 
Coast  during  a  terrible  storm.  There  were  twelve 
hundred  passengers,  all  of  whom,  Fcbruarv  18, 
1867,  had  to  be  put  upon  half  rations  and  reduced 
to  four  ounces  of  water  a  day.  At  Xew  York, 
he  went  ujK>n  the  steamer  "Livingston,"  bound 
for  Savannah,  Ga...  and  took  the  position  of  hos- 
pital steward  under  Dr.  Savers,  who  w.as  just 
starting  a  German  colony  on  a  large  rice  [)lantation 
seventeen  miles  south  of  Savannah;  butheonlv  re- 
mained there  until  March  18.  1867,  when  the  col- 
ony proved  a  failure,  as  the  plantation  had  been 
so  run  down  that  it  was  impossible  to  make  the 
venture  a  success. 

Our  subject  then  enlisted  in  the  regular  arniv 
in  the  Sixteenth  Regiment, United  States  Infantrx'. 
He  was  made  Hospital  Steward,  sent  from  iiillarto 
post,  and  was  in  the  midst  of  the  trouble  occur- 
ring from  the  Klu-Klux  at  Louisville,  Ga.  When 
his  time  was  out.  he  was  glad  to  get  his  discharge. 
In  1870.  Mr.  Moots  became  a  pharmacist  at  Louis- 
ville, Ky.,  remaining  there  until  1871.  when  ho 
went  to  Memphis  and  took  charge  of  a  prescrip- 
tion store  for  Robert  Battier,  going  thence  in 
1872  to  Providence,  La.,  as  clerk  for  Dr.  L.  B. 
Bernard.  In  the  fall  of  1873,  our  subject  [)ur- 
chased  a  stock  of  drugs  and  medicines  from  Col. 
F.  Pennington,  and  did  a  very  successful  business 
until  the  crisis  of  1873  broke  it  up. 

Mr.  Mootz  then  collected  what  he  could  and 
went  to  (Jreenville,  Miss.,  and  opened  a  store. 
Eight  months  later  a  fire  started  in  a  building 
three  blocks  awiiy  and  a  third  of  the  city  w.as 
burned  before  it  could  be  controlled,  and  our  un- 
fortunate subject  was  the  loser  of  all  his  stock, 
upon  which  there  w.asno  insurance.  This  was  dis- 
couraging, indeed,  but  in  the  spring  of  1876  Mr. 
Mootz  came  to  East  St.  I>ouis  and  took  charge  of 
the  drug  store  of  Dr.  E.  Vanquist,  conduetin»   his 


124 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


business  until  1877,  and  then  bought  the  stock, 
continuing  in  the  place  on  Collinsville  Avenue  for 
twelve  years.  In  1888,  our  subject  sold  the  store 
to  Drs.  Wood  and  Carr,  and  in  May,  1889,  started 
a  store  with  an  entirely  new  stock,  on  the  corner 
of  Fourth  and  Brady,  building  up  a  very  fine  pre- 
scription trade. 

The  marriage  of  Air.  Mootz  took  place  in  Lake 
Providence,  La.,  February  3,  1873,  to  Mrs.  Sarah 
(Menges)Bernstein.  She  was  born  in  London,  Eng- 
land, but  was  reared  from  the  age  of  two  years  in 
New  Orleans.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mootz  have  had  three 
children:  Albertine  and  Camelia;  and  Dora,  who 
died  at  the  .age  of  five  years.  The  two  daughters 
of  Mrs.  Mootz  by  her  former  marriage  were  P^mily 
and  Rosa,  both  deceased.  Mr.  Mootz  is  a  member 
of  the  Ancient,  Free  &  Accepted  Masons  and 
Modern  Woodmen.  lie  is  a  Democrat  in  his  be- 
lief, but  is  not  active  in  politics. 


(j/  M.  NEEDLES.  One  of  the  most  efficient 
officers  of  the  law  in  the  city  of  Belleville 
is  the  gentleman  whom  we  have  named 
s^  above.  Born  in  Brown  County,  111.,  Octo- 
ber 9,  1853,  he  is  the  son  of  James  B.  and  Christiana 
(Mace)  Needles.  The  father  was  born  in  Balti- 
more, Md.,  and  went  when  a  young  man  to  Monroe 
County,  being  one  of  the  pioneers  in  what  was 
then  the  Far  West;  he  began  farming,  and  con- 
tinued at  that  until  elected  Sheriff  for  several 
terms.  He  married  Miss  Mace,  a  daughter  of 
Heurj'  ]Mace,  a  pioneer  of  this  county.  The  grand- 
mother of  this  lady  had  a  thrilling  experience. 
Her  name  was  Andrews,  and  she  was  taken  cap- 
tive and  held  by  the  Indians  for  some  time,  all  of 
the  family  being  killed  but  her;  she  was  ransomed  by 
the  French  traders  who  bought  and  paid  for  her 
and  restored  her  to  her  friends.  (See  sketch  of 
Dr.  Mace.) 

The  father  of  our  subject  removed  to  Brown 
County  and  then  to  this  county,  but  finally  ended 
his  days  in  Washington  County,  leaving  a  family 
of  tliree    sons  and  one    daughter:   T.  B.,  living  in 


Nashville,  111.;  Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Cooper;  Edward  and 
our  subject.  The  latter  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools;  then  went  to  McKendree  College  at 
Lebanon,  in  this  county,  and  graduated  a  B.  S.  in 
the  Class  of  '73.  After  attending  the  law  depart- 
ment of  the  Wisconsin  University,  he  graduated  an 
LL.  B.  in  1876,  and  was  admitted  to  practice;  he 
returned  to  Illinois  in  1877,  was  admitted  to  prac- 
tice here,  and  located  in  Belleville,  where  he  has 
had  a  fine  growing  practice  ever  since. 

Dr.  Needles  was  made  Public  Administrator  for 
one  term  of  four  years,  and  was  tendered  a  re- 
appointment. He  has  been  an  active  politician, 
and  has  been  interested  in  various  real-estate  in- 
vestments, which  his  good  judgment  has  made 
profitable;  and  he  also  has  been  collector  for  the  in- 
surance companies  of  the  city,  giving  satisfaction  in 
all  cases.  He  is  a  member  of  the  orders  of  Ma- 
sonry and  Knights  of  Pythias,  in  both  of  which 
he  is  highly  esteemed.  Our  subject  was  married 
to  Miss  Clarissa  Y.  Scott,  daughter  of  Isaac  Scott, 
one  of  the  early  pioneers  here.  The  marriage 
took  place  May  9,  1875,  and  four  interesting  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  our  subject  and  his  esti- 
mable wife:  Homer,  Martin,  Fred  and  Elmer.  Dr. 
Needles  holds  the  office  of  Police  Magistrate  for 
the  city,  his  re-election  dating  from  April.  1892. 


"ifj  OHN  ,1.  jMcLEAN.  Among  the  many  note- 
worthy lines  of  business  which  have  made 
East  St.  Louis  a  very  important  commercial 
centre  may  he  mentioned  the  building  and 
loan  associations.  Probably  that  which  has  best 
carried  out  the  wishes  of  its  founders  is  the  one 
bearing  the  name  of  the  Safety  Homestead  and 
Loan  Association,  of  which  our  subject  is  the  effici- 
ent Secretary.  He  is  also  Interested  in  the  real- 
estate  business  of  the  city,  and  is  connected  with 
some  enter|)rises  in  Hillsboro. 

The  grandparents  of  our  subject  many  years 
ago  moved  from  Scotland  into  Kings  County,  Ire- 
land, carried  on  farming  there,  and  in  that  county 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


125 


our  subject's  father  first  saw  the  light.  From 
there  when  still  a  young  man,  IMartin  McLean 
came  to  the  I'nited  States,  settled  in  the  fertile 
county  of  Westchester,  N.  Y.,  and  there  married. 
For  some  reason  not  known  to  the  biographer,  he 
removed  from  there  and  went  to  Paterson,  N.  J.,  and 
was  connected  with  the  locomotive  machine  shops 
some  time;  thence  went  to  Metuchen,  N.  J.,  and 
engaged  in  farming,  buying  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  five  miles  from  the  sea  coast.  In 
1861,  JMr.  McLean  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in 
Montgomery  Count}',  near  Litchfield,  where  he 
bought  a  farm  of  over  one  thousand  acres.  On 
that  place  he  now  resides  and  has  been  an  exten- 
sive stock-raiser.  Politically,  he  has  afflliated  with 
the  Democratic  l)art3'.  The  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Mary  Car}-,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Ire- 
land, emigrating  thence  to  New  York,  where  she 
met  her  husband.  Her  death  occurred  in  1878; 
during  her  life  she  was  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
Church.  Our  subject  was  born  in  Metuchen,  N. .1., 
April  4,  1850.  He  was  one  of  three  children,  the 
others  being  William  II.,  who  is  on  the  home  farm, 
and  Margaret,  who  is  Mrs.  M.  E.  McAnarney,  of 
Montgomery  County. 

Mr.  McLean  was  reared  on  tlie  farm  and  at- 
tended the  common  school  of  his  neighborhood 
until  he  came  to  Illinois.  In  1870-71-72,  he  at- 
tended the  Christian  Urothers'  College  in  St. 
Louis,  then  took  a  course  in  a  celebrated  commer- 
cial college  and  graduated  from  it.  After  gradu- 
ating, he  taught  school  in  Montgomery  County 
for  one  year,  but  in  1873  he  was  elected  to  the 
office  of  Treasurer  of  Montgoiner}-  Count}',  and 
held  the  office  until  December,  1875,  when  he  be- 
gan the  real-estate  business  in  Hillsboro.  In  1882, 
he  was  elected  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  and 
County  Recorder  by  the  Democrats,  and  in  188()  was 
re-elected,  serving  two  terms  in  both  offices.  During 
this  time,  he  was  admitted  to  the  Illinois  Bar,  and 
in  1890,  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office,  still 
continued  at  Hillsboro.  In  IMIU,  he  located  in 
East  St.  Louis  and  opened  a  real-estate  business, 
dealing  in  city  property.  In  18;(1  he  organized  the 
Safety  Homestead  and  Loan  Association,  was 
made  Secretary,  and  h.as  oontinued  in  this  posi- 
tion   ever   since.     Mr.   McLean    was  one    of   the 


organizers  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Litch- 
field and  is  still  a  Director.  He  also  helped  to 
organize  the  First  National  Bank  of  Ilillshoro.  and 
is  3'et  a  Director  of  that  institution. 

Mr.  McLean  was  married  in  Jk>ntgoniery  County, 
in  1877,  to  Miss  Amanda  Thomas,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  R.  Thomas,  a  prominent  stock- 
man of  this  same  county.  Two  children  have 
been  added  to  this  household,  Edgar  M.  and  Irene 
N.  Our  subject  is  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Catholic  Chur(;h  of  Hillsboro,  and  the  family  takes 
a  very  important  i)osition  in  the  social  life  of  the 
city.  He  is  a  generous,  liberal  n)an,  ver}'  kind- 
hearted.  He  is  devoted  to  tlie  principles  of  the 
Democratic  |)arty  and  a  great  admirer  of  ex-Pres- 
ident Cleveland. 


m>^^<i 


j,ILLIAM  (iREBE.  M.  1).  Tlie  sul)ject  of 
the  following  short  sketch,  a  practicing 
physician  of  Freeburg,  III.,  is  the  son  of 
Henry  Grebe,  who  still  remains  at  his  old  home  in 
Germany.  The  birth  of  our  subject  was  at  Trier, 
Germany,  in  1862,  where  he  made  his  home  until 
the  age  of  eighteen  years  and  where  he  attended 
excellent  schools,  closing  with  a  course  in  phar- 
macy. In  1881  Mr.  Grebe  came  to  the  United 
Suites.  He  first  entered  a  drug  store  in  Philadel- 
phia .as  clerk,  remaining  there  until  1883;  he  then 
went  to  the  College  of  Pharmacy  in  that  cit}',  was 
graduated  and  then  visited  Germany,  returning  to 
Philadelphia  in   1884. 

During  his  absence,  he  served  one  year  in  tlie 
army  and  studied  medicine  under  aCJerman  physi- 
cian. .Vfter  liis  return.  Dr.  Grebe  became  a  student 
at  the  rnivcrsity  of  Pennsylvania,  graduated  from 
tlie  medical  department  in  Sei)teinher,  188U,  then 
came  West,  looking  for  a  location  where  his  educa- 
tion and  abilities  would  be  appreciated,  and  fiiiall}- 
decided  to  locate  in  tlie  pleasant  town  of  Freeburg. 
lie  ni.ade  this  place  his  home  two  years  ago  and 
lias  lived  hero  ever  since.  We  do  not  declare  that 
people  here  get  sick  in  order  that  the  Doctor  may 
make  I  Ill-Ill  well;  but  it  is  not  exaggeration  to  say 


126 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


that  when  serious  illness  comes,  the  desire  of  the 
friends  of  the  sufferer  is  that  the  brilliant  3'oung 
pliysician  may  exercise  his  skill  upon  them.  He 
conducts  a  drug  store  in  connection  with  his  (irac- 
tice. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  Gretjc  took  place  June  '2;i, 
1891,  the  bride  being  Miss  Helen  Barlhel,  the 
charming  daughter  of  Henry  Barthel,  a  prominent 
merchant  of  Freeburg.  They  have  one  bright 
little  one  named  AViUiam  Henry,  an  infant.  Dr. 
Grebe  belongs  to  the  lodge  of  Ancient  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons  at  this  place  and  has  held  several 
offices  in  the  order;  also  belongs  to  the  Harugariof 
this  place  and  the  Athletic  Club.  By  the  time  the 
next  Recohl)  of  St.  Clair  County  is  written  we  pre- 
dict that  the  name  of  this  young  and  progressive 
physician  will  be  known  beyond  the  borders  of 
Illinois. 


FREDERICK  WILLIAM   WOLPERT.     Our 

^>  subject  is  one  of  the  many  representatives 
of  the  Teutonic  race  in  this  country,  who 
have  brought  into  American  life  the  patience  and 
industry  which  are  sometimes  lacking  in  the  Ameri- 
can artisan.  He  was  born  in  Hesse-Darmstadt,  May 
1,  1830,  and  is  the  son  of  Frederick  AVilliam  Wol- 
pert.  His  mother  died  when  he  was  very  young, 
and  his  father  when  he  was  eight  years  old. 

Our  subject  went  to  school  until  he  was  fourteen 
and  was  then  apprenticed  for  four  years  to  cutlery 
manufacturers  at  Oppenheira,  Germany.  Here  he 
remained  until  he  was  eighteen  years  old  as  an  ap- 
prentice, and  then,  not  being  satisfied  with  what 
he  had  learned,  he  remained  with  them  until  he 
was  twent}'  years  old,  thus  receiving  a  very  thor- 
ough education  in  his  trade.  Being  an  orphan, 
with  few  home  ties,  he  concluded  to  try  his 
fortune  across  the  ocean;  hence  June  5,  1851, 
he  landed  in  New  York  City,  and  started  out 
to  find  employment.  He  first  engaged  in  the 
raanufaotuvp  of  shears,  in  Newark,  N.  J.,  where  he 
remained  one  y^^v,  His  next  removal  wjva  to 
(I'oiinvftll,  Conn.,  where  hu  vcmuiued   until   1M61, 


In  1862,  he  came  to  Belleville  and  opened  a  shop 
of  his  own.  It  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  con- 
venient anywhere  in  this  county,  and  has  trade 
from  St.  Louis  and  both  P^ast  and  West.  Mr.  Wol- 
pert  is  an  expert  workman,  and  with  so  many 
years  of  practice,  will  only  turn  out  the  very  best 
work.  He  has  with  him  his  son,  who  has  learned 
the  business,  and  will  succeed  him. 

Mr.  Wolpert  was  married  in  Cornwall,  Conn.,  to 
Miss  Maria  Heberer,  of  German  birth.  She  was  a 
good  wife,  and  left  her  husband  five  children, 
namely:  Clara,  wife  of  Jules  Cottert,  of  Spring- 
field, 111.;  Louisa,  wife  of  Peter  AVermels,  of  St. 
Louis;  Rosa,  wife  of  Jacob  Lange,  of  Pittsburgh, 
Tex.;  Henry,  living  with  his  father;  and  Gustav 
who  is  living  in  Columbus, Ohio.  Our  subject  mar- 
ried for  his  second  wife,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Rauschkolb, 
of  this  place,  also  of  German  birth.  To  them  have 
been  born  nine  children:  P^lizabeth,  widow  of  Philip 
Hoener;  AVilliam,  a  carriage-maker  of  Carlinville, 
111.;  Anna,  wife  of  C.  Brandt,  of  St.  Louis;  Louis, 
of  St.  Louis;  Louisa,  of  St.  Louis;  Otto  and  George 
at  home;  John,  a  mail  carrierof  St.  Louis;  and  Ma- 
tilda, wife  of  Fritz  Schermer,  of  this  city. 

The  pleasant  home  of  Mr.  AVolpert  is  at  No.  301 
Walnut  Street.  He  is  a  member  of  the  German 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  this  city,  and  is 
one  of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  His  son  Henry 
has  inherited  his  father's  tastes  and  talents,  and 
bids  fair  to  carry  on  his  business  with  suc- 
cess. He  was  born  in  Belleville,  September  3, 
1867  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  He  has 
learned  the  trade  with  his  father,  having  been  in 
the  shop  since  he  was  fourteen  years  old. 


ICIIAEL  F.  GEARY.  The  State  of  Pcnn- 
.,  sylvania  contributed  quite  extensively  to 
the  upbuilding  of  Illinois,  and  among 
the  honest  men  who  came  here  and  have 
taken  an  active  interest  in  everything  of  value  to 
this  beautiful  city  may  bo  mcntionef]  >vitli  truth 
Iho  name   of  Mr,   M.   F.  Goary.    Tlis  fnthiM'  wa,i 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


127 


born  in  Pennsylvania,  owned  a  farm  on  the  banks 
of  the  Susquehanna,  and  was  a  very  prominent 
man  in  liis  neighborhood,  liaving  acceptal)ly  tilled 
the  otiiccs  of  Justice  of  the  I'eace,  Road  Over- 
seer, and  Supervisor  for  many  jears.  lie  was  of 
the  Democratic  faith  in  politics,  lived  to  lie  nearly 
eighty  years  of  age,  and  died  at  his  home.  The 
motiier  of  our  subject,  JMary  Kern ,  was  a  native  of 
the  Emerald  Isle,  and  died  a  few  \-ears  after  her  hus- 
band, a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church.  She  had 
been  the  mother  of  sixteen  children. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Friends ville,  Suscpie- 
hanna  County,  Pa.,  August  28,1840,  the  eldest 
of  his  father's  family.  He  was  reared  in  Friendsville 
among  the  (Quakers,  went  to  school  and  worked 
on  the  farm  amtmg  this  kind  and  orderly  people, 
and  remained  until  seventeen  years  of  age:  he  then 
thought  he  would  like  railroad  life,  and  worked  as 
brakesman  for  one  da^'.  JNIr.  Geary  was  made 
Yardmasterat  Titusville,  Pa.,  on  the  Oil  City  Rail- 
road, and  later  was  conductor  on  the  pfissenger 
train  between  Titusville  and  Corry  for  about  four 
years.  In  1867,  he  went  West  through  East  St. 
Louis  to  Kansas  City  for  the  Missouri  Pacific  Rail- 
road as  Yardmaster,  and  in  1871  served  as  con- 
ductor between  Sedalia,  Mo.,  and  Kansas  City, 
wliicli  was  then  only  a  small  vill.age. 

In  1871,  he  came  to  the  Iron  Mountain  Railroad 
and  ran  a  mixed  train  from  Fredericktown  to  Bel- 
mont until  1873;  then  in  December  came  to  East 
St.  Louis  in  ciiarge  of  tiie  yards  of  the  Cairo  Short 
Line  Railroad,  remaining  until  1881,  when  he  went 
to  Indianapolis  in  charge  of  tiic  Indianapolis, 
Bloomington  A:  Western  and  the  Indianapolis.Deea- 
tur  &  Springfield  for  two  years  as  Yardmaster.  That 
ended  his  railway  career.  In  1883,  our  subject  re- 
turned here.  He  had  been  very  fortunate,  for  in  his 
whole  railroad  career  no  .accidents  have  befallen 
him.  Mr.  (Teary  was  made  Superintendent  of  the 
Heims  Brewery  in  1883,  and  continued  with  them 
until  they  sold  out  in  .lunc,  1888.  He  then 
bought  Trauble  Hall,  and  has  been  in  the  lii|uiir 
business  since  that  lime.  In  October,  18'.il,  Mi-. 
Geary  bought  thesite,  on  which  he  built  Geary  Hall. 
This  building  is  used  by  fourteen  different  socie- 
ties, and  is  occupied  ullof  the  time,  Although  it 
Vas  raised  and  huill  in  fifteen  days,  it  luis  some  of 


the  finest  work  upon  it  to  be  found  in  the  city;  is 
33x60  feet,  three  stories  high  with  basement,  and 
has  all  the  latest  improvements.  Mr.  (ieary  owns 
considerable  real  estate  in  the  city,  and  speculates 
with  it;  is  a  partner  in  the  linn  of  Hill  I'.ros.  in 
the  ownership  of  twenty-live  acres  m  (he  city 
limits,  which  they  will  soon  lay  out;  has  built  up 
some  residences  here,  and  owns  other  property. 

The  marri.age  of  our  subject  took  place  in  Titus- 
ville, Pa.,  March  4,  1867,  to  Miss  Carrie  15.  Spear, 
born  in  Salem,  Mass.  Tliey  have  but  one  child, 
Frank,  living  at  home.  Mr.  (ieary  is  a  member  of 
many  fraternal  societies  and  an  officer  in  some  of 
them;  is  Treasurer  of  Illinois  Lodge  Xo.  268,  K.  of 
IL;  Treasurer  of  the  Chevalier  Commandery,  K.  of 
II.;  Trustee  of  Eureka  Lodge  No.  81,  K.  of  P.;  and 
Trustee  of  Rathbone  Division  No.  17,  U.  R.  and  K. 
of  P.,  iind  also  is  Grand  Assistant  Dictator  of  the 
Knights  of  Honor  of  Illinois.  The  gentleman  of 
whom  we  write  li.as  been  a  Republican  all  his  life, 
a  delegate  to  the  county  and  State  conventions, 
and  also  to  the  judicial  and  congressional  conven- 
tions, and  is  now  Chairman  of  the  Republican  com- 
mittee. In  1892,  he  was  elected  School  Trustee 
on  the  Citizens'  ticket,  and  is  President  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  for  four  districts. 


]-^+^i 


■jf  AMES  ,1.  RAFTER,  A.  IJ..  A.  ]\I.  The  pres- 
ent jiractice  of  law  requires  the  possession 
of  a  very  liberal  general  education  besides 
a  knowledge  of  the  princii)Ies  (vlucidated 
liy  Coke  and  Blackstone.  The  gentlem.an  whose 
name  opens  this  sketch  h.as  proved  that  he  h.as  con- 
(piered  all  the  dilliculties  in  the  w.ay,and  is  now  en- 
joying a  very  successful  practice  in  a  i)leasant 
office  at  No.  119  North  Third  Street,  East  St. 
I.ouis. 

I"he  grandfather  of  our  .subject,  .Micli;iel  Rafter, 
brouglil  his  family  from  Ireland  to  .Vmerica  in 
lHlf<  and  located  on  a  farm  near  Augusta,  Me,, 
where  he  passed  the  rest  of  his  life.  I'lui  father  of 
our  subject  was  named  Martin,  nnrt  was  boin  in 
Country  Wexford,  Ireland,  in  18UG,     When  twelve 


128 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRArillCAL  RECORD. 


years  of  age,  his  parents  came  to  America,  and,  at 
the  age  of  maturity',  he  married  into  one  of  the 
oldest  families  of  the  State  of  Maine.  His 
wife  was  Susan  Joj'ce,  who  had  been  born 
in  the  same  State.  Her  mother,  the  grandmother 
of  our  subject,  was  an  Erskin,  of  an  old  pioneer  fam- 
ily. Its  founder  was  with  Cien.  Washington  iu  the 
Revolutionary  War,  and  after  its  close  moved 
into  the  wilderness  of  Maine.  The  maternal 
graudfather  of  our  subject  came  when  a  boj'  from 
Ireland  and  engaged  in  the  fishing  business  in 
Newfoundland.  Going  in  a  schooner  to  Boston 
witli  his  flsli,  he  then  settled  in  Lincoln  Countj', 
Me.,  there  went  to  farming  and  married. 

In  1848,  the  father  of  our  subject  came  to  Illi- 
nois and  settled  in  Springfield  Township,  Sanga- 
mon County,  and  there  bought  a  farm,  thirty  acres 
of  which  were  in  the  corporation  and  sixty-five  of 
it  were  adjoining.  He  farmed  there  and  laid  out 
the  Martin  Rafter  Addition  to  Springfield,  be- 
came a  very  wealtiij'  man  by  his  foresight,  and 
closed  his  life  there  in  1881.  He  had  adhered  to 
the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  was  a 
consistent  member  of  the  Catholic  Church.  Our 
subject's  mother,  now  seventj'-six  years  of  age,  re- 
sides upon  a  ranch  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land  in  Nelson  County,  N.  Dak.,  to  which  she 
removed  after  her  husband's  death. 

Our  svibject  is  tlie  fourth  oldest  of  ten  children, 
and  was  born  in  Augusta,  Me.,  March  15,  1846; 
was  brought  to  Springfield  when  less  than  two 
years  old,  was  reared  in  that  place,  and  attended 
school  there,  graduating  from  the  High  School 
in  1865.  Mr.  Rafter  then  went  to  Niagara  Uni- 
versity in  New  York,  and  graduated  in  1868  witli 
the  degree  of  B.  A.,  and  later  received  the  de- 
gree of  M.  A.  In  September,  1868,  he  became 
Principal  of  the  Pleasant  School  in  Sangamon 
County,  HI.,  and  in  April.  1869,  came  to  East  St. 
Louis  to  fill  a  vacancy  in  one  of  the  schools,  hold- 
ing that  position  until  June,  1872,  when  he  went 
back  to  Springfield  and  began  the  study  of  law 
with  Stewart,  Edwards  iV  Brown. 

Mr.  Rafter  was  admitted  to  practice  in  Septem- 
ber, 1874,  wlien  he  returned  here,  opened  an  office, 
and  has  had  several  partners,  but  is  now  conduptjiig 
(lis  business  alone,     Jn  1875,  he  was  elected  Scffool 


Trustee   for  three  years.     During   the   spring  of 

1883,  when  there  was  much  trouble  arising  from 
the  dual  governments,  he  was  Acting  Mayor,  and 
was  engaged  in  much  legal  work  incident  to  tiiat 
disturbing  time.  Mr.  Rafter  engages  in  a  regular 
law  practice  and  has  had  many  important  cases; 
he  was  the  attorney  for  the  Minnie  Bowman  estate 
and  laid  out  and  sold  Rose  Hill,  besides  managing 
much  valuable  real  estate.  He  owns  property  on 
CoUinsville  Avenue  and  in  other  parts  of  the  city. 
Our  subject  has  been  a  very  active  worker  in 
the  Democratic  ranks,  and  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Democratic  Central  Committee  since  1884. 
Mr.  Rafter  was  married  in  Cairo,  III.,  August  30, 
1877,  to  Miss  Bibbie  M.  Crowlej-,  who  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  but  was  reared  in  Cairo.  She  was 
removed  by  death  in  1887,  and  left  two  interest- 
ing children.  Rose  and  C!erald,  both  of  whom  are 
at  the  academy'  at  Grand  Forks,  N.  Dak.  Our 
subject  is  a  member  of  the  order  of  the  National 
Union  and  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians, 
and  he  supports  the  Catholic  Church,  of  which 
he  has  long  been  a  communicant. 


\^nHILIP  L.  WEBER,  a  prominent  insurance 
Jl)  agent  of  Belleville,   with  his   office  at  No. 

f^  6  High  Street,  has  been  a  resident  of  Belle- 
,  \  ville  since  1871.  He  was  born  in  Bremen, 
German }-,  July  7,  1854,  and  is  the  son  of  (ieorge 
and  Sophia  (Bruns)  Weber.  Our  subject  received 
his  early  education  at  his  birthplace;  then  learning 
the  mercantile  business,  working  in  a  wholesale 
ofl[ice,and  beginning  first  as  an  apprentice,  in  which 
capacity  he  served  for  four  years  before  he  was  pro- 
moted to  the  position  of  book-keeper. 

Mr.  Weber  remained  with  this  house  until  he 
came  to  America  in  1871,  engaging  first  in  St. 
Louis  in  the  dry-goods  business,  where  he  re- 
mained one  year.  He  then  came  to  Belleville  and 
engaged  in  the  sewing-machine  business  here.  The 
position  of  book-keeper  for  William  Ekhart,  Jr., 
next  claimed  his  attention,  after  whiclj,  in  1883,  he 
engaged  in  the  insurance  liiisiiiess.  In  this  departure 


ItBRAAV 
Of  THE 


*'&• 


^5  jd  2^-e^/^^^^'^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


131 


lie  built  up  a  iironiineiit  and  successful  business 
witli  a  partner,  under  the  lirni  name  of  Weber  it 
Sikkania,  and  their  ollice  is  liead(iuarters  for  the 
(iernians  of  Freepurt.  They  do  business  in  ten  ad- 
joining counties,  and  they  iiave  about,  seventy 
agencies  under  tlieni. 

Mr.  Weber  has  been  President  of  the  tierinania 
Turnverein,  and  was  Secretary  of  the  Liederkranz, 
which  is  the  leading  song  society  here,  four  years. 
Our  subject  was  married  to  Miss  Delia  Enwright, 
of  St.  Charles,  Mo.,  where  she  was  born.  She  is*f 
the  daughter  of  .Tames  Enwright,  a  prominent  rail- 
road contractor  of  lliat  (ilaoe.  'I'lio  marriage  oc- 
curred December  1,  l.s.s(i,uiid  lhe\'  liave  three  chil- 
dren: Oscar,  .loll n  and  Ella.  ]Mr.  Weber  had  been 
previously  married  to  Miss  Rosa  1  loner,  of  this  city, 
who  at  her  death  left  five  children:  Arthur,  Erail, 
Irwin,  Walter  and  Louise.  Our  subject  bought  a 
pleasant  place  for  a  residence,  which  he  has  remod- 
eled, and  he  has  in  front  of  the  house  a  large  and 
licMiitifully  kept  lawn. 


EN.IA.MIN  .1.  VAN  t'CJlKT,  who  is  now 
living  retired  on  section  29,0'Fallon  Town- 
ilt^JI  ship,  is  one  of  the  prominent  and  honored 
>5^  pioneers  of  this  county.  lie  comes  of  a 
family  of  Dutch  origin,  his  grandfather,  .Tob 
\'aii  Court,  having  been  born  in  Holland.  He  em- 
igrated to  America  with  the  Van  Stuyvesants,  and 
settled  in  New  Jersey  and  engaged  in  farming.  His 
death  occurred  in  1820,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five. 
He  had  previously  removed  to  Bradford  with  the 
Holland  Company,  consisting  of  large  land-owners, 
and  died  leaving  a  valualile  estate.  He  left  four 
children,  .lohn,  Benj.imin,  Lucy  and  Hannah,  all 
of  whom  married  and  had  families. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  Benjamin  Van  Court. 
w.as  born  in  New  .Jersey,  in  1782.  After  acquir- 
ing a  common-school  education,  he  learned  the 
cabinet-maker's  trade  and  later  became  a  house 
and  boat  builder,  He  wedded  Mary,  daughter  of 
Dr.  .lames  Lindsey,  and    renioyed   to    Mc\'evtowii 


on  the  Juniata  River  in  Pennsylvania,  where  be 
became  a  large  grain  dealer  and  extensive  mer 
chant.  He  made  several  trips  to  the  West  pros- 
pecting, and  finally  removed  to  Hlinois,  locating 
first  on  a  farm  in  Proi)lietstown,  Whiteside  County. 
He  spent  his  declining  years  in  St.  Louis,  and  at  a 
good  old  age,  January  3,  18.50,  p.assed  away  at  his 
residence  on  Collins  Street.  His  wife  survived 
him  only  a  few  years  and  dieil  "SHy  14,  18.55.  at 
the  age  of  seven  t^'-one. 

In  the  Van  Court  family  were  five  children: 
Eliza,  born  December  14,  1810,  died  at  the  home 
of  our  subject  August  18,  1881.  Alexander,  born 
Kebruaiy  27,  1812,  was  married  in  1852  to  Miss 
Chamberlain,  who  died  in  June,  1862,  on  their 
farm  near  Litchfield,  leaving  two  children;  Mary, 
who  is  now  the  wife  of  William  Kelley,  of  Tex.as; 
and  Benjamin,  who  is  married  and  msikes  his  home 
in  Texas.  In  1849,  Alexander  started  across  the 
plains  to  California,  where  our  subject  joined  him 
in  1853.  They  spent  about  five  3ears  engaged  in 
cattle-raising  and  in  the  sawmill  business.  Re- 
turning to  Illinois,  Alexander  bought  a  farm  in 
Macoupin  County,  where  he  remained  ten  years. 
In  1865,  he  went  to  Texas,  locating  near  San  An- 
tonio, where  he  engaged  in  farming  and  cattle- 
raising  until  his  death,  which  occurred  February 
19,  1881.  Maria,  the  third  child  of  the  family,  was 
born  November  19,  1816,  and  in  1817,  at , St.  Louis, 
married  John  Cormack,  a  steamboat  pilot  on  the 
Mississip|)i.  She  died  August  28,  1884,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-eight,  leaving  one  son,  Alexander.  Ma- 
h.ala,  born  .Iiine  \x.  1818,  died  at  St.  Louis,  in 
1854. 

Benjamin  Jackson  Van  Court,  whose  name  heads 
this  record,  was  born  December  20,  1820,  in  Mc- 
\'eytown,  Pa.,  and  acquired  his  education  in  the 
common  schools,  .assisting  his  father  when  not  in 
the  school  room.  He  went  into  business  with  his 
brother  Alexaudcr.aiid  at  the  .age  of  nineteen  came 
Wot  with  the  family,  the  father  having  preceded 
tliciii.  He  and  his  brother  built  a  boat  called  the 
■■A.  :iiid  15.  .1.  \aii  Court,"  and,  embarking  at 
.I()liiist<)wii,  llo.ilcd  it  down  the  canal  to  Pitts- 
burgh, thence  down  the  Ohio  to  the  Mississippi. 
There  the  boat  w.is  attached  to  the  steamer 
•■Smelter."  which  was  to  tow  it   to  S|,    Louis,  but 


132 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


before  getting  fairly  started  the  boat  sank,  in  eon- 
sequence  of  the  strong  current.  They  lost  all  of 
their  possessions  and  barely  escaped  with  their 
iivos. 

With  Ills  brother,  our  subject  went  to  Rock 
Island  and  leased  the  Rock  Island  House,  con- 
ducting the  same  with  excellent  success  for  about 
two  years.  In  the  fall  of  1841,  thej'  sold,  and 
went  to  Portsmouth,  Ohio,  where  they  were  pro- 
prietors of  the  American  House  for  about  two 
years.  They  then  went  to  St.  Louis,  where,  in 
connection  with  T.  V.  Cannon,  they  leased  the 
National  Hotel  on  the  southwest  corner  of  Third 
and  Market  Streets,  successfully  conducting  the 
same  until  .luly,  1846.  They  then  leased  the  old 
Missouri  Hotel,  which  they  had  charge  of  until 
1850.  Our  subject  then  engaged  in  real-estate 
dealing  until  his  marriage  on  the  17th  of  January, 
1853,  to  Miss  Amelia  Mittnacht,  of  Baltimore, 
daughter  of  George  Mittnacht,  a  native  of  Ger- 
man3'.  She  was  born  December  6,  1829,  and  the 
wedding  ceremony  was  performed  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Spring. 

The  wedding  journey  of  IMr.  and  Mrs.  ^'an 
Court  was  a  trip  to  California,  where  he  remained 
until  the  spring  of  1854,  engaged  in  ranching  and 
in  the  sawmill  business.  He  raised  the  first  crop  of 
wheat  in  the  neighborhood  of  Sacramento  and  cut 
the  same  with  a  McCormick  reaper.  He  employed 
ten  Indians  in  the  harvest  field,  for  the  labor  of 
white  men  was  worth  from  18  to$10  per  day.  Selling 
his  property  on  the  Pacific  Slope,  he  returned  to  St. 
Louis,  where  he  remained  until  1856.  While  there, 
he  was  identified  with  the  public  affairs  of  thecit^', 
was  a  member  of  the  City  Council,  and  at  one 
time  was  a  candidate  on  the  Democratic  ticket 
for  City  Treasurer.  On  the  12th  of  .luly,  1856, 
he  came  to  O'Kallon,  bought  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty-seven  acres  and  built  his  present 
residence.  In  I860,  he  sank  a  coal  shaft  upon  his 
farm,  and  tiie  mine  is  still  in  operation,  supplying 
all  the  coal  for  the  electrical  plants,  as  well  as  the 
City  Light  Company  of  St.  Louis.  The  mine  is 
pow  .  le.ised  to  the  Consumers'  Coal  C()iii[iany  of 
St.  Louis. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  ^'an  Court  iiavc  Ueeii  born 
nine   children:   Benjamin  J,  died  in  California  in 


infancy;  Hallie,  born  March  26,  1856,  is  the  wife 
of  Edwin  Poindexter,  manufacturer  of  varnishes, 
of  Chicago;  Kate  Eliza,  born  March  6,  1858,  died 
in  infancy;  Amelia  M.,  born  September  11,  1860, 
is  the  wife  of  Dr.  D.  K.  Reinhold,  of  New  York, 
by  whom  she  has  three  children,  Carrie,  Edgar  and 
Bessie,  aged  six,  three  and  one  .year,  respectively; 
Carrie  Virginia,  born  July  29,  1865,  is  the  wife  of 
H.  G.  Finley,  a  merchant  of  St.  Louis,  and  they 
have  two  children,  Benjamin  and  Hallie;  Benja- 
iftin  J.,  born  September  29,  1862,  died  at  the  age 
of  seven  years;  George,  born  May  25,  1867,  died 
in  infancy;  and  Belle,  horn  August  10,  1869,  also 
died  in  infanc\'. 

Mr.  Van  Court  is  a  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church.  He  has  been  connected  with  the 
Masonic  fraternity  since  1842,  becoming  a  mem- 
ber of  Aurora  Lodge  No.  48,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  at 
Portsmouth,  Ohio.  He  is  a  charter  member  of  St. 
Louis  Commandery  No.  1,K.  T.,  and  one  of  the 
founders  of  O'Fallon  Lodge  No.  576,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 
He  was  first  Master  of  the  latter  lodge,  and"  filled 
that  position  for  about  fifteen  years  altogether.  He 
is  a  Democrat  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  the 
success  of  his  party,  but  has  never  been  an  office- 
seeker.  In  his  business,  he  has  been  very  success- 
ful and  won  a  handsome  ))roperty.  He  is  now  a 
wealthy  citizen,  living  retired,  and  is  liighly  re- 
spected by  all  who  know  him. 


^  I^ASHINGTON  AVEST,  M.  D.  To  attain 
\/\///  distinction  in  any  of  the  learned  (jiofes- 
^^^  sions  is  the  proud  ambition  of  many  a 
struggling  man,  who  looks  forward  to  the  prize  to 
be  gained  toward  the  end  of  the  race,  and  which 
when  gained  is  accounted  as  having  been  worth  the 
struggle.  We  occasionally  know  of  an  instance 
when  a  man  still  young  has  attained  to  a  iiigh  jio- 
sition,  and  his  success  is  certainly  worthy  of  ap- 
plause and  emulation.  Gratifying  has  been  the 
results  of  the  life  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
in    lii-;    ))rnotice   of   surgery  nn(l  inodicine  in  the 


PORTRAIT  AIST)  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


133 


beautiful  city  of  Belleville,  wliere  he  is  one  of  the 
prominent  plij'sicians. 

The  Doctor  is  a  son  of  Benjuniin  Hilleary  West, 
and  fii':;t  saw  tiie  light  on  tlie  West  farm  nearHelle- 
ville.  Feliruary  il.  1847.  lie  was  well  fitted  by  na- 
ture and  education  for  his  chosen  life  work,  !»s  he 
attended  the  city  schools,  finishing  his  literary 
course  at  the  city  university'  at  .St.  Louis;  from 
there  he  entered  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  18()8.  He  was  then  Acting 
.\ssistant  Surgeon  in  the  army  for  two  years,  being 
with  Maj.-Gen.  AVilliam  S.  Harney  in  the  Sioux 
Indian  District,  in  Dakota,  remaining  at  the  front 
during  those  two  years  of  his  service,  and  being 
located  at  the  Cheycinie  River  Agency. 

Dr.  West  was  married  on  the  30th  of  June,  1870, 
to  Miss  Mary  Agnes  Wolfe,  of  St.  Louis,  daughter 
of  Thomas  Wolfe,  one  of  the  leading  stockmen  in 
the  St.  Louis  I'.acific  Stockyards.  Dr.  and  Mr.s. 
Westarethe  happy  parents  of  six  children, namely: 
li.asmath  Ariadne.  Mary  Agnes,  Wasliington.  Maria 
Catherine,  Way  and  Ruth  Wolfe.  The  children 
are  all  single,  and  at  home,  except  Basmath 
Ariadne,  who  was  married  the  30th  of  .June,  1892, 
to  David  Stainrook  Bootli.a  physician  of  .St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  and  a  Professor  of  Barnes  Medical  College  of 
.St.  Louis.  They  liave  an  elegant  home  at  No. 
4622  Pfige  .\ venue. 

After  his  marriage.  Dr.  West  settled  in  Belle- 
ville, where  he  has  since  been  in  active  practice, 
with  the  exception  of  six  months  spent  in  Piiila- 
delphia  at  tlie  time  of  the  Centennial,  when  lie 
was  correspondent  for  a  number  of  papers,  and 
also  attended  the  clinic  at  the  I'niversity  of  Penn- 
sylvania. With  this  exception,  he  has  been  in 
active  practice  here  ever  since,  and  now  enjoys  so 
large  a  patron.age  that  it  is  ditticult  for  him  to  an- 
swer all  the  demands  made  upon  liis  time  and  skill. 

Dr.  West  is  a  member  of  the  St.  Clair  County 
and  State  Medical  Societies  and  American  Medical 
Association:  lie  also  was  Assistant  Surgeon  at  the 
County  Farm  for  twelve  years.  In  addition  to 
his  other  duties',  he  served  as  President  of  the 
Eagle  Foundry  for  some  years.  Mrs.  West,  an  in- 
telligent, relined  lady,  is  a  menilior  of  Dr.  Brook's 
Presbyterian  Church  of  St.  I.'iius.  ;ind  is  a  descen- 
dant <if  tlic  ixr>-.\[  D;inu'l  I'x c  of  K'l-ntiicli v.     Dr. 


West  belongs  to  no  political  party,  preferring  to 
cast  his  vote  for  the  man  his  judgment  pronounces 
to  lie  the  liest,  regardless  of  party  distinctions.  So- 
cially, he  is  connected  witii  no  orders,  the  duties 
of  his  profession  being  to:)  heavy  to  admit  of  any 
such  relaxation. 


•f^B^i 


'ifULirs  .1.  11KIDIN(;KK.  TIic  gentleman 
whose  name  appears  upon  this  page  is  one 
^,^1  of  the  representative  railroad  men  of  tliis 
^^fJ  section,  holding  the  responsible  position  of 
agent  for  the  St.  Louis.  Alton  it  Terrc  Haute  Rail- 
road and  attending  to  the  freight  and  ticket  busi- 
ness of  this  road,  which  does  more  business  tlian 
all  the  other  lines  entering  the  city. 

.Julius  Heidinger  is  the  son  of  .Tacob  and  Magda- 
lena  (Schmidt)  Heidinger,  and  w.as  born  in  this 
city  September  18,  1853.  His  parents  were  of 
German  ancestr3',.and  were  natives  of  Rastadt,  Ba- 
den, Cernianj',  where  the  father  was  born  .June  19, 
1807,  and  the  mother  in  1811.  These  honest  peo- 
ple came  to  this  country  in  1848,  and,  after  a  long 
and  tiresome  journej',  located  at  Belleville.  Here 
the  father  worked  at  his  trade  of  machinist,  faith- 
fully following  it  through  life.  The  five  children 
who  were  born  to  them  were  as  follows:  Hugo, 
now  at  Cdllinsville;  Rudolph,  who  here  conducts 
a  tin  and  hardware  store;  Hermine,  wife  of  H. 
Mason,  of  Paducah.  Ky.,  now  deceased:  and  Quido 
B..  a  conductor  on  the  Air-line  .\ccommodation. 

After  our  subject  had  received  his  education  in 
the  public  .schools  of  this  city,  he  learned  the  har- 
ness-making trade,  and  later  entered  a  nail  mill; 
later  he  became  agent  for  the  old  Illinois  it  St. 
Louis  Railroad  for  ti\e  years,  having  previously 
learned  telegraphy.  Mr.  Heidinger  then  kept  a 
set  of  Iwoks  for  the  B.  F.  Switzer  it  Co.  (louring 
mill  for  two  years.  Then  he  took  the  Short  Line 
agency,  and  has  given  such  satisfaction  that  there 
is  no  prosjiect  of  any  change  unless  for  a  sti-ll 
liighcr  position.  He  has  made  this  line  highly  re- 
spected, and  his  services  aie  apjireciated.  lie  is 
interested  in  oilier  matters    besides    railroad    busi- 


LSI 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


m\ss,  and  has  found  time  to  invest  largely  and 
wisely  in  real  estate  in  this  cit3'  and  in  St.  Louis. 
Mr.  Heidinger  gave  up  single  blessedness  May 
!),  1882.  wiien  occurred  his  marriage  to  Miss  Cath- 
erine Iloldner,  daughter  of  Fred  Holdner,  of  this 
city,  who  was  born  December  7,  1857.  Four 
bright  children  have  blessed  this  home,  but  the 
Death  Angel  took  the  eldest,  little  .Tulius,  wlien 
only  three  months  old.  The  living  are  Roy  Reu- 
ben, Milo  Drew  and  Magdalena.  Mi-,  and  Mrs. 
Heidinger  are  members  of  the  Metiiodist  Episcopal 
Cluireh,  and  are  most  highly  valued  as  neighbors 
and  friends.  Mr.  Heidinger  possesses  those  quali- 
ties which  go  to  make  a  leader,  and  manages  the 
twelve  men  under  his  charge  without  any  friction 
and  to  the  interest  of  his  employers. 


<S^DWARD  FRANK  SCHOENING.  Promi- 
fel  nent  among  the  industries  of  St.  Clair 
/i' — --^'  County  are  its  milling  enterprises,  and  the 
men  who  have  worked  in  that  line  have  contribu- 
ted effectively  to  the  advancement  of  theircommu- 
nities.  The  firm  of  Hirsch  &  Schoening,  merchant 
millers  at  Millstadt,  has  established  and  success- 
fully conducted  a  flourishing  business,  which  has 
gained  a  reputation  for  progressive  methods  and 
reliable  dealings.  The  junior  member  of  this  firm 
is  the  subject  of  our  sketch,  a  young  gentleman  of 
enterprise  and  perseverance,  and  a  worthy  re()re- 
sentative  of  a  thrifty  German  family. 

.Tohn  Schoening,  father  of  our  subject,  as  his 
name  indicates,  was  a  German,  and  was  born  in 
Ilolstein,  where  he  was  reared  to  manhood.  Farm- 
ing was  his  occupation,  his  entire  life  being  thus 
spent  in  his  native  country.  He  married  M. 
Brahms,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  twelve 
children,  of  whom  seven  are  now  living,  The  fa- 
ther was  a  man  of  iionor  and  industrious  habits, 
iiighly  esteemed  by  his  neighbors  and  acquaint- 
ances until  death, 

In  Ilolstein,  (iermany,  tho  subject  of  tliis  sketch 
)v;|s  b(,)rn  Noveinboc  U,  JS^S,  wljece  he  passed   his 


childhood  years,  receiving  excellent  educational 
advantages  in  the  common  schools  of  that  prov- 
ince. Having  resolved  upon  emigrating  to  Amer- 
ica, he  left  his  parental  home  in  1866,  when  about 
tliirteen  years  old,  in  company  with  the  family. 
Landing  in  New  York  City,  they  proceeded  to 
Buffalo,  where  our  subject  learned  the  trade  of  a 
miller.  From  there  he  removed  to  Rock  Island 
C^ounty,  111.,  to  follow  milling  for  about  one  year. 
Afterward  Mv.  Schoening  took  the  long  trip  across 
the  plains  to  California,  where  he  followed  his 
trade  in  the  Sacramento  Mills  for  nine  months. 
Thence  tiie  journey  was  made  to  Washington,  and 
through  that  State  and  Oregon  to  Laramie  City, 
Wyo. 

By  tills  time,  tired  of  traveling,  our  subject  went 
to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  to  engage  with  the  East  St. 
Louis  ^Milling  Company.  He  was  suited  here,  and 
his  work  gave  satisfaction,  and  he  remained  until 
the  fall  of  1876,  when  he  came  to  Millstadt,  111.,  and 
started  Frank  Bowers'  mill,  and  kept  on  here  until 
the  summer  of  1877,  when  he  went  to  the  mill  of 
Baker  <fe  Stern.  Mr.  Schoening  remained  here  un- 
til 1884,  when  he  went  to  Columbia,  III.,  and  became 
head  miller  in  the  mill  there.  With  such  a  wide  ex- 
perience, he  thought  the  time  had  come  to  make  a 
permanent  business,  so  in  1885  the  {iresent  partner- 
ship was  formed,  which  has  existed  ever  since.  The 
lady  whom  our  subject  selected  as  his  bride  was 
Miss  Lena  Brucker,  the  accomplished  daughter  of 
George  Brucker,  a  prominent  coal  dealer  of  the 
city  of  Belleville,  III.  Five  children,  two  sons  and 
three  daughters,  have  come  to  brighten  the  home 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shoening;  they  bear  the  names  of 
Lena,  George,  Arthur,  Olga  and  Minna. 

Our  subject  is  one  of  the  important  memliers  of 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  is  Mas- 
ter of  the  lodge  of  the  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons  at  this  place,  and  has  represented  that  or- 
der in  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  State.  Politically, 
Mr.  Schoening  is  a  Republican  and  upholds  the 
banner  of  a  protective  tariff.  Mr.  Schoening  has 
taken  an  active  interest  in  educational  matters, 
and  hence  has  been  called  upon  to  serve  the  dis- 
trict on  the  School  Board  for  the  past  seven  years. 
He  wns  one  of  the  jirincipal  agitators  in  the  build- 
ing of  the  new  school  building  ij)  Miljstadl,  aiu] 


t"»> 


''''^*, 


^'^o, 


''5 


/I'V'l  .    /V^^^-yA^iJlj^tXyiyv^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


1/.7 


has  aided  all  the  eflforts  of  the  Board  to  obtain  the 
best  of  iiistiuctors.  His  is  a  progressive  township. 
and  he  has  done  much  to  push  on  the  car  of  pro- 
gress. Socially,  Mr.  Schoening  and  family  are 
among  the  first  people  in  Millstadt,  and  his  admir- 
able wife  .assists  in  dispensing  the  hospitalities  of 
their  pleasant  home. 


'■    '    ^3- 


ON.  M.  M.  STEPHENS.  Many  of  the  men 
connected  witli  the  city  government  of 
East  St.  Louis  in  various  capacities  have 
'J)  achieved  distinction  in  the  higher  ranks  of 
official  life,  but  none  more  so  than  Hon.  M.  M.  Steph- 
ens, the  capable  and  enteri)rising  Mayor  of  East  St. 
Louis.  He  stands  in  the  front  rank  of  her  busi- 
ness intellect;  is  a  man  of  public  spirit,  fine  ex- 
ecutive ability,  and  correctness  in  fulfilling  any 
duties  intrusted  to  him,  and  is  well  known  for  a 
high  degree  of  integrity  in  his  general  relations. 
As  the  Mayor  of  East  St.  Louis,  he  is  praised  by 
every  one,  for  he  has  done  more  for  the  city  than 
an}-  other  man. 

Mr.  Stephens  w.as  elected  to  his  present  respon- 
sible position  in  April,  1877,  with  a  reform  city 
council,  rpon  .assuming  the  office,  he  found  a 
lamentable,  complicated  and  embarrassed  condition 
of  .affairs.  1$}'  mal-administration  and  corruption, 
the  city  had  been  plunged  into  an  indebtedness  of 
^H.")().()(I0,  with  nothing  to  show  for  the  greater 
part  of  it.  The  city  had  no  credit.  The  only  cur- 
rency it  had  been  for  _\  ears  dealing  out  for  labor, 
material,  etc.,  was  worthless  "script,"  and  the  city 
w.as  flooded  with  that.  The  revenue  had  been  col- 
lected for  months  in  advance  and  squandered.  In 
fact,  everything  w.as  in  a  chaotic  state.  But  >Layor 
Stephens  had  .assumed  office  with  a  well-defined 
policy.  With  the  assistance  of  tliose  with  whom 
he  had  .associated  and  labored  for  the  regeneration 
of  the  city,  he  determined  to  enforce  and  carry 
out  that  policy.  He  courageously  addressed  him- 
self to  the  task.  He  appointed  good  men  to  the 
official  positions.  A  majority  of  the  city  council 
voted  with  and  r^ustaincd  liiin.     They  restored  law 


and  order;  abolished  "script"  and  instituted  the 
payment  of  cash  for  what  the  city  procured;  in- 
stalled a  good  police  force  under  courageous  and 
competent  officers;  organized  an  effective  fire  de- 
partment, and  accomplished  numerous  other  pre- 
liminary reforms  and  changes  liefore  undertaking 
the  gigantic  improvements  which  have  made  East 
St.  Louis  a  city  of  wonderful  progress  and  magic 
growth  and  thrift. 

Few  men  could  have  succeeded  so  well  in  re- 
deeming the  city  from  the  evils  which  confronted 
it  as  Mr.  Stephens  has  done.  He  was  not  a  man 
trained  for  le.adei-ship  or  statesmanship  when  he 
undertook  the  responsible  duties  of  the  mayoralty. 
He  was  a  plain  man  of  the  people,  with  no  preten- 
sion not  justified  by  the  confidence  and  compli- 
ments of  his  fellow-citizens.  From  the  very  in- 
ception of  the  reform  movement  to  the  present 
date,  Mayor  Stephens  has  dispLayed  the  rarest  ex- 
ecutive .ability,  and  has  at  the  same  time  demon- 
strated his  capacity  for  public  affairs  to  an  extent 
which  marks  him  as  a  coming  man  in  the  larger 
sphere  of  State  government;  for  he  is  quite  apt  to 
be  called  from  the  service  of  his  city  to  the  service 
of  his  State  in  the  near  future.  He  li.as  not  been 
offensive,  dictatorial  or  presumptuous  in  dealing 
with  his  subordinates,  his  critics  or  his  friends. 
During  the  recent  flood  (1892)  he  worked  almost 
night  and  day  to  defend  the  city,  and  his  eflforts 
were  rewarded.  He  is  one  of  the  most  .agree.able 
of  men,  h.as  a  heart  of  gold,  and  is  ever  ready  to 
extend  a  helping  hand  to  the  needy  and  suffering. 

M.  M.  Ste|)hens  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  near 
Scranton,  Luzerne  County,  on  the  7lh  of  Febru- 
ary, 1847.  His  father,  Ziba  Stei>hens,  was  also  a 
native  of  the  Keystone  Stale,  born  in  Wyoming 
County.  The  grandfather,  William  Stephens,  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  followed  farming, 
and  passed  his  entire  life.  Ziba  Stephens  was  a 
large  contractor  .and  builder  un  railroads,  and 
built  miles  of  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  A-  Western 
Railroad.  For  a  time  he  engaged  in  merchandis- 
ing and  later  kept  an  hotel  .at  Abington  Centre, 
then  at  Providence,  now  a  part  of  Scranton.  After 
residing  there  for  many  years,  he  returned  to 
l^hiladelphia.  He  affiliated  with  the  Democratic 
party  and  was  a  worthy  and   much  r(>spected  man. 


138 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary  Travis, 
was  born  near  Scranton.  Siie  came  to  East  St. 
Louis  and  made  her  home  with  our  subject  until 
lier  death.  She  was  an  cxemphiry  meiuhei-  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Two  of  the  five  children  born  to  his  parents  are 
living,  and  our  subject  was  the  eldest  in  order  of 
birth.  In  1853,  he  moved  with  his  parents  to 
Providence  and  pursued  his  sturJies  until  twelve 
years  of  age,  when  his  schooling  was  terminated. 
He  tilled  the  position  of  brakeman  on  the  Dela- 
ware, Lackawanna  &  Western  Railroad,  and  was  in 
the  machinery  department  of  the  Delaware  &  Hud- 
son Canal  Railroad  for  three  years.  He  had  one 
year's  experience  as  fireman,  and  served  as  en- 
gineer three  or  four  years.  In  the  fall  of  1864,  he 
offered  his  services  to  his  country,  but  was  refused. 
Previous  to  this,  in  1862-63,  he  was  in  New  York 
City  during  the  riots  in  the  machine  shops,  etc. 
In  September,  1866,  he  came  to  Murphysborough, 
Jackson  County,  111.,  and  was  in  the  maciiine  de- 
partment. Later,  he  run  an  engine  on  the  railroad 
from  Carboudale  to  Grand  Tower,  and  in  1868  he 
came  to  East  St.  Louis  as  engineer  on  the  Ohio  & 
Mississippi  Railroad,  and  was  thus  engaged  until 
1874.  He  met  with  very  few  accidents  and  none 
of  a  serious  nature.  He  abandoned  that  business 
in  1874,  and  opened  the  Fourth  Ward  House, 
which  he  bought  after  renting  four  and  a-half 
years.  Later,  it  became  known  as  the  Stephens 
House,  and  was  located  on  Coliinsville  and  Sum- 
mit Avenues. 

In  1884,  Mr.  Stephens  was  elected  Alderman  of 
the  Fourth  Ward,  and  held  that  position  for  two 
years.  In  1887,  lie  was  elected  Mayor,  and 
is  now  serving  his  third  term,  which  in  itself 
is  an  eloquent  proof  of  his  popularity.  In  Jan- 
uary, 1872,  he  married  Mrs.  Mary  Illizabeth 
(Tompkins)  Beam,  a  native  of  France,  who  came 
to  America  with  her  motlier.  Three  children  have 
been  born  of  the  marriage:  Lillie,  now  Mrs.  Cud- 
dington,  who  resides  in  East  St.  Louis;  Emma, 
Mrs.  Jackiesch;  and  Leonora  Frances.  Mr.  Steph- 
ens is  a  Knight  Templar  in  the  Masonic  lodge. 
He  is  an  honorary  member  of  the  Local  Brother- 
hood of  Locomotive  Engineers  and  their  Insur- 
ance Agent  for  the  St.  Clair  Division  No.  49,  and 


served  as  Chief  Engineer  and  First  Assistant  En- 
gineer. He  has  served  as  delegate  for  the  Demo- 
cratic party  to  many  of  the  National  Conventions 
and  also  county  and  State  conventions. 


"TSl^»" 


^^^;^,  E(JRGE  R.  TATE,  J.  P.      This    prominent 

III farmer   and    public  oflicial  lives  upon  sec- 

V^^  tion  19,  Smitliton  Township,  and  is  the  son 
of  Edward  Tate,  who  was  one  of  the  early  settlers, 
having  come  here  before  the  Indians  had  left,  in 
1818.  Our  subject  was  born  on  the  old  place, 
where  his  brother  now  lives,  on  the  30th  of  .Aug- 
ust, 1840,  and  was  reared  there.  In  1864,  he  made 
a  trip  overland  to  Oregon  and  California  and  re- 
turned by  way  of  Panama  and  New  York.  Tho. 
trip  from  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  clear  through  to  Port- 
land, Ore.,  was  made  in  a  wagon  drawn  liy  four 
mules.  He  remained  away  almost  two  years  and 
engaged  in  teaching  in  the  public  schools  there. 
After  his  return,  he  taught  school  in  this  county. 
His  marriage  occurred  in  1866  witli  Sarah  C. 
Smith,  daughter  of  Robert  J.  Smith,  of  this  county, 
who  was  born  in  Maine,  and  came  here  when  very 
small. 

After  his  marriage,  our  subject  continued  teacli- 
inc  in  the  district  where  he  resides,  and  only  left 
it  from  1873  to  1877  when  he  was  the  Principal  of 
the  public  schools  of  Freeburg.  He  taught  until 
1890,  making  a  period  of  twenty-five  years  in  tlie 
scliool-room.  Our  subject  lias  been  blessed  with  the 
following  children:  E.  Clara,  who  is  the  wife  of  N. 
O.Phillips;  John  J.,  who  died  in  1891;  INIatilda  C. 
Hallie  M.,  Adel.aide  and  David,  all  living  at  home 
except  the  first  named.  Our  subject  has  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  land,  all  well  improved, 
and  raises  on  it  a  great  deal  of  grain,  besides  an 
abundance  of  berries,  which  have  yielded  a  good 
income;  also  a  fine  peach  orchard  of  budded  fi-iiil, 
perhaps  the  finest  in  the  county.  All  of  the  im- 
provements are  of  the  very  best  and  every  part  of 
the  farm  is  in  the  best  order  and  finely  cultivated. 

Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  order  of  Ancient 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  No.  418,  of  Freeburg, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1  .'V.) 


iind  of  Helleville  ('liai)ti.-i-  of  Royal  Arcli  Masons; 
lias  )>eei)  Master  of  tlie  lodge,  and  has  filled  the 
office  of  ■lunior  Warden.  .Tustiee  Tate  also  be- 
longs to  the  Patrons  of  Hiisliaiidry,  and  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Giange  for  twenty  years  and  of  its 
State  executive  committee  for  six  years.  In  his 
political  opinions,  Mr.  Tate  is  a  Prohibitionist  and 
has  been  put  forward  by  the  appreciative  citizens 
of  his  county  as  a  candidate  for  Probate  .Judge. 
Me  has  served  acceptably  two  terms  as  .Justice  of 
the  Peace,  and  has  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that 
there  is  no  man  in  Smilhton  Township  who  stands 
higher  socially  than  himself. 


-^^ 


I.r.ERT.  E.  WILDERMAN.  It  is  not  given 
to  many  lu  sec  llic  wilderness  blossom  like 
1  the  rose,  as  has  been  the  lot  of  the  gentle- 
^  man  whose  name    appears  at  the  opening 

of  this  sketch.  From  a  wild  prairie,  where  savage 
beasts,  and  Indians,  a  thousand  times  more  danger- 
ous than  any  animal,  roamed,  he  has  seen  this  vast 
State  develop  into  the  great  commonwealth  of 
tu-day. 

Our  suhjcctt  was  the  son  of  (ieorge  Wilderman, 
a  native  of  the  Keystone  State,  who  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  the  early  part  of  this  century,  thus  becom- 
ing one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  this  county.  Here 
his  four  children  were  born,  namely:  Alfred,  Cal- 
vin, Albert  and  Margaret,  all  living.  The  last- 
named  child  is  now  the  wife  of  William  .Sebert,  a 
prominent  musii'ian.  George  Wilderman  was  a 
very  large  land-owner  in  the  county,  and  defended 
it  from  the  encroachments  of  the  Indians  during 
the  lilack  Hawk  and  minor  wars  with  the  savage 
tribes  of  red  men.  He  was  a  very  prominent  man 
and  worthy  citizen  of  the  county  where  lu'  lived. 
taking  an  active  part  in  all  affairs  of  public  concein. 

Our  subject  can  claim  the  honor  of  being  a  na- 
tive son  of  section  6,  Freebuig  Township,  St.  Clair 
County,  where  he  still  resides.  His  birth  occurred 
October  25,  1828,  and  he  has  lived  on  the  home 
place  during  the  sixty-four  years  of  his  life.  Mr. 
Wildfiiiiaii  can    relate  man\-  interesting   incidents 


which  took  place  in  the  early  day-  of  the  county, 
and  these  stories  are  told  in  a  most  entertaining 
manner,  and  one  that  wins  for  him  manj-  hearers. 
After  growing  to  manhood,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Sophronia,  daughter  of  Elijah  and  Mary 
Hill,  by  whom  he  had  the  following  children: 
George  P.,  who  resides  in  this  township;  Ada,  wife 
of  Louis  Sheetz,  of  New  Athens  Township;  and 
Mary,  wife  of  .lulius  Wilderman.  residing  in  Free- 
burg  Township. 

Mr.  AVilderman  married  again,  this  union  being 
with  Miss  Melissa  Thompson,  daughter  of  Abel 
Thompson,  of  Twelve  Mile  Prairie.  This  lady 
bore  him  five  children,  all  of  whom  are  living,  as 
follows:  Luella,  Hallie  R.,  Calvin,  Carrie  B.  and 
Leroy  A.  Mr.  Wilderman  is  the  owner  of  seven  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  at  present,  although  he  has  owned 
much  more  at  different  periods,  which  he  disposed 
of  at  good  figures.  On  this  land  he  carries  on  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock-raising,  .and  lias  one  of  the 
finest  farms  in  the  county.  Mrs.  Wilderman  and 
daughter  are  members  of  the  Grange,  playing  an 
important  part  in  the  doings  of  that  body.  Our 
subject  is  a  strong  Democrat  in  politics,  and  holds 
the  important  office  of  School  Director  in  his  dis- 
trict. 


(F ^  ENRY  HUHER.  The  gentleman  whose  name 

[f)j)  o|)ens  this  sketch  is  the  .•senior  member  of 
l£^  the  firm  of  Huber  it  Son,  dealers  in  general 
(^^  merchandise  in  the  town  of  Freeburg,  111. 
The  father  of  our  subject  was  \'alentine  Huber, 
who  was  born  in  Germany,  and  came  to  America 
about  the  year  1837.  He  located  in  Twelve  Mile 
Prairie,  but  soon  after  made  a  change  and  going  to 
Tamaroa,  on  the  edge  of  Twelve  Mile  Prairie,  en- 
gaged in  farming  until  the  time  of  his  demise. 
He  had  a  family  of  six  children,  all  spared  to 
their  parents  until  maturity,  and  four  are  yet  liv- 
ing. Mar}'  is  the  wife  of  (ieorge  Gareyher;  Mar- 
garetta,  first  married  (ieorge  Klos,  who  died; 
later  she  married  Mr.  Wagner,  who  is  also  dead; 
after  his  death  she  married  for  a  third  lime.  Imt  is 
now  a  widow. 


140 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Our  subject  made  his  home  with  his  good  mother 
until  his  marriage  with  ]Miss  Susanna  Jainiet,  who 
was  the  daugliter  of  Cliarles  .Taimet.  Her  life  was 
short,  and  after  her  death  Mr.  Huber  married  her 
sister,  Catherine.  After  tliis  event  he  located  in 
Taraaroa  and  lived  there  twent,y-four  years,  en- 
gaged in  farming;  he  then  went  to  Kreeburg  and 
worked  at  tlie  trade  of  cooper  for  about  five  years, 
when  an  opening  for  good  mercantile  trade  pre- 
sented itself.  He  h.as  had  seven  children,  five 
of  whom  are  living:  Gustavus,  junior  member 
of  the  firm;  Jacob,  who  follows  the  excellent  trade 
of  a  tinner;  Louisa,  who  is  the  wife  of  Philip  Wolf, 
a  cooper  of  this  place;  Peter  Pitts  and  Mary,  both 
at  home. 

When  the  Adams  Express  Comp.any  desired  to 
obtain  some  reliable  representative  in  Freeburg, 
Mr.  Huber  was  selected  as  its  agent,  and  has  man- 
aged its  affairs  here  to  tlie  general  satisfaction  since 
187i».  The  religious  connection  of  the  family  is 
with  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  and  they 
are  members  much  esteemed  in  tliat  relationship. 
In  political  matters,  Mr.  Huber  is  and  hfis  always 
been  an  ardent  Republican,  and  has  held  the  of- 
fice of  Supervisor.  Our  subject  owned  one  iiun- 
dred  and  forty-five  acres  of  land  in  this  county, 
but  recently  sold  it,  as  his  large  and  increasing 
business  demands  all  of  his  attention.  Socially, 
the  family  of  ISIr.  Huber  is  highly  regarded,  and 
their  home    is  one  of    the  pleasanlest  in  I'reeburg. 


l^i^'iG 


?DAM  PFAFF.  The  gentleman  whose  name 
(@M  opens  this  article  is  well  known  in  the 
!i  city  of  iNIascoutah,  where  he  has  done  an 
honor.able  l)usiness  for  many  years,  and  is 
now  the  senior  member  of  the  old  established  firm 
of  Draser  &  Pfaff,  dealers  in  lumber,  shingles,  lath, 
nails  and  all  furnishings  for  the  trade.  Our  sub- 
ject first  saw  the  light  in  a  country  far  from  this, 
and  no  doubt  he  still  has  fond  memories  of  the 
Fatherland.  Born  in  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany, 
September   18.    1836,  he  was  a  boy  of  seventeen 


years  upon  landing  on  American  shores,  leaving 
old  iiome  faces  and  old  ways  behind  him. 

The  lad  came  poor,  as  so  many  of  his  country- 
men did,  and  scarcely  knew  what  first  to  under- 
take in  this  strange  land.  However,  a  willing  pair 
of  hands  served  him  well,  and  he  had  not  been 
long  in  St.  Louis  before  some  one  desired  their 
aid.  Mr.  Pfaflf  eng.aged  as  a  painter,  at  the  muni- 
ficent wages  of  1*4  i)er  month,  and  worked  away 
diligently  for  some  time,  eventually  learning 
enough  of  the  tr.ade  to  be  considered  an  artist  of 
the  paint  brush,  if  his  canvas  happened  to  be  a 
house,  barn  or  building  of  any  kind.  In  1859, 
he  came  to  Illinois,  located  at  Turkey  Hill  in  St. 
Clair  County,  and  there  worked  at  his  trade 
until  the  country  of  his  .adoption  was  convulsed 
by  the  Civil  War,  when  he  was  among  the  first  to 
spring  to  her  defense. 

Our  subject  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Ninth  Illinois 
Infantry,  and  on  the  19th  of  April,  1861,  the  com- 
pany was  sent  to  Camp  Butler.  After  serving  the 
three  months  for  which  he  had  enlisted,  he  came 
back  and  worked  at  iiis  trade  until  August.  1861, 
when  he  re-enlisted  in  the  Forty-third  Illinois  In- 
fantry, took  part  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  and  for 
bravery  on  that  bloody  field  was  raised  from  the 
rank  of  Corporal  to  that  of  Second  Lieuten.ant. 
His   term  of  service    having  expired  in    October, 

1864,  he  was  honorably  discharged,  and  returned  to 
Mascoutah,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  for  a  sjtace 
of  two  3-ears.  August  1,  1881,  our  subject  entered 
into  partnership  with  Mr.  George  Draser,  Sr.,  in 
the  lumber  business,  and  he  has  continued  in  that 
ever  since.  Having  had  practical  experience  in 
some  departments  of  the  business,  and  his  present 
partner,  George  Draser,  .Ir.,  understanding  other 
departments  in  the  same  way,  together  tliey  make 
a  strong  firm,  as  theory  is  all  right,  but  experience 
is  the  best  assurance  of  success. 

Ijieut.  Pfaff   was  married  on  tiie  25th  of   July, 

1865,  to  Miss  Margaret  Ileberer,  daughter  of  George 
II.  Ileberer,  an  old  settler  of  the  county.  An  in- 
teresting family  of  nine  children  has  grown  up 
about  them,  who  are  .as  follows:  Mary,  who 
married  Carl  Montag,  and  has  a  home  of  her 
own;  Anna,  Amelia,  Henr}'  .1.,  George,  Charles, 
Adam,  Ernest  and  Irwin,  wlio  are  still  at   home. 


''•')' 


K)RTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


143 


Tlic  i-liildren  witli  wliom  our  subjet't  and  his  wife 
lijul  to  iiart  wpre  two  little  ones,  Katie  and  Lena, 
and  Belle,  who  was  taken  away  at  the  ago  of  fif- 
teen years.  Our  subject  is  a  very  prominent  man 
in  tiie  Grand  Army  of  the  Repuljlic,  holding  the 
position  of  I  Quartermaster  of  the  post.  Politi- 
cally, he  is  a  stanch  He|)uhlican,  .ind  believes  in 
uiiholding-  the  |)rinciples  foi'  which  he  fouglit.  lie 
lias  served  his  district  ou  the  Board  of  Kducation 
for  a  term  of  twelve  years. 


•t-v-*- 


^^,T.  miy.  JOHN  .TANSSEN,  Bishop  of  Belle- 
L;#r  ville.was  born  in  lvei)peln,  Bhenisli  Prussia, 
<4i  \y  March  3,  183.'j.  He  was  educated  in  the  Bish- 
op's college  at  Gaesdonck  and  at  Munster, 
and  took  a  theological  course  at  the  latter  i)lace. 
The  bishopric  of  Alton,  111.,  had  been  erected  in 
18,')7,with  Bishop  Henry  D.  .Juncker,  presiding,  and 
while  this  gentleman  was  looking  for  material  to 
use,  he  visited  the  University  of  ]\Iunster  and 
arranged  with  several  jjriests  and  tlicological  stu- 
dents to  come  to  his  diocese,  John  Janssen  being 
one  of  the  number.  Upon  completing  his  course 
of  study  in  IHoS,  he  at  once  joined  Bishop  Juncker 
at  Alton,  and  on  the  IDth  of  November  of  that 
year  he  was  ordained  priest.  Immediately  after 
his  ordination,  he  was  i)laced  in  charge  of  the  Ger- 
man Catholic  Church  at  Springfield,  and  also  had 
charge  of  the  German  Catholics  in  Sangamon, 
Morgan  and  Menard  Counties.  At  that  time  there 
was  one  English  i)riest  at  Springfield  and  one  at 
Jacksonville. 

Bishop  Janssen  continued  his  connection  with 
Springfield  and  the  al)Ove-mentioned  counties 
until  1863,  when  he  was  selected  as  Secretary  to 
the  Bishop,  a  position  he  accepted  and  ably  filled 
for  five  years,  or  until  18(!8,  when  Bishop  Juncker 
(lied.  He  was  also  made  Chancellor  of  the  diocese 
and  so  acted  until  Bisho|)  Baltes  was  consecrated, 
in  .January-,  1870.  He  was  then  made  A'icar- 
(ieneral  to  Bishop  Baltes  .and  as  such  continued 
for  sixteen    vcars.  or  until    the    latter  was   called 


from  life  in  1886,  serving,  however  as  rector  of  St. 
Bonif.ace's  Church  at  Quincy,  III.,  through  1878-79. 
When  Bishop  Baltes  realized  the  approach  of  dis- 
solution, he  appointed  Father  Janssen  his  admin- 
istrator, and  our  subject  conducted  the  affairs  of 
the  diocese  until  its  divison  in  Janviary,  1887. 
His  appointment  as  Bishop  of  the  Belleville  Dio- 
cese, comprising  twenty-eight  eounties.was  received 
February  28,  1888.  He  continued  to  administer 
the  affairs  of  the  diocese  until  the  appointment  of 
Father  James  Ryan  as  Hishoi)  of  Alton,  and  on  the 
23d  of  April,  1888,  he  surrendered  the  otlice. 

On  the  2.')th  of  the  same  month.  Bishop  Janssen 
was  consecrated  in  the  Belleville  Cathedral  by  Arcli- 
bisop  Feehan,  assisted  bj-  Bishop  Hogan,of  Kansas 
City;  Bishop  Fink,  of  Leavenwc)rlh:  Bishop  Spaul- 
ding,  of  Peoria;  Bishop  Chatard,  of  \incennes; 
Bisho|)  Bonacum,  of  Lincoln;  and  P.isliop  Ryan, 
of  Alton.  The  diocese  of  which  he  has  control 
contains  twenty-eight  counties,  and  he  has  under 
him  seventy-one  priests,  eight3--seven  churches,  one 
orphan  asylum  at  Belleville,  and  a  hospital  in  each 
of  the  following  cities:  Belleville.  East  St.  Lniiis, 
Cairo  and  .\viston. 


E^^^ 


PRANK  SCHMISSEUR.     The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  .\ugust  Id,    1843,  in  a  loir 
_  cabin  which  stood  in  the   front  yard  of  his 

present  residence,  being  the  son  of  Joseiih  and 
Elizabeth  (Clienot)  Sclimisseur.  The  father  was 
born  May  6,  1810,  in  Lorraine,  France,  and  the 
mother  November  19,  1817,  at  the  same  place. 
They  came  to  America  in  1830,  landed  in  New 
York,  and  then  went  to  Zanesville,  Ohio,  whcie 
they  lived  for  a  time,  going  thence  to  St.  Louis. 
The  father  conducted  a  restaurant  in  the  latter 
city  in  connection  with  his  father-in-law,  .Joseph 
Cheiiot,  at  the  old  market.  The  parents  remained 
in  St.  Louis  until  September,  184  1,  when  thev  set- 
tled on  this  place,  which  contained  one  hundred 
and  four  acres.  Some  of  the  land  has  been  sold 
since.  The  father  died  .Xovember  25,  1880,  the 
mother  having  preceded  liini  li\    four  veais.     This 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


couple  were  good  and  kind  parents  to  the  follow- 
ing children:  Louise,  who  married  Dominick 
])ekum  (see  sketch);  .lohn  J.  married  Rosa  Dekuni, 
and  is  a  carpenter  in  Belleville,  with  tliree  chil- 
dren; Charles  was  married  to  Emily  Phillips,  and 
is  proprietor  of  the  West  Belleville  Custom  Flour- 
ing iMill;  Eugene,  a  farmer  living  near  Richland, 
married  Lizzie  Battre. 

Our  subject  was  reared  on  the  home  place,  at- 
tended the  common  schools,  and  afterward  went 
to  St.  Louis,  where  he  took  a  course  in  the  excel- 
lent Catholic  college  of  the  Christian  Brothers. 
He  was  marrred  September  15,  1874,  to  Madeline 
Russell,  daughter  of  Nicholas  and  Rosa  Russell. 
Her  parents  were  natives  of  France  and  came  to 
America  when  she  was  three  3ears  old.  Five  liv- 
ing children  have  been  born  them  and  make  a 
merry  household.  They  are  iNIary,  Clara,  Russell, 
Walter  and  Harrison. 

The  gentlemen  of  whom  wc  write  has  followed 
general  farming,  and  derives  a  good  revenue  from 
the  coal  wliicli  is  beneath  his  land.  In  his  opin- 
ion his  underground  farm  does  better  than  that 
upon  the  surface.  Mr.  Schmisseur  has  held  no 
public  position  except  that  of  School  Director,  as 
he  is  no  office-seeker,  but  a  business  man,  and  withal 
a  very  pleasant  gentleman,  highly  esteemed  b}-  all 
who  know  him. 


RXEST  R.  HAGIST.     The  union  of  families 
in  their  business  enterprises  has  often  proven 
the  truth  of  the  old  saying  that   "In  union 
is  strength,"  and  in  this  case,  where  the   tastes  of 
both  father  and    son  have  been  in    the  same  direc- 
tion, the   formation  of    the   mercantile  firm  of    E. 
Hagist  it  Son  caused  no  surprise.     The  subject  of 
our   sketch  is     the  younger  member  of    the  above- 
named  firm,  which  does  business  in  the  fiourishing 
little  city  of    Mascoutah,  in    St.  Clair  County,  111. 
He  is  the  son  of  Ernest  Hagist,  whose  birth  occurred 
in  a  land    far    removed   and    very    diffeient  from. 
this,  his    adopted  country. 

Ernest  Hagist,  Sr.,  wasliorn  in  liaden,  Cerman}-, 


in  the  year  1828,  was  reared  there  and  received  his 
education  in  the  excellent  schools  which  offer  learn- 
ing in  Germany,  and  then  compel  her  children,  if 
the  gift  is  disregarded,  to  attend.  He  came  to  this 
country  in  1851,  and  located  on  a  farm  near  Belle- 
ville, 111.,  where  he  remained  about  one  j'ear;  he 
then  came  to  a  fine  piece  of  land  near  Mascoutah, 
and  bought  a  farm  one  mile  west  of  this.  There  he 
continued  and  carried  on  the  business  of  farming, 
but  his  mind  w.as  too  acute,  and  demanded  a  bus- 
ier life,  so  in  1800  he  moved  into  Mascoutah, 
and  engaged  in  the  general  merchandise  business, 
but  did  not  part  with  his  land,  as  he  rented  it  ad- 
vantageously, and  still  carries  on  his  agricultural 
pursuits  in  connection  with  his  business  here. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Hagist,  Sr.,  took  place  in 
1853,  when  he  was  united  to  Miss  Elizabeth, 
the  daughter  of  jMr.  J.  F.  Frey,  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, who  came  to  America,  and  settled  in  St. 
Clair  County  in  185"2.  Two  children  have  been  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hagist,  Sr.:  our  subject,  and  Minnie, 
the  wife  of  H.  Sauter,  who  has  her  home  in  Mascou- 
tah. The  birth  of  our  subject  took  place  August  17, 
1857,  on  the  old  home  farm  of  his  father,  west  of 
Mascoutah.  He  was  sent  to  the  best  schools  in  the 
county,  and  when  he  had  completed  the  course 
there  he  was  taken  by  his  father  as  a  clerk  in  the 
store,  and  was  taught  the  immense  difference  be- 
tween debit  and  credit;  he  was  an  apt  pujjil, 
and  his  father  could  not  desire  one  more  faithful 
in  the  discharge  of  his  duties.  Mr.  Hagist  soon 
gave  such  evidence  of  the  true  spirit  of  the  mer- 
chant that  his  father  took  him  into  partnership 
with  him  in  1880,  and  now  the,  firm  stands  E.  Ha- 
gist ife  Son. 

Our  subject  showed  his  affection  for  his  native 
city  in  the  selection  of  the  presiding  genius  of  his 
household,  for  it  was  a  resident  of  Mascoutah  who 
became  his  bride  in  1880.  Slie  was  Miss  Mary  Ricli- 
ter,  the  daughter  of  Fred  E.  Richter,  who  lives  in 
this  city,  being  a  retired  farmer  of  the  ciiunty, 
and  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  the  township.  Our 
subject  has  five  children,  and  their  names  are  Os- 
car, Alma,  Arthur,  Herman  and  Theodore.  The}- 
are  all  bright,  happy  children,  and  have  the  prom- 
ise of  a  successful  future  before  them.  Mr.  Hagist, 
of  this    notice,  has  always    been    interested    in  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ediiealioiial  affairs  of  his  town,  and  now  is  serving 
a  term  on  the  Board  of  Kdueation.  The  business 
carried  on  by  tlie  (irm  of  Hagist  it  Son  is  a  very 
prosperous  one,  and  tlie  inenilicrs  of  this  firm  are 
wide-awalvo  men,  wlio  not  only  woriv  for  their 
own  advancement,  but  also  for  the  advantage  of 
llie  beautiful  little  city  of  tlieir  hom  ■.  Such  r-it- 
izens  make  tlie  success  of  a  town. 


-^^- 


MKCIIIX  .t  .SON.  The  tirni  whicli  this 
name  represents  is  made  up  of  John  Meehin 
and  his  talented  son,  Armand  .1.  IVIechin, 
^^  .\.  11.  Tiiey  do  the  largest  and  most  suc- 
(e.ssfiil  traiU'  in  fine  jewelry  in  the  city.  The  fam- 
ily of  our  subject  is  an  fild  .lud  highly  connected 
one  in  France,  and  in  (he  city  of  Tours  Jean 
Mechin,  the  father  of  John  Mechin,  was  born.  He 
became  a  farmer,  was  with  the  French  army  under 
Napoleon  in  l!<12  and  passed  his  last  da_vs  in 
sunny  France. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Tours,  France,  Feb- 
iiiai\  II,  1822.  When  fourteen  years  of  age,  he 
w.as  apprenticed  to  a  jeweler  in  Paris  for  three 
years,  then  traveled  through  France  and  crossed 
the  Channel  three  times.  lie  w.as  in  the  Revolution 
of  1848,  and  then  went  to  London,  where  he 
worked  at  his  trade  for  eighteen  years,  and  was 
foreman  for  Sir  John  IJennett's  jewelry  establish- 
ment, which  is  one  of  the  largest  in  that  metropolis. 
In  187:^,  Mr.  Mechin  t(K)k  the  family  to  London 
and  there  embarked  on  the  steainer  "Canada,"  of 
the  While  Star  Line.  In  fourteen  days  he  arrived  in 
New  York  .and  then  came  on  to  St.  Louis.  Our  sul)- 
jeet  earned  on  a  jeweler's  busines.s  on  Third  Street 
in  St.  Louis,  and  in  187G  located  in  Fast  St.  Louis, 
in  the  Workingmcn's  IJank  Hlock.  continuing  there 
uiilil  ISIM,  when  betook  the  fine  location  now 
occupied  by  the  firm  at  No.  8ir>  Broadway,  carry- 
ing a  regular  line  of  jewelry,  regulating  and  re- 
pairing all  time-pieces,  having  a  valuable  stock 
and  keeping  all  the  novelties  of  the  most  delicate 
pattern  and  finest  workmanship.  Mr.  Mechin  is 
also  inspector  of  watches  for  the  Chicago,  Cleve- 


land, Cincinnati  it  St.  Louis,  Cairo  Short  Line, 
I  Louisville  it  Nashville,  Mobile  it  Ohio,  and  Clii- 
I  cago,  Burlington  it  Quincy  Railroads. 
I  Our  subject  was  married  in  France  to  Mademoi- 
selle \'alentine  Mardell.  who  was  boi-ii  in  France 
and  was  the  daughter  of  M.  ^■alentine,  a  fine 
pastry  baker  and  conductor  of  a  restaurant.  Our 
subject's  wife  was  a  devout  member  of  the  Catholic 
Church,  and  died  under  its  ministrations,  March  8, 
1892.  Mr.  Mechin  w.as  left  with  the  comfort  of 
four  children,  .as  follows:  Gus.  V.  R.,  Secretary  of 
eight  different  building  and  loan  .associations  and 
Public  Administrator,  is  located  in  St.  Louis;  Jane, 
now  Mde.  Darcnberg,  resides  in  France;  Juliette, 
now  Mrs.  Kelly,  and  Armaad,  Jr.,  reside  in  F^ast 
St.  Louis.  The  record  of  the  firm  would  not  be 
complete  without  a  short  sketch  of  the  life  of  this 
latter  most  promising  young  man,  who  w.as  born  in 
London,  England,  May  loth,  1870,  .and  w.as  reared 
in  St.  Louis,  first  attending  the  public  .schools  there; 
he  then  entered  the  St.  Louis  University  at  the 
unusual  age  of  twelve  years,  where  he  was  a  student 
for  two  years,  and  then  attended  St.  Mary's  Col- 
lege, in  Kansiis,  for  two  years.  Afterward,  he  went 
to  the  .St.  Vincent's  College,  at  Cape  Girardeau, 
Mo.,  graduating  from  there  in  1889  with  the  degree 
of  A.  B. 

This  was  not  education  enough  for  this  anilii- 
tious  .young  man,  who  then  took  a  trip  to  F^urope, 
via  New  York  to  Paris,  to  attend  the  World's  Ivv- 
position,  and  remained  there  for  three  months, 
breathing  the  air  of  the  home  of  his  ancestors. 
When  he  returned,  with  his  polish  of  manner  and 
superior  education,  he  had  no  ditliculty  in  secur- 
ing a  position  with  a  large  firm,  but  left  it  in 
1891  to  become  a  partner  with  his  father.  With 
natural  aptitude,  the  3'oung  man  has  already  be- 
come proficient  in  the  business,  and  will  no  doubt 
stamp  his  name  indelibly  on  the  commercial 
circles  of  E.ast  St.  Louis.  Armand  is  a  member  of 
the  Indei)endeilt  Order  of  Odd  F'ellows;  the 
Knights  of  Pythias;  American  Legion  of  Honor; 
and  Knights  and  Ladies  of  Honor:  and  is  also  a 
member  of  St.  Patrick's  Chnrclu  While  at  Va\)e 
Girardeau,  he  took  quite  a  prominent  part  in  the 
literary  exercises  of  the  college,  belonged  to  a 
dramatic  society,  in    which   he  took   leading  parts. 


146 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  was  manager  of  tlie  base-ball  club.  Politically, 
lie  has  affiliated  with  the  Democratic  party,  but  is 
no  radical  in  his  views.  Mr.  jMechin  takes  great 
pride  in  tiiis  talented  young  son  and  feels  that  the 
business  so  carefully  built  up  will  he  entirely  safe 
in  Armand's  hands. 


,^^EORGE  C.   REP.HAX.     The  brilliant    legal 
larae    introduces     this 


^^EORGE  C.  REP.HAX. 
II  (— -  gentleman  whose  nr 
^^^    sketch,  is  one  of  the  n 


W  JJI  ..i.^f^.i,  .-o  ^„«  ^r  tKn  most  enterprising  and 
successful  lawyers  of  the  city  of  Belleville,  is  No- 
tar\'  Public,  and  employed  in  the  Abstract  Office  as 
manager,  but  his  main  business  is  in  chancery 
and  the  administration  and  settling  up  of  es- 
tates. 

Mr.  Rebhan  was  born  in  .lefTerson  City,  Mo., 
Jul^'  25,  1856,  and  was  the  son  of  P^mil  and  Cath- 
erine (Miller)  Rebhan.  The  father  of  our  subject 
was  a  native  of  Germany  and  was  born  in  Saxony, 
that  country.  Coming  to  this  country  in  1848, 
he  first  settled  in  Missouri,  and  there  married  into 
the  family  of  a  near  neighbor  and  intimate  friend. 
AVhen  the  Civil  War  broke  out  Mr.  Rebhan 
raised  Company  F,  Second  Missouri  United 
States  Troops,  and  was  Captain  of  the  com- 
pany. After  the  war  was  over  he  came  here  and 
built  the  Mascoutah  Plank  Road,  being  a  civil  en- 
gineer by  profession  ;  he  continued  in  that  emplo}'- 
ment,  then  settled  in  Shiloli,  and  was  given  the 
postoffice,  in  connection  with  which  he  kept  a 
store,  and  also  did  some  farming.  Captain  Reb- 
han has  been  very  prominent  in  local  affairs,  is  a 
Republican,  has  been  Supervisor  of  Roads,  and 
took  the  census  of  Sliiloh  in  1870-80-90.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  still  lives. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  sent  to  school  in 
Shiloh,  where  he  improved  his  opportunities,  and 
then  went  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  acted  as  clerk  in 
a  drug  store  during  the  day  and  went  to  school  at 
night.  Returning  home  in  1872,  he  engaged  in 
farming  until  1880,  when  he  decided  to  make  a 
change  in  his  life.  Therefore  he  went  to  Belle- 
^■ille  and  was  fortunate  in    being  able  to  reail  law 


with  Gen.  Kueffner,  and  had  the  satisfaction  of 
being  admitted  to  the  Bar  by  the  Appellate  Court 
at  Mt.  A'ernon,May  1,  1885,  and  after  reading  for 
five  years  passed  at  the  head  of  his  class.  He  then 
returned  to  the  office  of  Gen.  Kueffner  as  clerk, 
and  also  practiced  with  him. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  was  married 
February  22,  1889,  to  Miss  Lizzie  Gundlach, 
daughter  of  Jacob  (Tiindlaeh,  Sr.,  and  the}'  have 
one  daughter,  Estelle.  Mr.  Rebhan  has  been  a  Di- 
rector in  the  Belleville  Pump  Works  for  some  years, 
and  has  stock  in  different  business  enterprises.  Our 
subject  left  Gen.  Kueffner  in  the  fall  of  1889,  and 
bought  out  the  Abstr.act  Office  of  S.  Fietsam,  but 
in  April,  1890,  sold  it  to  the  Donavan-Guignon 
Land  Title  Company,  still  retaining  an  interest 
and  managing  the  company  at  Belleville.  Since 
then  he  has  given  his  attention  to  the  buving  and 
selling  of  real  estate  in  East  St.  Louis,  and  owns  a 
great  deal  of  valuable  property.  As  he  has  the 
confidence  of  the  people,  he  is  very  much  occu- 
pied in  the  settling  of  estates  in  this  vicinity,  and 
has  proven  his  ability  and  honest}-  in  many  cases. 
He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Sons  of  Veterans 
and  at  present  is  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Illi- 
nois Division.  Mr.  Rel)han  is  a  consistent  mem- 
ber of  St.  Peter's  Catholic  Cathedral. 


\fl  IJCIUS  C.  SHAWHAN.  The  art  studio, 
I  (?S)  where  nature  is  not  only  faithfully  pic- 
jl*— ^,  tured,  but  often  improved  upon,  to  the 
satisfaction  of  those  who  do  not  wish  to  be  too 
trutlifuUy  mirrored,  is  conducted  on  Missouri  Ave- 
nue under  the  artistic  eye  of  the  original  of  our 
sketch.  Mr.  Shawhan  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
June  2, 1848.  The  father  was  Harvey  Shawhan,  a 
native  of  Harrison  County,  Ky.,  who  was  very 
proud  of  his  father,  David,  an  old  Indian  fighter 
of  Kentucky.  The  latter  located  in  later  years  in 
Warren  County,  Ohio,  and  was  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  there,  where  lie  passed  the  remainder  of  his 
life. 

Tlie  father  of  our  subject  was  a    contractor  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


147 


Imildor.  who,  after  working  at  different  places,  vc- 
lurncd  to  the  imine  of  liis  fatlier,  and  died  in 
Monow.  Warren  C'ountv.  in  the  year  1850.  at 
the  age  of  thirty-li\i^  year.'S.  The  mother  of  our 
subject  was  Ph(ebe  Green,  burn  in  New  Haven, 
Conn.,  her  mother  being  a  typical  New  England 
woman  from  Martha's  Vineyard.  Mrs.  Shawhan 
lived  in  3Iaineville,  Ohio,  where  she  died  in  1890. 
Onr  subject  was  one  of  two  children,  his  brother, 
J.  W.,  living  in  Jlorrow.  This  brother  was  in  the 
same  regiment  an<l  company  as  himself  during  the 
war. 

Mr.  Shawhan  was  reared  about  eight  miles  from 
the  Shaker  settlement,  and  w.is  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  the  district.  When  fourteen  years 
of  age  the  call  came  resounding  through  the  land, 
foi'  defenders  of  the  countrv,  and  among  the  first 
to  respond  was  this  young  lad,  who  ran  awa^'  from 
home  and  made  his  wa}'  to  Camp  Chase,  where  he 
enlisted  in  Company  A,  Eighty-sixth  Ohio  In- 
fantry, was  mustered  in  June  3,  1862,  and  was 
sent  to  Virginia.  He  was  at  the  battle  of  IJnchan- 
nan,  \a.;  was  then  sent  to  guard  railroad  tracks  at 
Parkersburg;  was  then  put  on  detail  duty  to 
photograph  maps,  going  through  from  Memphis 
to  Corinth  under  Rosecrans,  and  afterwards  was  at 
Shiloli.  luka,  Tuscumbia,  Vicksburg  and  up  the 
Black  Uiver,  thence  to  Memphis  and  back  to  Camp 
Dennison.  At  the  close  of  the  war,  Mr.  Shawhan, 
still  a  youth,  was  mustered  out  at  Delaware,  Ohio, 
in  June,  18(ir),  being  only  seventeen  years  old,  and 
yet  a  veteran  soldier. 

After  his  return  from  tiie  life  of  a  soldier,  Mr. 
Shawhan  went  right  to  work  at  photography  in 
co-partnership  with  the  man  he  had  been  associa- 
ted witii  ill  llie  army,  the  partnership  being  for  one 
year  in  Cincinnati,  when  he  opened  a  galieiy  of 
his  own.  Tlie  young  man  remained  at  his  busi- 
ness there  for  two  years  and  then  tried  his  hick 
two  years  in  Newport,  Ivy.,  thence  liack  to  Cin- 
cinnati. In  the  meantime.  Mr.  Shawhan  opened 
a  gallery  at  Lebanon,  and  look  views  of  the 
Shaker  l)uildings.  Remaining  in  Ohio  until  181)0, 
he  came  to  East  St.  1/Ouis  and  located,  winning 
tho  reputation  of  turning  out  the  best  work 
ever  done  in  Oils  city,  Our  stibjout  is  a  mnn  of 
Dieaus.  owning   real-estate  in  Cinciimati,  and  is  a 


Repulilican  of  no  uncertain  kind,  believing  in  the 
righteousnes?  of  his  favorite  party,  whether  it  lie 
victorious  or  defeated. 

Mr.  Shawhan  was  married  at  Leiianon,  ()lii(i,  in 
1871,  to  Miss  Nanc.v  'IMiompson,  who  was  born  in 
Warren  County,  but  died  at  Piqua,  Ohio,  where  she 
went  for  her  health.  She  departed  this  life  May 
;3(),  1888,  leaving  one  son,  C.  B.,  who  lives  with  his 
grandfather  at  Madison,  Ind.  Our  suliject  is  very 
popular,  and  [irobably  the  3'oungest  member  of 
Alexander  Post,  (!.  A.  K.,of  Piqua.  Mr.  Shawhan 
is  an  indefatigable  worker,  and  a  conscientious, 
l)ainstaking  and  artistic  photograplier. 


=jm^| 


■^[ACOB  GUNDLACH,  Jr.,  a  farmer  who  re- 
sides on  the  northwest  corner  of  section  3, 
Smithton  Township,  St.  Clair  Count}',  the 
subject  of  the  present  sketch,  is  the  eldest 
son  of  Philii)  John  (iundlach,  who  resides  in  St. 
Clair  Township.  The  later  was  born  in  Nassau,  Cier- 
many,  in  October,  1820,  and  came  to  this  country  in 
1842.  He  first  located  on  the  land  where  he  is 
now  living,  and  married  Margaret  Biebel,  daughter 
of  John  Hiebel,  liy  vvhoni  he  had  eight  children, 
all  of  whom  grew  to  maturity  and  five  of  whom 
are  now  living. 

Our  subject  was  born  Uecemlier  13,  18o4,  on  the 
old  homestead  in  St.  Clair  Township,  in  this  county, 
was  reared  on  the  home  place  and  educated  in  the 
public  and  private  schools  of  Belleville  and  St. 
Louis.  Taught  in  both  the  German  and  English 
languages,  he  was  fortunate  in  receiving  efficient 
instructions.  After  linishing  his  schooling,  he  re- 
turned to  his  father's  farm  and  remained  there 
until  his  marriage.  This  important  event  occurred 
December  28,  1880,  when  he  was  twenty-five  years 
of  age.  The  young  lady  who  consented  to  share 
his  fortunes  w.as  Miss  Minie  Ilerr,  daughter  of 
Philip  Ilerr,  of  Stooke}'  Township,  now  living  in 
I'lelleville  the  life  of  a  retired  farmer.  Mr.  Ilerr 
came  to  this  country  from  Germany  in  18)3,  inak- 
ijig  his  home  at  once  in  St.  Clair. 

After  inurriage,  Mr.  Gundlach  <'ame  to  this  place 


148 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


and  has  lived  here  ever  since,  upon  a  fine  farm  of 
two  hundred  acres  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation. 
Mr.  and  Jlrs.  Gundlach  have  three  left  of  their 
five  children,  who  are  as  follows:  Peter  .1., 
born  October  9,  ll^Sl;  Louisa,  born  Mav  6, 
1883,  and  Clemens,  born  .Tuly  20,  1891.  Tliose 
who  died  were,  John  Linus,  five  years  old,  who 
died  of  diphtheria  in  1890,  and  Rosa,  only  three 
years  old,  succumbed  to  tiiat  dreadful  disease  at 
the  same  time.  Politicall}',  Mr.  (lundlach  is  a 
Democrat  and  believes  in  the  principles  of  that 
party.  In  his  religious  relations,  he  belongs  to 
the  Catholic  Church  and  is  a  member  of  St.  Peter's 
Cathedral,  of  IJelleville.  The  home  of  this  worthy 
family  is  a  ver}'  pleasant  one,  and  no  cloud  has 
come  to  it  with  the  exception  of  the  deaths  of  the 
children  mentioned  above. 


W?  AMKS  WILDERMAN.  One  of  the  wealtii- 
iest  and  most  intluential  men  in  the  county 
of  St.  Clair  is  the  gentleman  who  resides 
^^/'  on  section  8,  Frceburg  Township.  George 
Wilderman,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  of 
German  ancestry,  and'was  born  in  Washingtoii 
County,  Md.,  whence  he  came  West  in  1805,  and  set- 
tled in  the  Territory  of  Indiana,  which  now  is  tlie 
State  of  Illinois,  locating  in  Freeburg  Township, 
where  our  subject  now  lives,  remaining  there  until 
the  time  of  his  death,  a  few  years  later.  He  had  ten 
sons:  .Tohn,  Jacob,  Francis,  James,  Dorsey,  Henry, 
Joseph,  William,  Levi  and  George.  Jacob,  George 
and  James  served  as  soldiers  in  the  Black  Hawk 
War. 

The  father  of  our  sul)ject  James  AVilderman,  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  July  19,  1790,  was  about  sixteen 
years  old  when  his  father  came  to  this  county.  He 
married  Sarah  Jarvis,  who  died  February  29,  1856. 
(See  sketch  of  Amos  Thompson  for  further  history 
of  the  Wilderman  family.)  James.  Sr.,  died  Aug- 
ust 3,  1847,  and  was  the  father  of  seventeen  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  grew  to  maturity  with  one  ex- 
ception. The  children  of  this  remarkable  family 
wej'c  as  follows:  Flizal>eth,  wife  of  DcWitt  Drew,  of 


Golden  City,  Mo.;  Nancy,  Franklin,  Cyrena,  Lu- 
cinda,  William,  Mary  Ann  and  John,  all  deceased; 
Sarah,  wife  of  Reuben  Ilolcomb,  of  Green  County, 
Wis.;  Delilah,  widow  of  Henry  Ileberer,  of  Belle- 
ville, died  Ma_y  21, 1892;  Thomas,  Elinor,  Amanda, 
and  an  infant,  have  all  been  deceased  upward  of 
forty  years;  Maria,  the  widow  of  John  McGuire; 
and  (ieorge  W.,  deceased. 

Our  subject  was  born  September  29,  1824,  at  the 
old  home  place  on  section  7,  Freeburg  Township. 
He  grew  to  manhood  there,  and  attended  school 
in  Freeburg,  and  has  continued  to  live  on  the  old 
place  where  he  now  resides  ever  since  his  birth.  In 
1862,  he  built  his  present  residence.  Together 
with  the  heirs  of  John  H.  and  Thomas,  he  has 
about  one  thousand  acres  of  land,  and  all  of  this 
vast  extent  is  well  improved  and  finely  cultivated. 
As  for  location,  there  is  not  a  farm  in  the  county 
which  can  excel  it.  The  situation  of  his  residence 
is  most  charming,  being  placed  upon  a  hill,  com- 
manding a  view  of  the  picturescpie  surrounding 
country. 

Mr.  Wilderman  has  studied  scientific  farming, 
and,  judging  by  the  result,  has  made  a  success  of 
it.  He  carries  on  general  farming  and  the  raising 
of  much  grain,  but  gives  some  attention  to  stock. 
Our  subject  has  many  advanced  ideas  about 
farming,  and  puts  them  to  a  practical  test. 
Politically,  he  is  a  Republican,  and  beginning 
with  Fremont,  has  voted  for  every  Republican 
candidate.  He  has  served  as  School  Director,  and 
is  a  man  of  great  influence  in  his  community,  his 
advice  being  much  sought  after,  and  his  character 
being  highly  esteemed  bv  all  who  know  him. 


(.i^^RANZ  SCinVAUZ.  The  subject  of  the 
llsak,  present  writing  is  a  prominent  grain  farmer 
111,  of  section  21.  Smitliton  Township,  St.  Clair 

County.  He  was  the  son  of  John  Schwarz,  a  shoe- 
maker by  tr.ade,  who  was  born  in  German}'  and 
there  married  Miss  i\Iary  Moore,  and  by  that  mar- 
riage had  six  children.  Our  subject  was  born  in 
(.lermain-    in   IHoO.  on    the  .stli  of  .hil v,   was  reared 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


149 


tliere  and  came  to  America  iu  1853.  He  first 
landed  at  New  Orleans,  then  came  up  to  SI.  Louis, 
where  he  worked  for  two  months  at  the  black- 
smith trade;  then  went  to  Minnesota  for  two 
nmnths.  Coming  hack  to  St.  Louis,  he  remained 
fotii-  lu-  live  months,  and  then  went  to  Helleville, 
whiMc  he  resided  ten  years,  during  seven  of  which 
he  conducted  a  shop  for  himself.  At  that  time  our 
subject  went  to  Ihc  fnrrn.  where  he  lived  for  two 
years,  and  then  wont  to  anotlier,  where  he  lived 
for  some  time,  but  finally  settled  down  on  the  pl.ace 
where  he  now  lives,  and  wiiicii  lias  liccu  his  home 
ever  since. 

.Mr.  ScliWMrz  wa-  married  in  lis()  1  tn  Miss  Mary 
I'leish,  by  whom  he  has  iiad  nine  children,  eight 
of  whom  are  yet  living.  They  are:  Rettic,  Marten, 
Frank.  Mattie,  Lizzie,  Jacob,  Mary,  and  .Toe. 
Mary  is  deceased.  Mr.  Schwarz  has  one  liundred 
and  si.xty  acres  of  land  where  he  lives,  besides 
eighty-five  acres  on  section  10,  raising  grain  prin- 
cipally. His  political  convictions  are  in  accordance 
with  the  doctrines  of  the  Democratic  party.  Our 
subject  h.as  held  the  office  of  School  l^irector  to  the 
satisfaction  of  his  constituents.  He  is  connected 
with  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  and  is  a  man  of 
hal)its  and  character  above  reproach. 


ri/_^  LNKY  GANTKR.  M.  1).  It  is  our  pleas- 
r  )!■  ure  to  call  the  attenti<in  of  our  readers  to 
■!^>^  a  disciple  of  Escnlapius,  who  resides  in  the 
('^  township  of  Millstadt,  St.  Clair  County, 
and  disi)enses  pills  and  medicaments  to  the  sur- 
rounding country.  This  illustrious  gentleman  is 
a  native  of  Ccrmany  (that  hind  of  learning  whicii 
sends  us  so  ni;iny  of  its  grc;it  men  in  science  and 
politics),  born  in  Baden,  August  18.  IKll*. 

Early  evincing  a  great  taste  for  niedical  studies, 
lie  resolved  to  make  this  ))rofession  his  litV  work. 
He  accordingly  began  the  study  of  this  br.iiuli  of 
science  in  his  native  country  and  graduated  at 
Wurzburg,  Germany,  in  1H7.),  from  one  of  the 
institutions  of  leariiiim  in  lh;it   famous  citv.     The 


following  year,  feeling  that  Germany  did  not  af- 
ford him  a  broad  enough  field,  he  resolved  to  try 
his  fortune  across  the  broad  ocean.  On  his  arrival 
in  the  New  World,  our  subject  immediately 
located  at  Waterloo,  Monroe  County.  111.,  and 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession.  This  loca- 
tion did  not  suit  him.  so  in  about  six  mouths 
Dr.  Ganter  changed  his  place  of  residence  and 
went  to  the  pretty  little  village  of  Floraville,  in 
Millstadt  Township,  St.  Clair  County,  where  he 
has  remained  ever  since,  eng.aged  in  soothing  the 
|)ains  and  ailments  of  a  people,  sinw^rely  attached 
to  the  kind-hearted  physician. 

Dr.  (ianter  is  the  only  physician  in  Moraville, 
hence  his  hands  are  kept  very  full  with  all  the 
sick,  being  called  upon  not  only  to  administer  to 
those  in  the  village  and  township,  but  so  renowned 
hiis  he  become  that  in  all  serious  cases  Dr.  Ganter  is 
the  physician  upon  whom  call  is  made  from  all  parts 
of  St.  Clair  County.  There  are  some  disadvantages 
in  being  popular,  as  the  good  Doctor  realizes  when 
roused  out  on  a  cold  winter  night  to  make  a  visit 
eight  or  ten  miles  off,  but  the  sympathetic  healer 
never  refuses  to  respond  to  any  call  that  is  made 
for  his  services,  whether  the  patient  be  rich  or 
poor.  Would  there  w(re  more  as  just  and  chari- 
table , as  this  ( Jerinan-.Vmeiioan  i)liysician  of  Flora- 
ville. 

Dr.  (iantei-  in  1878,  married  Miss  Caroline 
Kaemper,  the  accomplished  daughter  of  Ernst 
Kaeniper,  an  early  settler  of  St.  Clair  Countv. 
Six  children  have  been  .sent  to  ble.s.s  and  make 
happier  the  parents'  lives.  These  bright  young- 
people  are:  Alexander,  Emma,  Lulu,  Ida  .and 
Lena.  One  little  one.  Annie,  was  taken  away, 
and  the  parents  still  niouni  her  loss.  Our  subject 
is  very  prominent  in  the  Jlonroe  jMedical  Society, 
where  his  views  on  various  matters  pertaining  to 
the  profession  are  listened  to  by  his  brother  phy- 
sicians with  respect  and  great  intej-est,  as  they 
recognize  his  superior  knowledge  and  skill.  This 
.society  meets  at  Waterloo  and  the  meetings  are  of 
great  benefit  to  all  c<nicerned. 

The  (jcople  testilied  theirapprecialion  of  tlie  l)oc- 
U)r's  knowledge  in  educational  matters  by  electing 
him  School  Director,  a  position  he  still  retains.  Dr. 
(ianter  was   I'resiclcul   of  the  l-"lor:i\ill<' ('rc-:inicr\- 


150 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Company  for  some  time,  and  very  efflcieutly  dis- 
charged his  duties  in  that  connection.  He  is  Sec- 
etary  of  the  Reading  Society  of  the  city  and  also 
a  member  of  the  Helvetia  Lodge,  Millstadt.  Dr. 
(lanterisa  devoted  Republican,  never  allowing 
anything  to  interfere  with  his  loyalty  to  that 
party,  and  always  casts  his  vote  for  its  candidates 
and  exerts  his  intluence  for  their  success.  In  re- 
ligious matters,  this  good  man  is  aXI'atbolic  and  a 
man  of  whom  all  speak  words  of  praise  and  com- 
mendation. His  acts  of  charity  are  many,  of 
which  the  world  knows  nothing,  and  in  every 
way  he  seeks  to  live  up  to  the  teachings  of  the 
Divine  Master. 


i>-?)^<i 


ENRY  T.  SCHMIDT.  Among  the  lionored 
and  esteemed  young  farmers  of  Smithton 
Township,  St.  Clair  County,  111.,  we  find 
\!l^  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  is  a  promi- 
nent School  Director  and  Township  Commissioner. 
He  w.as  the  sou  of  Philip  Schmidt, an  honestGerman 
emigrant,  who  was  born  in  Hesso-Darmstadt,  Ger- 
many, in  1810,andcameto  this  country  in  1832,  first 
locating  in  St.  Louis,  where  he  remained  for  three 
years,  a  portion  of  which  time  he  was  employed  as 
a  salesman  for  the  Goodyear  Rubber  Companj'. 
Thence  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County  and  en- 
tered Government  land,  living  on  the  farm  his 
efforts  rede(mied  from  the  prairie  until  his  death, 
in  1878.  He  married  Miss  Regina  Seibert,  who 
emigrated  to  this  country  in  1833.  She  was  the 
eldest  of  a  family  of  ten  children,  of  whom  only 
four  survive,  among  whom  is  Mrs.  Schmidt.  She 
bore  him  a  family  of  seven  children,  four  of  wliom 
are  still  living:  August,  residing  in  Smitliton'Town- 
ship;  John  C,  residing  in  ]\Iillsladt  Township; 
George  AV.  and  our  subject.  The  father  was  a 
consistent  member  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church  and  lived  a  worth}'.  Christian  life. 

Our  subject  was  born  March  13, 1853,  on  the  old 
home  place,  in  Smithton  Township,  where  he  still 
remains.  Here  ho  received  his  primary  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  the  district,  supplementing 


this  bj'  a  course  of  study  at  Warrenton,  Mo.  Mr. 
Schmidt  was  married  March  30,  1879,  to  !Miss 
Katie  Forcade,  the  daughter  of  Francis  and 
Barbara  (Drugenbrod)  Forcade,  natives  of  Ba- 
varia and  early  settlers  of  this  county.  After 
his  marriage,  Mr.  Schmidt  took  his  young 
bride  to  the  home  they  now  occupy,  where  they 
have  spent  many  happ\'  years.  To  this  union  five 
bright,  intelligent  children  have  been  given: 
Amanda,  aged  eleven;  Oscar,  aged  ten;  Elsie,  aged 
nine;  Hilda,  aged  six;  and  Josie,  aged  three. 
]Mi'.  Schmidt  has  a  fine  farm  of  eighty-one  acres  of 
land,  all  well  improved,  in  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion, on  which  he  raises  grain  and  stock,  giving 
the  i)refercnce,  however,  to  grain.  Like  his  father 
before  him,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  Schmidt  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Smithton  Treubund,  a  German  society,  in 
which  he  is  highly  esteemed.  In  politics,  our  sub- 
ject is  a  stanch  Republican,  and  the  party  has  re- 
warded him  with  several  offices,  among  which  are 
those  of  School  Director  and  Township  Commis- 
sioner, the  latter  office  having  been  held  by  him 
for  the  past  four  years.  Mr.  Schmidt  is  respected 
throughout  the  entire  county  for  his  honesty  of 
character  and  uprightness. 


3-5-I-** 


•5-*4-*L 


'**'3"J-*^^''****I 


ETEK  W.  LILL.  The  gentleman  whose 
sketch  is  now  presented  is  the  present 
Recorder  of  Deeds  of  St.  Clair  County,  to 
which  office  he  was  elected  in  November, 
1888,  for  a  four-years  term,  on  the  Republican 
ticket  in  a  Democratic  county,  showing  a  personal 
popularity  which  must  be  gratifying  to  the  incum- 
bent. He  was  born  in  lielleville  P'ebruary  8, 
1850,  and  was  the  son  of  Peter,  and  Catherine 
(Steitz)  Eill.  Peter  Lill,  Sr.,  was  born  in 
Germany  in  March  181(1,  was  there  educated, 
came  to  America  in  1841,  and  soon  made  his  way 
to  Belleville,  where  so  many  of  his  honest  coun- 
trymen had  come.  He  learned  the  trade  of  a 
wagonmakcr  and  located  a  maiuifactory  here, 
where  ho  cioitinued  up  to  ISGG,  being  among  liie 


''*, 


'i'A 


"^'ry 


^4. 


.0 


ft^         '' 


^(Hu^  TM^y^'^i^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


l.V^ 


first  to  conduct  :i  niauufactory  at  this  place.  In 
the  year  1866,  tlie  family  moved  to  Mascoutali. 
He  was  married  in  1845,  his  wife  having  come  from 
Germany  about  tlie  same  time  that  ho  did.  The 
family  have  lived  in  Mascoutali  since  their  settle- 
ment there,  and  for  the  past  twelve  years  the 
father  has  lived  retired  from  business.  For  seven 
years  he  held  an  olliee  in  the  City  Council  of 
Helleville.  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  i, ills'  four  children 
are  living,  namely:  ouv  subject,  Emma,  Julius 
Z.  and  Adolph  II. 

Our  subject  obtained  bis  e<hR"ilinii  in  the  cdin- 
nion  schools  of  IJellevillcand  supplemented  it  by  a 
course  at  the  Commercial  College  of  Bryant  and 
Stratton,  from  which  he  gra<Iuated.  He  then 
went  into  a  cigar  factory,  owning  the  factory  at 
Mascoutali  from  1873  until  1887.  Mr.  Lill  held  dif- 
ferent offices  in  the  gift  of  his  township  and  city, 
and  at  the  tune  of  his  election  as  Recorder,  was 
Cit\-  Clerk  and  Township  Collector.  His  residence 
is  still  at  Mascoutali.  The  marriage  of  our  subject 
occurred  October  9,  1872,  to  Miss  Anna  M.  J\aab, 
of  St.  Louis,  a  daughter  of  Martin  ><aab.  The 
children  that  have  been  added  to  the  household 
are:  l.illie  E.,  Alma  C.,  Nettie,  Amy,  Herbert  F., 
and  Anna.  Mr.  Lill  has  been  a  very  prominent 
Republican  for  many  years,  and  enjoys  the  conli- 
dence  of  his  party. 


'o.SElMI  PENN.  One  who  lias  retired  from 
the  active  duties  of  life,  having  accumulated 
a  comfortable  property  by  which  he  can 
spend  the  latter  years  of  his  life  in  freedom 
from  the  petty  annoyances  of  restricted  financial 
standing,  our  subject  now  resides  at  No.  .3();j  North 
.lackson  Street,  where  he  has  a  comfort^al)le  home. 
He  is  a  native  of  St.  ('lair  County,  and  has  devoted 
himself  entirely  ti>  its  advanceMicnt  :uid  improve- 
ment, 

Mr,  Peiin  was  lK>rn  live  miles  north  of  IJelle- 
villo.  Ill,,  on  the  I2th  of  April,  1828,  and  is  a  .^on 
of  \Villiam  ,'iiid  Humali  (IJedniond)  IVnn.  natives 


of  Georgia  and  Virginia,  respectively.  The  father 
w.as  born  in  17!)6,  and  was  reared  in  the  Hlue 
(irass  State,  but  when  about  twenty  years  of  age 
he  came  to  Illinois  with  the  intention  of  making  a 
permanent  settlement  in  St.  Clair  County.  After 
reaching  this  county  he  selected  his  wife  in  the 
person  of  Miss  Uumali,  daughter  of  Samuel  Red- 
mond, who  came  to  St.  Clair  Count}'  from  Virginia 
as  early  jis  1818.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
this  county  and  lived  to  be  eighty-seven  years  of 
age.  The  father  of  our  subject  died  in  .St.  Clair 
Count^'in  1851,  and  the  mother  departed  "this 
life  in  1842.  They  were  worthy  and  much  re- 
spected, honest  and  upright  in  all  their  transactions, 
and' a  credit  to  any  community. 

.Joseph  Penn  was  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth  of 
twelve  children,  four  of  wlioiii  are  now  living. 
He  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  and  attended 
the  common  schools,  thus  passing  his  boyhood  and 
3'outli.  In  .Tune,  1846,  he  enlisted  for  one  j-ear 
in  a  company  raised  in  St.  Clair  County,  and  com- 
manded by  Col.  (later  Gov.)  Bissell.  On  the 
organization  of  the  company  he  was  elected  .Ser- 
geant, and  in  that  capacity  took  part  in  the  battle 
of  Buena  Vista.  He  remained  in  service  for  thir- 
teen months  and  then  returned  to  the  farm,  where 
he  stayed  three  months.  Afterward  he  went  to 
Lebanon  and  attended  McKendree  College  for  one 
year,  from  184  7  to  1848,  and  then  returned  to  the 
farm,  where  he  remained  until  after  his  father's 
death.  The  latter  had  married  Mrs.  Hart,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Mary  Bell,  and  who  was  the 
mother  of  our  subject's  second  wife.  In  1855, 
our  subject  married  Miss  Arminda  H.  Martindale, 
of  Lebanon,  who  died  in  1864.  Ten  years  later, 
Mr.  Penn  moved  to  Belleville  but  continued  his 
farming  interests.  He  owns  two  tli<nisand  acres 
ill  ten  different  farms  in  St.  Clair  and  Sangamon 
Cniiiilies.  111.,  and  Cooper  County, IMo.  Besides  this, 
he  is  the  owner  of  the  Penn  Building,  which  is 
valued  at  4'.'}(),(ll>l)  .and  also  the  Ueiiohler  liuilding. 
which  is  valued  at  *5(l,000. 

Mr.  Penn  i>  not  active  in  politics  but  usu:illy 
votes  the  Hepiiblicnn  ticket.  He  was  President 
of  tlje  Fair  Association  for  one  year  and  w.is  also 
Superinlendent,  being  very  active  in  promoting 
its  jnlerests,     'I'lie   annual   reuni(»ii  of  the  old  set. 


154 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


tiers  is  held  under  his  supervision.  Mr.  Penn's 
second  marriage  occurred  on  the  28th  of  February, 
1865,  when  he  was  united  witli  Mrs.  Susan  A. 
(Hart)  Scott,  the  widow  of  John  Scott,  and  daugh- 
ter of  his  father's  second  wife.  The  children  born 
of  tlie  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Penn  are  as  follows: 
Georgianna,  who  married  Finley  McNulty,  of 
Springfield,  III.;  William  C,  of  Cooper  County,  Mo. 
and  John,  a  resident  of  Belleville.  To  the  second 
marriage  no  children  were  born.  By  her  former 
marriage  Mrs.  Penn  became  the  mother  of  four 
children:  Theodore  H.,  of  South  Dakota;  Adolphus 
G.,  of  Chicago,  111.;  Leonora  .1.  (Mrs.  John  T.  Geb- 
l)ie)  deceased;  and  John  E.,  a  resident  of  Indian- 
apolis, Ind.  For  forty  years  or  more  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Penn  have  been  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  and  tlie  sincerity  of  their  lives  proves 
lietter  than  mere   words  the  deptli  of   their  belief. 


-S<*'Y"'^&='*^=^ e' 


vspsuGENE  SCHMISSEUR,one  of  the  leading 
1^  and  enterprising  farmers  of  Smithton  Town- 
/Ik^  ship,  St.  Clair  County,  is  a  son  of  the 
soil,  having  been  born,  reared,  educated,  married 
and  always  lived  in  the  township  that  now  claims 
him  as  a  resident.  This  little  township  of  Smith- 
ton  has  been  the  scenes  of  his  labors,  successes  and 
interests. 

The  ancestors  of  Mr.  Schmisseur  were  of  French 
birtli,  his  father  having  been  a  native  of  Lorraine, 
France,  who  came  in  his  early  youth  to  America 
and  settled  first  in  St.  Louis,  where  he  followed 
tiie  trade  of  wagon-maker  for  a  short  period  of 
time;  he  then  operated  a  restaurant  for  some  time, 
but  .soon  left  St.  Louis,  and  made  his  way  to  St. 
Clair  County,  where  he  purchased  land,  and  con- 
tinned  to  reside  until  his  death.  When  this  me- 
lancholy event  occurred,  Mr.  Schmisseur  was  the 
owner  of  three  hundred  and  sixty-seven  acres  of 
land,  all  of  which  had  been  earned  by  his  own 
efforts.  A  prominent  man  in  his  locality,  he  took 
an  active  part  in  public  affairs,  and  served  his  dis- 
trict most  creditabl\'  ns  School  Director,  and  was 
llMiversally  mourned    by  aU  >vl,io  knew  hi  in,     The 


maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject  was 
Elizabeth  Chenot:  she  bore  her  husband  nine  chil- 
dren, five  of  whom  grew  to  maturity. 

Eugene  Schmisseur,  our  subject,  was  born  De- 
cember 6, 1849,  on  the  farm  of  his  father  in  Smith- 
ton  Township,  St.  Clair  County.  After  his  mar- 
riage, Mr.  Schmisseur  began  farming  on  the  old 
home  place,  continuing  there  one  year,  going 
thence  to  the  American  Bottom  and  from  there  to 
Ridge  Prairie,  where  he  remained  four  years,  and 
then  to  his  present  home.  This  farm  consists  of 
two  hundred  and  four  acres,  all  well  improved 
and  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  On  this  land 
are  raised  grain  and  stock,  the  latter  being  of  a  very 
fine  and  sujierior  grade. 

Mr.  Schmisseur  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Beatrie,  daughter  of  Nicholas  Beatrie,  a  prominent 
farmer  of  St.  Clair  County.  This  faithful  wife  has 
borne  him  seven  children:  Albert,  Edward,  Eugene, 
Lizzie,  Otto,  Nellie  and  Cora,  all  of  whom  are 
living.  These  seven  children  have  had  the  ad- 
vantage of  a  good  common-school  education.  Mr. 
Schmisseur  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Or- 
der of  Odd  Fellows,  in  which  lodge  he  is  Past 
Grand,  having  passed  all  the  chairs.  In  poli- 
tics, he  adheres  to  the  platform  laid  down  b3'  the 
Farmer's  Alliance,  and  is  one  of  its  stanchest  sup- 
porters. Mr.  Schmisseur  is  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent citizens  of  his  townshii),  where  he  takes  an 
active  part  in  public  affairs. 


\]^ETEK  HILL.  The  subject  of  this  sketch, 
Jl)  who  resides  on  section  30,  in  Freeburg 
!  ^  Town.ship,  St.  Clair  County,  111.,  was  the 
I  \  son  of  .lames  Hill,  who  was  born  on  the 
19th  of  June,  1811,  on  Turkey  Hill,  and  left  there 
in  1832  to  live  on  the  place  where  our  subject 
now  resides.  The  father  pre-empted  this  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  from  the  Government, 
and  remained  there  until  1862,  when  he  removed 
to  Freeburg,  since  which  time  he  luas  lived  the 
comfortable  life  of  a  retired  farmer,  James  Hill 
w;\s    )));iiried    about     1831     to    Klizabotli    Thrift, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


155 


daiigtiter  of  Samuel  Tluift.  He  owns  three 
hundred  and  seventeen  acres  of  land  in  Free- 
burg  Township,  was  tlie  son  of  one  of  the  old- 
est settlers  in  St.  Clair  County,  and  was  himself 
one  of  the  soldiers  of  the  lUack  Hawk  War.  He 
has  held  tlie  otlice  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  this 
township  for  three  terms.  His  children  were  as  fol- 
lows: our  subject;  .Samuel,  who  lives  in  New 
Alliens;  Elizabeth  and  .James,  both  deceased; 
Jackson,  living  at  Freeburg;  Permelia,  living  at 
home;  George  W.,  wlio  is  managing  a  mill  at  St. 
Louis;  .Sarah,  Anna,  Theresa  and  Albina  are  all 
deceased.  The  father  is  a  member  of  the  ^lethod- 
ist  Episcopal  Church  and  one  of  its  officers. 

Our  subject  was  born  on  the  birthday  of  tlie 
Father  of  his  Country — February  22,  183.5 — on  the 
same  i)lace  where  he  is  now  living.  He  was  here 
reared  and  educated,  and  was  married  in  this 
county  to  Miss  Emeliue.  the  daughter  of  William 
Mitchell  a  farmer.  After  this  ceremony.  Which 
took  place  in  18o*.>,  our  subject  lived  on  the  old 
pl.ice  for  two  years,  and  then  removed  to  the 
southern  part  of, the  county,  but  returned  again. 
Discontented,  he  concluded  to  try  another  change, 
and  so  went  to  Macon  County,  where  he  resided 
for  four  years  and  again  came  back  to  the  old 
place.  In  1877,  he  sold  out  and  went  to  Texas, 
bnt  only  remained  there  two  months  and  then 
returned  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Franklin  County, 
where  he  lived  ten  years  and  engaged  in  farming. 
Affection  for  the  old  place  clung  to  him  in  all  his 
changes  of  residence,  and  lie  finally  came  back  to 
it.  to  remain  here  ever  since.  He  has  had  seven 
children.  Ellen  died  at  the  age  of  seven,  and 
three  died  in  infancy.  The  living  are  Samuel, 
Joseph  and  Minnie.  Saiiiuel  married  Mrs.  Nancy 
Eubanks,  and  is  living  in  Freelnirg. 

Our  subject  farms  three  hundred  and  seventeen 
acres  of  land,  part  of  which  belongs  to  him  and 
the  rest  to  his  father's  estate,  wheat  being  his 
principal  product.  P<ilitically,  Mr.  Hill  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat and  is  devoted  to  his  favorite  party.  He  is 
a  consistent  member  of  the  I>aptist  denomination 
and  is  everywliere  regarded  with  respect  and 
esteem,  liccause  of  his  consistent,  stiaightforwaifl 
life  and  his  devotion  to  the  princi|)les  which  he 
avows.     Much   ir.TM'i  :iihI  i-hange   of   place    have 


broadened  his  mind  and  added  to  his  understand- 
ing, so  that  liis  views  upon  the  (juestions  of  the 
day  are  always  presented  by  him  with  fairness 
and  intelligence  and  with  due  regard"to  the  opin- 
iiins  of  others. 


I 


G^ 


'\f;' A.^IKS  >LVS()N.  Age  comes  to  some  as  a 
mellow  radiance,  and  none  has  it  touched 
more  lightly  than  the  genial  host  of  the 
'^^  wayside  inn.  the  subject  of  this  notice,  who 
bears  his  seventy-five  years  with  scarcelj'  the  ap- 
pearance of  fifty,  and  is  so  genial  and  companion- 
able that  the  younger  stranger  forgets  the  dispar- 
ity. The  sulijcct  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Stir- 
lingshire, .Scotland.  October  .30,  1817,  the  son  of 
AValter  and  Isabel  (Baird)  Mason,  who  came  to 
America  in  1818,  went  to  Pennsylvania,  and  settled 
in  Pottsville.  Sciuiylkill  County,  where  tiiey  lived 
and  died. 

The  j'outh  and  the  active  years  of  our  subject "s 
life  were  given  to  hard  work.  He  remained  with 
his  parents  and  uncles  in  PennS3'lvania  more  than 
a  year,  when  he  and  a  brother  started  AVest,  and 
continued  until  they  reached  French  Village,  near 
East  St.  Louis,  in  St.  Clair  County,  III.,  where  our 
subject  obtained  work  in  a  coal  mine  by  tlic  day. 
and  continued  there  three  or  four  years;  he  then 
bought  a  mine  of  his  own  along  the  blulT.  a  mile 
from  French  X'illage,  operating  it  three  ir  four 
years  and  then  selling  it.  AViout  185(),  Mr.  Mason 
l)ecame  Superintendent  of  the  Twiss  Mills  on  the 
Short  Line  Uoad,  holding  the  [losition  four  years, 
and  then  iMiuojht  property  and  built  the  comtort- 
able  house  he  h.as  (Xicupied  since  the  spring  of 
l.s(!l.  Ills  a  w.ayside  h6use  of  refreshment  for 
man  and  be.ast.  Two  of  his  brotlici-s,  John  and 
Malcom,  served  .is  soldiers  in  the  Union  army 
during  the  late  Civil  War,  the  former  in  the  Nine- 
tieth Tennsylvania  and  the  latter  in  the  Sixth 
rciiiisylvania  Reserves. 

Mv.  .Mason  has  been  niairicd  three  times,  his  first 
marriage  taking  place  in   August.    1^<4I,   in    Stir- 


156 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


lingshire,  Scotland,  the  name  of  his  wife  being 
Agnes  Young,  who  died  in  1845.  The  two  chil- 
dren b\'  this  marriage  were  Ellen  and  Isabel;  the 
former,  born  Febriiarv  6,  1843,  in  Scotland, 
'married  Francis  A.  McBride,  a  resident  farmer  and 
stockman  of  St.  Clair  County,  who  died  January 
26,  1889,  and  left  two  children,  W.  R.  and  Lillie. 
Isabel  was  drowned  in  childhood,  near  Pottsville, 
Pa.  Our  subject  married  his  second  wife,  Agnes 
Mair,  in  1846,  and  she  died  April  25,  1876.  The 
three  living  children  of  this  marriage  are  Walter, 
a  mining  engineer,  who  married  Emma  Sutton 
and  resides  at  Kabe  Station,  near  his  father; 
Anabel,  who  married  John  Vickers,  a  ranchman 
who  lives  in  New  Mexico;  and  AVilliam,  married 
recently  in  New  Mexico,  who  is  engaged  in  min- 
ing. Our  subject  married  in  February,  1877,  his 
third  wife,  jMrs.  Elizabeth  Allen,  who  assisted  him 
in  dispensing  hospitality  at  the  family  home  until 
her  death,  November  6,  1890.  Mr.  Mason  has 
never  accepted  ottice,  and  is  a  Democrat  when  he 
deposits  his  ballot.  The  family  belongs  to  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  are  much  thougiit  of  in 
the  neighborhood. 


*^^^i 


\f^^  J.  STAITFF:NBIEL.  The  City  Council  of 
|N®1  Belleville,  111.,  established  a  public  library 
/li)  by  an  ordinance  passed  February  5,  1883, 

and  since  that  time  the  gentleman  whose  well- 
known  name  opens  this  sketch  has  been  its  erticient 
Librarian.  .Since  the  opening  of  the  institution, 
its  management  has  required  almost  his  entire  time, 
and  at  present  he  has  the  assistance  of  Miss  Jo.>*e- 
phine  Bissell,a  daughter  of  Gov.  Bissell,  deceased. 
Mr.  Staufenblel  was  born  near  Muhlhausen,  Thur- 
ingia,  Prussia,  September  29,  1833.  His  parents 
were  Joseph  and  Marriana  Staufenbiel,  natives  of 
the  same  country.  Our  subject  was  reared  and 
carefully  educated  in  (Germany,  taking  a  full  course 
at  a  gymnasium,  and  then  came  to  America,  lo- 
cating first  at  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  where  he  engaged 
ill  clerking  in  a  brewery,  rpiflj^ining  three  years, 
J II  1859,  our  sultjec'l  ('!).ni(.>  pt  this  cjly,  whefe  lio 


engaged  with  the  Western  Brewery,  remaining 
with  this  company  for  a  period  of  fourteen  years. 
Following  this  he  was  appointed  as  a  clerk,  and 
later  as  Deputy  Recorder,  in  the  court  house,  and 
was  serving  in  the  latter  capacity  when  he  received 
the  appointment  as  Librarian.  Mr.  Staufenbiel 
was  married  to  Miss  F'ranciska  F^ngelniann,  of  this 
city,  the  daughter  of  Michael  Engelmann,  a  civil 
engineer,  of  Germany.  Mrs.  Staufenbiel  w.as  born 
in  that  country  in  1840,  and  she  has  become  the 
mother  of  four  interesting  children:  Anna,  Tlierese, 
John  and  Emily.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  are 
prominent  members  of  Belleville  societj'  and  are 
higlil}-  esteemed  by  a  large  circle  of  friends. 


r^ 


SrrrrT/liVA)   PKIESTER,  one   of   the   leading  Ger- 
t=^''  man-Americans  of  Belleville,  has   been  en- 

/li  ^  gfigcd  in  the  lumber  business  within  her 
confines  for  the  past  twenty-five  3ears.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  imbibed  the  principles  of  ster- 
ling honesty  that  have  made  him  honored  and  re- 
spected throughout  his  entire  business  career  from 
his  revered  father,  Jacob  Priester.  Mr.  Jacob 
Priester  was  also  a  native  of  Germany,  but  after 
the  death  of  his  beloved  wife,  Margaret  (Priester) 
Priester,  he  brought  his  motherless  famil3'  to  the 
United  States,  making  the  trip  in  1850.  The 
father  was  not  destined,  however,  to  live  and  en- 
joy the  advantages  of  the  land  to  which  he  had 
come  in  .search  of  freedom  and  fortune,  for  his 
death  occurred  in  1853.  One  sister  of  our  subject, 
Mrs.  Paulina  Kothgangel,  Is  a  resident  of  Belle- 
ville, where  she  is  higlily  respected. 

Mr.  Priester,  our  subject,  was  born  in  Nassau, 
Germany,  September  23,  1827,  and  received  his 
education  in  the  excellent  German  .schools.  Upon 
coming  to  St.  Clair  County,  in  1850,  he  settled 
twenty  miles  south  of  Belleville,  in  a  locality 
known  as  Dutch  Hill.  Here  he  continued  to  farm 
for  nine  years  and  had  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  the 
county,  when,  in  1859,  he  sold  this  excellent  prop- 
erty and  caino  to  Belleville.  After  his  ndveiil  into 
tlie  cjl^',  Mr.  I'riester  engaged  in  the  bipwiiig  biisc 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


157 


iness,  and  later  took  charge  of  tlie  St.  Clair  House, 
which  he  operated  until  1867,  when  he  entered 
his  present  business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Oscar 
Hemrich  A-  Company,  Mr.  Priea.ler  representing 
the  comp.any. 

The  firm  opened  business  on  South  Illinois 
Street,  where  they  are  still  to  be  found,  conduct- 
ing the  largest  lumber  business  iu  the  city,  carry- 
ing all  kinds  of  lumber,  sash,  blinds,  doors  and 
everything  pertaining  to  the  business.  Their 
premises  occupy  uearl3'  an  entire  block  and  are  the 
scene  of  active  business  life.  In  addition  to  his 
business  cares  in  this  direction,  Mr.  Priester  has 
the  honor  of  being  a  Director  of  the  First  National 
l?auk  of  Helleville.  Our  subject  is  a  man  of  un- 
usual business  abilit_v,  and  his  entire  property  lias 
been  accumulated  by  his  own  efforts. 

Mr.  Priester  was  married  on  the  1st  of  Febru- 
ary, 1850,  before  he  crossed  to  America,  and  the 
name  of  the  lady  was  Mrs.  .\nna  Och.  Mr. 
Priester  and  his  bride  set  sail  for  -Vmerica,  April  1, 
1850,  and  reached  Belleville  July  4,  following. 
Mr.  Priester  and  wife  arc  esteemed  members  of  St. 
Paul's  Free  Protestant  German  Church,  in  which 
body  they  are  influential  peo|)le.  Our  subject  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  is  connected 
with  .St.  Clair  Lodge  No.  24,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  Few 
men  are  more  popular  in  a  community  than  is  Mr. 
Priester  in  the  town  of  Belleville,  where  he  has  re- 
sided for  so  many  years. 


¥ESLKV  SKAKR.  .Vltlidugh  quite  a  young 
man,  this  gentleman  already  has  cimsid- 
erable  weight  in  the  community  where  he 
resides,  a  fact  which  is  easily  accounted  for  by  his 
strong  principles,  his  active  interest  in  the  wel- 
fare of  all  around  him,  and  the  pleasant  manners 
which  are  the  crowning  charm  of  a  fine  nature. 
His  parents  are  numbered  among  the  pioneers  of 
the  count}-,  to  whom  great  honor  is  due  for  the 
manner  in  which  they  bore  hardship  and  priva- 
tion, and  the  toils  which  they  underwent  in  giving 
the     trencration     which    followed    them    a    hiiihlv 


developed  and  beautiful  country,  with  ail  the 
blessings  of  civilization.  It  would  be  strange 
indeed  if  the  son  of  such  parents  should  not  pos- 
sess the  qualities  which  would  lead  to  his  own 
financial  success,  and  to  a  highly  respected  place 
among  his  fellow-men. 

A  brief  outline  of  the  life  of  Mr.  Skaer's  parents 
will  aid  us  in  our  subject's  biography.  I'hilip 
Skaer  was  one  of  the  first  white  men  to  settle  in 
this  township,  and  is  known  to-day  as  one  of  its 
most  substantial  and  wealthy  citizens.  He  has 
always  been  a  man  of  wonderful  energy  and  en- 
terprise, and  the  result  of  his  good  management 
and  more  than  ordinary  ability  is  apparent  in  his 
present  surroundings.  His  life  partner,  the  mother 
of  our  subject,  was  one  of  the  women  who  ably 
a.ssisted  her  hu.sband  in  all  that  pertained  to  the 
welfare  of  his  family,  and  maintained  for  herself  a 
high  standard  of  womanhood. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  in  Smithtoii 
Township,  High  Prairie,  on  the  14th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1853,  and  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  the  same 
location.  He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  St. 
Ciair  County,  and  after  reaching  the  years  which 
qualified  him  to  choose  what  vocation  in  life  he 
should  adopt,  he  followed  in  the  footsteps  of  his 
father  and  became  a  farmer.  On  November  1(1. 
1876,  our  subject  married  Mi.ss  Mary  Eva  Kunkel- 
mann,  the  daughter  of  Leonard  Kunkelmann,  a 
prominent  farmer  of  Monroe  County,  who  is  still 
living  in  the  village  of  Smithton.  Soon  after  his 
marriage,  our  subject  settled  near  his  father,  but  a 
short  time  afterward  removed  to  the  place  on 
which  he  now  resides.  Six  children  have  blessed 
him  and  his  wife,  one  of  whom,  Catlierjne,  died  at 
the  age  of  one  year  and  ten  months.  Those  living 
are  Amanda,  born  November  16,  1878;  Amelia, 
July  20,  1880;  Henrietta,  born  in  A|)ril.  1882; 
Elizabeth.  -March  2.  1884;  and  Artlnir.  .lime  27, 
1886. 

Wesley  Skaer  is  rich  in  the  |)ossessi(in  of  an  in- 
teresting, bright  and  healthy  family,  and  hi.<  chil- 
dren bid  fair  to  l)ecomc  a  credit  and  blessing  to 
his  declining  years.  He  is  a  man  of  advanced 
ideas,  and  l)elieves  iu  thorough  education  as  the 
most  useful  factor  in  laying  a  foundation  for  the 
future  American  citizen.      His  cliildren  are  all   in- 


Iu8 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORB, 


telligeiit,  and  with  the  means  at  his  command  he 
proposes  to  fit  tlieni  for  the  responsibilities  of  life 
to  the  best  of  his  ability. 

The  farm  owned  by  our  subject  comprises  one 
liundred  and  twenty  acres  of  improved  land,  all 
in  a  state  of  thorough  cultivation.  His  principal 
crop  is  wheat,  and  he  has  the  proud  satisfaction  of 
seeing  fifty-five  acres  of  this  grain  on  his  own 
soil  this  year,  which  promises  an  unusual  yield. 
Socially,  Mr.  Skaer  is  a  member  of  the  Farmers' 
Mutual  Benefit  Association.  He  is  a  strong  ad- 
herent of  tiie  Republican  part^',  and  his  support 
can  always  be  relied  on  for  the  welfare  of  his  party. 
He  is  School  Director  of  his  district,  and  fills  that 
office  with  the  same  zeal  and  energ}'  that  charac- 
terize his  business  transactions.  Mr.  Skaer  is  a 
keen  reader  and  intelligent  thinker,  a  man  whose 
faculty  of  observation  has  been  well  cultivated, 
and  is  the  possessor  of  a  knowledge  of  affairs  which 
makes  his  statements  authentic. 

In  all  his  dealings,  our  subject  has  preserved  the 
inherent  honesty  and  integrity  of  his  character, 
and  as  one  of  the  best  citizens  of  this  community 
holds  the  unlimited  confidence  of  all  who  know 
him. 


\T/OIIN  TATE.  The  grain  and  stock-raiser 
who  resides  on  section  20,  Sraithton  Town- 
ship, was  the  son  of  Edward  Tate,  who  was 
_  born  in  Faj-ette  County,  Pa.,  was  reared 
and  remained  there  until  eighteen  years  of  age, 
when  he  came  to  Illinois  and  started  to  work  in 
Ridge  Prairie  and  other  parts  of  the  county. 
Wishing  to  make  a  home  for  himself,  lie  married 
Miss  Lovina  Stuntz,  who  had  also  come  from  Penn- 
sylvania. The  newly-married  couple  then  removed 
to  Turkey  Hill,  bought  a  farm  and  remained  tiiere 
some  four  or  five  years,  going  then  to  the  place 
where  our  subject  now  resides,  and  there  lived  uji 
to  the  time  of  the  husband's  death. 

Mr.  Edward  Tate  was  the  father  of  the  following 
children,  who  all  grew  up  except  the  youngest,  who 
died  in  infancy.     There  are    now    living:     Char- 


lotte, widow  of  D.  L.  Phillips;  Rachel,  wife  of 
Alfred  Wilderman;  Sarah,  widow  of  Edwin 
Phillips;  Lovina,  wife  of  M.  S.  Carr,  of  East  St. 
Loui«;  George  and  our  subject.  Those  who  have 
been  taken  away  are  Priscilla  F.  Terrell,  Mary 
Ann  Walker,  Matilda  Woods  and  ISIargaret  Robach. 
The  father  was  one  of  the  soldiers  who  made 
things  uncomfortable  for  the  Indians  in  the  Black 
Hawk  War,  and  was  not  onlj-  a  brave  soldier,  but 
was  also  a  fine  farmer,  and  owned  about  four  hun- 
dred acres  of  land. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  took  place  ,lune  (!,  1827, 
on  Hazel  Creek  Farm  on  Turkey  Hill,  he  being 
six  months  old  when  his  father  removed  to  this 
place,  where  he  grew  to  manhood,  and  has  been 
ever  since,  except  during  a  trip,  begun  in  the  spring 
of  1864,  across  the  plains  to  Oregon  with  a  mule- 
team  and  horses,  and  from  which  he  returned 
in  the  year  1865.  Our  subject,  about  this  time, 
married  Martha  Jane  Reynolds,  the  daughter  of 
Thomas  Reynolds.  The  latter  was  born  in  Tennes- 
see and  had  had  a  life  of  more  than  common  inter- 
est, reaching  Illinois  before  it  became  a  State  and 
locating  near  St.  Louis.  He  married  there  and  la- 
ter removed  to  Twelve  Mile  Prairie,  and  lived 
upon  a  farm,  but  later  became  a  great  trader,  and 
one  of  the  leading  merchants  of  (ialena.  Mr. 
Reynolds  was  one  of  the  first  parties  that  started 
the  Pittsburg  Horse  Road  that  ran  from  Illinois- 
town  to  the  Bluff,  and  was  a  soldier  in  the  Black 
Hawk  War,  in  which  he  was  wounded.  This 
couple  had  a  family  of  ten  children,  nine  of  wjioiii 
o-rew  up,  and  of  these  Mrs.  Tate  was  the  third 
and  youngest  daughter. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tate  have  had  nine  children,  and 
of  these  five  still  remain.  They  are:  Thomas  E.,  who 
is  twenty-two  years  old,  and  resides  in  Colorado; 
George  R.,  who  is  one  year  too  young  to  cast  a 
vote,  is  at  home;  Alfred,  ten  years  old;  Martha  C., 
seven;  and  Margaret  Pearl,  four.  Those  who  have 
passed  to  the  other  land  are:  Mary  Ann,  at  llie 
ao-e  of  eleven;  Charlotte,  between  two  and  three 
years;  .lohii.  who  was  not  ciuite  two;  and  an  in- 
fant. 

ISIr.  Tate  is  a  member  of  the  Grange  of  High 
Prairie  Lodge,  and  has  been  honored  with  almost 
all  of  its  offices;  he  is  a  Democrat  in  faith,  and  lias 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


139 


been  prominent  in  local  politic-til  aflfaiis.  Our  sub- 
ject is  a  large  lanrl-owner,  having  two  hundred  and 
twenty-six  acres  of  fine  land  on  sections  19,  20 
and  29,  all  well  improved.  lie  has  been  success- 
ful in  both  grain  and  stock-raising,  and  is  known 
throughout  this  region  as  a  man  who  understands 
the  Inisiness  of  agriculture  very  thoroughly,  hav- 
ing made  almost  all  of  the  superior  improvements 
on  his  land  and  built  a  very  desirable  home  for 
himself  and  family. 


^>^^<m 


<^r^m-:m'AUCK  T.  UOSK,  AI.  D.  Few  young 
||^(K)-i  men  appear  to  have  a  brighter  career  of 
ik^  ^  usefulness  before  them  and  one  *hich  prom- 
ises a  more  successful  termination  than  does  the 
young  physician  whose  name  opens  this  sketch. 
His  tastes  he  has  probably  inherited  from  his  well- 
known  father,  and  with  nature  and  education 
both  on  his  side  he  cannot  fail. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  March  11, 
1870,  at  Columbia,  III.  He  is  the  son  of  Dr.  Will- 
iam Rose,  a  native  of  (Jermany  who  came  to  this 
country  when  but  fourteen  years  of  age,  making 
his  home  with  his  uncle.  He  l)egan  a  medical  ed- 
ucation and  was  graduated  at  the  College  of  Phy- 
sicians and  Surgeons  at  Keokuk,  Iowa,  beginning 
the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Columbi.-i,  111., 
where  he  has  remained  ever  since,  one  of  the  old 
and  reliable  pr.actitioncrs  of  the  State.  lie  has 
been  the  President  of  the  Medical  Society  of  Mon- 
roe County  for  a  number  of  years,  and  is  a  man  of 
high  standing  who  takes  both  a  fatherly  and  pro- 
fessional |)ridc  in  his  son's  success. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  this  notice  is  written 
resides  in  the  town  of  Millstadt,  and  has  his  ollice 
on  ]Main  Street.  Me  grew  up  in  the  place  of  his 
birth  and  there  went  to  school,  his  father  after- 
ward sending  him  to  AVarrenton,  Mo.,  where  he  so 
improved  his  opportunities  that  his  father  decided 
to  encourage  his  natural  leaning  toward  the  life  of 
a  physician,  although  none  knew  lietter  than  him- 
self what  a  self-sacrificing  life  it  often  has  to  be, 
espcciallv  in  (•(nuilrv  neighlKuliodds.      At  any  rate. 


Dr.  Rose  took  the  boy  into  his  otlice,  opened  his 
medical  libraries,  taught  him  the  necessary  rudi- 
ments of  the  healing  art,  and  so  directed  his  young 
mind  that  in  1889  he  was  prepared  for  college. 
He  went  into  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Sur- 
geons at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  took  three  courses  of 
lectures  there  and  graduated  from  that  well-known 
institution  March  14.1892.  After  passing  through 
college  he  came  to  Illinois  and  took  the  necessary 
examination  before  the  State  Board  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  prsictice. 

After  this  hapiiy  termination,  our  subject  came 
to  the  growing  town  of  Millstadt  and  has  made 
this  his  home  and  has  done  well  here.  He  h.as  the 
proper  manner  for  a  successful  doctor,  and  does 
not  need  age  to  give  him  dignity.  He  inspires 
confidence,  and,  no  doubt,  will  one  day  become 
one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  the  State.  So- 
cially, Dr.  Rose  is  an  acquisition  to  Millstadt,  and 
his  presence  is  appreciated  by  his  many  friends 
and  act]Uaintances. 


(f^*RED  SATTLER.  This  gentleman  is  the 
jl=^  Superintendent  and  Manager  of  the  Belle- 
l^  ville  Pump  .and  Stove  Works,  located  at 
the  corner  of  Race  and  Seventh  Streets.  As  his 
name  would  indicate,  he  is  of  Oerinan  descent, 
having  been  bom  in  Baden,  March  31,  1852.  His 
parents  were  Peter  and  Elizabeth  Sattler,  who  came 
to  this  city  in  1855,  where  j\Ir.  .Sattler  was  en- 
gaged as  a  wagon-maker,  conducting  a  shop  until 
his  de.ath  in  A|)ril,  1872.  Our  subject  was  edu- 
cated partially  in  the  city  schools,  and  afterward 
learned  the  trade  of  a  wagon-maker  with  his 
father.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  he  took  em- 
ployment with  the  Esler  &  Ropierpiet  Manufac- 
turing Company  sis  painter,  and  was  put  in  charge 
of  the  paint  department  from  that  time.  He  also 
traveled  for  the  company  until  1881,  when  he 
came  here,  and,  with  ISIr.  Becker,  organized  the 
I5elleville  Pump  Works.  From  the  time  of  its  oi- 
iianization.  Mr.  Sattler  has  had  the  full  manage- 
ment <if  the  plant  and  has  made  it  a  great  success. 


160 


PORTRAIT  AKt)  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


In  1883,  be  was  elected  President  of  the  Sucker 
Drill  Company,  at  that  time  the  PMer  and  Ropie- 
quet  ManufactiiriTiCT  Company,  and  still  occupies 
that  position.  Business  has  so  engrossed  him  that 
lie  has  never  engaged  in  politics  of  any  kind. 

Like  so  many  natives  of  the  Fatherland,  our 
subject  has  musical  talent,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Liederkranz  and  the  Kranthaler  Musical  Socie- 
ties. He  was  married  November  6,  188;"),  to  Au- 
gusta Tieman,  daughter  of  August  Tieman  (see 
sketch),  and  they  have  three  children:  Cordelia, 
Elmer  and  Blanche.  The  business  which  Mr.  Sat- 
tier  has  so  successfullj-  carried  on  was  incorpor- 
ated in  September,  1881,  with  a  capital  .stock  of 
1525,000  which  has  since  been  increased  to  175,000. 
The  present  officers  are  Charles  Becker,  President; 
C.  T.  Mullen,  Secretary  and  Treasurer;  and  our 
subject.  Superintendent  and  Manager.  Tiiey  en- 
gage in  the  manufacture  of  iron  goods,  have  a 
foundry  and  general  machine  shop,  and  give  em- 
ployment to  a  number  of  men,  a  large  proportion 
of  them  being  skilled  workmen.  The  stove  works 
were  added  in  1885  and  are  operated  by  this  com- 
pany and  give  employment  to  one  hundred  and 
seventy-five  men  for  the  manufacture  of  stoves, 
ranges  and  heaters,  the  business  houses  occupying 
two  whole  blocks. 


(||^ IRAIM  A.  PIERCE,  for  seventy  years  a  resi- 

jif)Jj  dent  of  this  count}',  owns  a  farm  on  section 
's:^  3,  Shiloh  Township,  where  he  now  resides. 
I^M*  His  birth  occurred  in  1822,  within  a  mile 
and  a-lialf  of  where  he  now  makes  his  home.  His 
father  was  Daniel  Pierce,  who  was  a  native  of 
Bradford  County,  Pa.  His  mother,  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Elsie  Tozer,  was  born  in  Connect- 
icut. Daniel  Pierce  in  early  life  learned  the 
lilacksmith's  trade,  wliich  calling  he  followed  until 
coming  to  Illinois.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest  pio- 
neers of  this  portion  of  the  State,  emigrating  here 
in  1812,  and  settling  on  a  tract  of  land  in  this 
township.     Ashe  was  possessed  of  but  little  means. 


he  purchased  a  small  propertj-,  to  which  he 
brought  his  wife,  whom  he  had  married  the  year 
previous.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Julius  and 
Hannah  Tozer.  Mr.  Pierce  added  to  his  small 
farm  until  he  had  property  amounting  to  about 
three  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  which  he  brought 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  on  which  he 
erected  substantial  farm  buildings.  Seven  chil- 
dren blessed  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pierce: 
Juliet  C;  Emily  .1.,  wife  of  Daniel  S.  Osborn; 
Hannah,  wife  of  Sciota  Evans;  John  O.,  Daniel  E., 
James  A.  and  Hiram  A.,  none  of  whom  are  living 
with  the  exception  of  our  subject. 

Hiram  A.  Pierce  passed  his  boyhood  days  upon 
his  father's  farm  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer 
lads  and  received  such  a  limited  education  as 
could  be  gleaned  in  the  district  schools  at  that 
early  period.  He  also  attended  school  at  Lebanon. 
He  lived  under  the  parental  roof  until  twenty- 
four  years  of  age.  When  twenty-three  years  old, 
his  father  died,  and  for  four  years  he  and  his 
brother  James  carried  on  the  farm  for  their  mother, 
relieving  her  of  all  care  and  anxietv. 

In  1847,  Mr.  Pierce  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Mary  A.  Middlecoff,  who  is  a  daughter  of  George 
and  Sarah  (Scott)  Middlecoff.  Mrs.  Pierce  was 
born  in  St.  Clair  County,  but  her  parents  were  na- 
tives of  Virginia,  and  were  among  the  very 
early  pioneers  of  this  county.  To  our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife  have  been  born  eight  children: 
Johanna,  wife  of  Adolph  Schott;  Ralph  G.;  Kate, 
wife  of  Albert  Reuss;  Lonella,  wife  of  John  E. 
Lemen;  John  11.,  Don  Albert,  Edgar  F..  and  Clar- 
ence E.  John  11.  assists  his  father  on  the  home 
farm. 

In  1851,  Mr.  Pierce  went  to  Ilelleville  and  there 
ran  a  livery  stable  for  some  time.  With  that  ex- 
ception, his  life  has  been  entirely  devoted  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  He  has  accumulated  almost 
six  hundred  .acres  of  as  tine  land  as  can  be  found 
in  the  county.  For  several  years,  he  has  engaged 
in  stock-raising.  He  went  to  Vermont  and  there 
purchased  for  |!5,000  a  horse  of  Hambletonian 
breed.  He  has  dealt  quite  extensively  in  Durham 
cattle.  Mr.  Pierce  is  the  owner  of  one  of  the  finest 
residences  in  the  eastern  part  of  St.  Clair  County, 
and  in  addition  to  this  h.as  commodious  barns  and 


""0,^ 


si 


i^&i&i^^^tz^^^^^ic    yrt^s-c^. 


f-ORTRAIT  AND  BlOGliAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ir,3 


other  well-built  farm  buikliiijrs.  His  fann  is  :i 
model  of  neatness  and  shows  the  care  and  time 
which  are  devoted  to  it  l>y  the  owner. 

Politically,  Mr.  Pierce  casts  his  ballot  for  the 
nominees  of  the  Democratic  party,  which  finds  in 
him  a  strong  supporter.  He  is  numbered  among 
the  earliest  settlers  of  the  county,  and  has  added 
very  materially  in  the  development  and  advance- 
ment of  the  same,  lie  is  a  public-spirited  man. 
taking  an  .active  pait  in  .-ill  measures,  political, 
educational  and  moral,  which  tend  to  the  welfare 
of  the  community.  He  is  an  honored  .and  respected 
citizen,  and  by  his  upright  and  honorable  course 
throughout  life  has  won  the  respect  of  all  with 
whom  he  has  come  in  contact. 


b'^T^^'G 


aKX.TA:MIN  HYPE.S.  One  of  the  most  ele- 
gant residences  of  Lebanon  Township  is 
that  owned  and  occupied  by  the  subject  of 
our  sketch.  Retired  from  active  business 
affairs,  he  pa.s8es  the  twilight  of  his  honorable  life 
quietly  at  his  home,  surrounded  by  the  comforts 
which  he  accumulated  in  his  years  of  toil.  Through 
his  long  career  he  has  thrown  into  his  daily  labors 
individual  honesty  and  integrity,  qualities  which 
ennoble  every  man,  whether  rich  or  poor.  F"rom 
poverty  to  prosperity,  every  step  was  won  by  hon- 
est work  and  brave  efforts,  and  his  biography 
therefore  is  most  u.seful  as  an  incentive  to  others. 
Horn  February  10,  1805,  in  Botetourt  County, 
\'a.,  our  subject  is  the  son  of  Henrj-  and  Patience 
(Reynolds)  Hypes,  also  natives  of  the  old  Domin- 
ion. The  jjaternal  grandparents  were  from  Ger- 
many and  the  maternal  grandfather  came  from 
England.  Our  subject's  parents  were  married  in 
Virginia,  where  his  father  followed  farming.  In 
1811  they  moved  to  Ohio,  and  settled  near  Xenia, 
where  they  made  their  home  as  long  as  they  lived. 
The  father  died  in  his  eightieth  year,  .and  the 
mother  was  taken  away  when  fifty-six.  Our  sub- 
ject was  one  of  eight  children,  as  follows:  Nancy, 
who  married  Nathan  Horner;  .Iose|)h,  who  died  in 
Lebanon  and  left    two  children;   Washington,  who 


left  St.  Louis  and  joined  the  United  .States  Navy 
in  18.3;'),  and  has  never  been  heard  from  since; 
Sarah,  who  died  young;  Davison,  who  departed 
this  life  in  1822;  -L  W.  Wesley,  who  is  still  living 
in  Lebanon,  and  Asbury,  deceased. 

In  1828.  Mr.  Hypes  started  Westward,  coming 
down  the  Ohio  in  a  steamboat,  and,  landing  in  St. 
Louis,  for  a  time  he  prospected  anrl  afterward  set- 
tled in  Lebanon.  In  his  boyhood,  he  had  no  edu- 
cational advantages, as  there  were  then  no  common 
schools  in  N'irginia  or  Ohio.  After  reaching  Leb- 
anon, he  attended  the  seminary  there  during  the 
winter  of  1828.  and  by  careful  reading  and  close 
observation  was  enabled  to  overcome  the  Lack  of 
early  advantages.  At  Lebanon,  he  went  into  the 
milling  business  with  Nathan  Horner,  with  whom 
he  continued  in  that  connection  for  about  two 
years.  At  that  time,  Mr.  Horner  was  projtrietor  of. a 
store  in  which  Mr.  Hypes  bought  a  half  interest 
and  assisted  in  carrying  it  on  until  1810,  when  he 
sold  out  to  his  partner.  In  1812  he  went  into 
business  for  himself  and  continued  until  181)3, 
when  he  sold  his  stock.  Having  bought  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty -one  acres,  one  and  a-half  miles  north 
of  Lebanon,  he  gave  his  attention  to  its  cultivation 
for  several  years  and  then  retired  from  active 
business. 

At  Lebanon  in  18.'3l.  Mr.  Hypes  married  Miss 
Caroline,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Rachel  Murry. 
natives  of  Baltimore,  Md.  Mr.  Murry  was  a  salt 
merchant  in  that  city,  where  he  was  residing  at 
the  time  of  the  War  of  1812.  With  his  wife  he 
came  to  Illinois  in  1817  and  settled  in  Belleville. 
Seven  children  came  to  bless  the  home  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hypes,  a  record  of  whom  we  give:  Cornelia 
died  in  November,  1891;  Adeline  married  Thomas 
Essex,  a  resident  of  St.  Louis,  and  a  Land  Com- 
missioner for  the  St.  Louis,  Iron  Mountain  A- 
Southern  Railroad.  They  have  one  daughter. 
Carrie.  William  died  in  November,  1889.  at  the 
age  of  thirty-four,  leaving  a  widow  and  one 
daughter.  He  had  served  fus  Postmaster  of  Leb- 
anon, also  .as  I'nited  States  Internal  Revenue  Col- 
lector. James  died  in  boyhood.  .lulia  married 
A.  S.  McCuire,  and  lives  in  Chicago.  Benjamin, 
a  physician,  resides  in  St.  Louis  and  is  Professor 
in  a  college  and   one  of  the  physicians  m  the  City 


164 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Hospital.  Caroline  Virginia  married  W.  F.  Swallow 
and  resides  in  fireencastle,  Ind.  Mr.  Swallow  was 
for  three  yems  President  of  MeKendree  College, 
at  Lehanon,  111.,  and  is  now  Professor  of  Greek  in 
DePaiiw  (Ind.)  College.  Our  subject  and  his  wife 
celebrated  their  golden  wedding  in  November, 
1884,  and  both  still  survive,  in  fair  health  notwith- 
standing tlieir  advanced  j^ears. 

Mr.  Hypes  is  the  only  living  member  of  the 
Charter  Trustees  of  MeKendree  College.  Politi- 
cally, he  was  first  an  old-Une  AVhig  and  later  be- 
came a  Republican.  He  is  a  faithful  member  of 
tlie  Methodist  Church.  A  well-preserved  man,  his 
courteous  manner  and  tall,  well-built  frame  give 
one  the  idea  of  an  old-school  i'entleman. 


(^)ALENTINE  RETS,  one  of  the  popular  and 

A  /  prosperous  citizens  of  the  county  of  .St. 
Clair,  is  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  of 
Valentine  Reis  &  Sons,  contractors,  builders,  and 
dealers  in  all  kinds  of  wood  work.  Mr.  Reis  is 
one  of  the  old  settlers  of  the  count}',  having  come 
here  in  1846.  He  is  a  native  of  Germany,  having 
been    born  in  Hesse-Darmstadt,  December  3,  1825. 

The  parents  of  our  subject,  Valentine  and  Cath- 
erine (Freihaut)  Reis,  were  also  natives  of  Ger- 
man^'.  The  family  came  to  America  in  1846  and 
settled  in  St.  Louis,  whore  the  father  engaged  in 
the  lumber  business,  and  his  son,  our  subject, 
learned  the  business  under  him,  remaining  until 
1855,  when  his  young  spirit  of  adventure  led  him 
to  emigrate  to  Scott  County,  Minn.,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  milling  and  in  the  lumber  business  until 
1874.  At  this  latter  date,  Mr.  Iteis  came  back  to  St. 
Clair  County  and  started  a  building  and  contract- 
ing business,  in  which  he  has  been  exceedingl}' 
successful. 

Among  the  prominent  buildings  that  bear  tes- 
timony to  his  skill  are  the  following:  the  Orphan 
Asylum,  the  Sisters'  Hosintal,  County  Jail,  Con- 
vent for  Sisters  and  Priest's  house,  and  the  Cen- 
tral Schoolhouse,  all  of  which  are  large  brick 
structures,  costing  from  $18,000  to   -1530,000  each. 


Many  of  the  finest  residences  are  also  his  work.  Mr. 
Reis  employs  about  forty  men,  and  carries  on 
about  the  largest  contracting  business  in  the  place. 
In  March,  1889,  he  admitted  his  sons  into  the 
business  with  him. and  the  firm  name  is  now^■alen- 
tiue  Reis  tt  Sons. 

Mr.  Reis  was  married  at  St.  Louis  in  1853  to  Jos- 
ephine Apselt,  of  German  ancestry,  and  the  follow- 
ing children  have  been  born  to  them:  Anna,  wife  of 
Carl  Knetzyer;  Barbara;  Henry, living  in  St.  Louis; 
Jose[)h,  of  the  tirm  of  Reis  &  Sons;  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Henry  Kapi);  C^liailes,  who  has  a  planing- 
mill  in  Carondelet;  and  Josephine.  The  family 
resides  in  a  fine  brick  residence  on  Second  Street, 
which  Mr.  Reis  erected  in  1879.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  St.  Peter's  Roman  Catholic  Cathedral, 
in  which  he  is  very  influential.  Mr.  Reis  is 
a  gentleman  who  has  an  enviable  reputation 
among  his  fellow-townsmen  for  his  honesty,  in- 
dustr}',  and  thrift.  He  has  reared  a  fine  family 
that  adds  honor  to  the  family  name,  and  gives 
promise  of  much  in  the  future. 


^ji^sHILIP  RHEIN,  the  efficient  and  pleasant 
JJj  County  Clerk  of  St.  Clair  County,  has  been 

^  in  office  continuously'  since  1882,  having 
l\  been  elected  in  November,  1882,  1886  and 
1890,  on  the  Democratic  ticket.  So  popular  is  he, 
that  the  second  time  no  opposing  ticket  w.as  set 
up,  and  he  is  now  declared  by  his  friends  to  be 
one  of  the  best  officials  the  county  has  ever  had. 

Mr.  Rhein  is  a  native  of  Rhenish  Bavaria,  hav- 
ing been  born  June  17,  1842,  and  is  the  son  of 
Philip  and  Elizabeth  (Rothley)  Rhein,  natives  of 
Bavaria.  The  parents  came  to  America  in  1857, 
settling  in  Madison  County,  111.,  on  a  farm,  where 
they  remained  worthy  and  respected  citizens  un- 
til death. 

Mr.  Klieiu  received  the  greater  part  of  liis  educa- 
tion in  the  excellent  schools  of  his  native  land,  but 
.also  attended  the  public  schools  of  Madison  County 
a  shoi't  lime  and   then   ensiayod   in    farniinsj-.     Our 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


subject  c-ontinued  a  tiller  of  the  soil  until  l^fiG. 
workinsr  witli  his  father.  Like  many  other  young 
men,  he  tired  of  the  uneventful  farm  life,  so  came 
to  the  pretty  little  city  of  Belleville  and  engaged 
in  the  whol«sale  liquor  business  for  some  time, but 
in  1873  was  appointed  to  fill  the  position  of  Deputy 
County  Clerk,  holding  that  ollice  until  he  was  elected 
County  Clerk  in  1882.  having  been  in  office  nine- 
teen years,  and  during  all  that  time  has  discharged 
his  duties  with  satisfaction  to  all  parties. 

Our  subject  was  married  to  Miss  AVilhelminaOstor, 
who  was  a  native  of  the  Grand  Duchy  of  Nassau, 
the  ceremony  occurring  December  10,  1871.  Ten 
children  have  been  added  to  their  family,  namely: 
Charles,  Frieda.  Tillie,  Lula,  Walter.  Louis,  Ferdi- 
nand, Herman,  Hannah  and  Otto,  all  bright,  inter- 
esting children,  who  reHect  credit  ujion  their 
jjarenls. 

Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Liederkranz, 
Liedertafel  Philharmonic  Society  and  the  Turner 
Association,  in  all  of  which  he  is  highly  esteemed 
and  respected.  lie  has  been  reared  in  the  Lutheran 
faith  and  is  a  liberal  supporter  of  the  church  of 
this  denomination.  Mr.  Rhein  is  a  good  repre- 
sentative of  the  German  citizens  who  have  made 
this  their  country  by  adoption,  and  who,  bj'  in- 
dustry and  thrift,  have  taken  their  places  among 
the  well-to-do  and  most  prominent  of  the  Ameri- 
can people. 


•^^! 


C.  WILDKHMAN.  Among  the  prominent 
.agriculturists  of  Lebanon  Township,  St. 
Clair  County,  wlio  have  helped  to  give  this 
county  its  proud  position  in  the  Stale,  is 
the  gentleman  whose  name  appears  at  the  opening 
of  this  paragraph.  Turkey  Hill,  St.  Clair  County, 
Til.,  is  the  native  place  of  .Mr.  Wilderman,  he  being 
Ixnn  there  June  22. 1827.  His  father,  George  Wild- 
erman, was  born  August  17, 178(),  and  died  .lune  28, 
1866.  and  his  mother,  Nancy  (Hill)  Wilderman, 
was  born  November  7,  1788,  and  died  August  1.5, 
1866.  They  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  came 
to  Illinois  in  1806. 


m 


Mr.  Wilderman,  Sr.,  held  no  otlices,  although 
he  took  a  very  great  interest  in  politics,  hav- 
ing been  a  AVhig  in  the  early  days  and  a  He- 
puliliean  later.  The  business  of  his  life  was  farm- 
ing, and  he  died  a  Deacon  in  the  Baptist  Church, 
which  position  he  had  held  for  more  than  fifty 
years.  Nine  children  were  theirs,  as  follows: 
Francis,  Patience  E.,  Celon,  George  W.,  A.  J., 
Margaret  A.,  Alfred  C,  J.  C.  and  Albert  K.  The 
eldest  son  was  killed  by  being  thrown  from  a  horse. 
He  had  married  Miss  Nancy  Howell,  and  at  his 
decease  left  three  daughters  and  five  sons,  namely: 
Elizabeth,  who  is  the  wife  of  George  Stookcy,  and 
lives  near  Freeburg;  Mary,  who  was  married  to 
Joseph  Scott,  and  resides  in  Shiloh  Valley;  Nancy; 
George  married  Miss  Nancy  .Short,  and  lives  in 
Texas;  David,  who  is  married  and  resides  in  Barton 
County,  Mo.;James,a  graduate  of  Shurtleff  College, 
at  Alton,  111.,  is  unmarried,  and  makes  his  home 
in  this  county;  .lohn  and  Francis.  Patience  E., 
the  eldest  sister  of  our  subject,  married  John  T. 
Lemen,  and  both  are  deceased,  her  death  occurring 
:Marcli  28.  1866.  They  left  one  child,  Robert  W., 
who  is  engaged  in  fanning  pursuits  south  of  the 
village  of  P^reeburg.  Celon,  who  was  unmarried, 
died  April  12,  1840.  George  W.  died  June  27,  1866, 
and  is  survived  by  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Isalwlla  Hill,  and  who  still  resides  in  Freeburg. 
Their  four  sons  are:  Hamilton,  who  resides  on 
the  old  homestead;  Francis  and  Thaddeus,  living 
near  Marysville,  Mo.;  and  George,  who  makes  his 
home  in  Chicago.  Andrew  J.  married  Eliza  Weis 
and  died  !May  17,  1850,  the  year  following  his 
marriage.  Margaret  A.  became  the  wife  of  Williatn 
.Seabut,  a  music  te.acher,  November  22,  1849,  and 
their  four  children  .ire:  Karl,  who  is  a  lawyer 
by  profession;  George,  who  is  a  steamboat  clerk; 
Annie,  the  wife  of  Dr.  McGuire;  and  Willie,  a 
practicing  [)liysician.  Alfred  C,  who  is  follow- 
ing the  occupation  c>f  a  farmer  on  his  pl.ace  south 
of  Freeburg,  was  married  March  12,  18;'i0,  to  ^liss 
R.achel  Tate,  and  they  have  five  surviving  children: 
Albert  E.  married  Sophronia  Hill  February  lit. 
18r)7.  and  they  reside  on  the  old  homestead. 

On  the  homestead  where  he  w.is  born,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  reared  to  manhood,  and 
early  gained  a  practical  knowledge  of  agriculture. 


166 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


As  there  were  no  common  schools  at  that  early 
day,  he  attended  the  subscription  schools  held 
three  months  in  the  year.  During  18.52  he  w.as  a 
student  at  Shurtleff  College,  in  Alton,  111.,  for 
three  months,  and  in  that  brief  time  made  rapid 
advancement  in  his  literary  studies.  Until  he  was 
of  age  he  remained  under  the  parental  roof,  hut 
in  1851  purchased  a  farm  consisting  of  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres,  which  was  located  one  and 
one-half  miles  south  of  Freeburg.  Removing  to 
the  new  place,  he  engaged  in  its  improvement  and 
made  it  his  home  until  1858.  Mr.  Wilderman  was 
married  April  22,1856,10  Miss  M.  McBride,  daugh- 
ter of  William  J.  and  Dovey  (Harrison)  McBride. 
She  was  born  in  Belleville  June  10,  1835.  Mrs. 
McBride  was  the  daughter  of  Rev.  Thomas  Harri- 
son,a  Methodist  minister,  who  was  born  December 
■M,  1779,and  died  August  27,  1867,  and  of  Margaret 
(Gilbreth)  Harrison,  who  was  born  July  10,  1782, 
and  died  in  February,  1850.  Mr.  McBride  was  born 
in  Virgin ica  March  15,  1808,  and  died  March  16,1873. 
His  wife  was  born  in  Illinois  April  30,  1814,  and  is 
still  living  on  a  farm  south  of  the  old  home  place. 
The}'  had  the  following  childien,  brothers  and 
sisters  of  Mrs.  Wilderman:  John  H.,  a  commercial 
traveler,  residing  in  Des  Moines,  Iowa;  Dr.  T.  H., 
deceased;  and  W.  E.,  who  resides  on  the  home 
place,  and  is  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser.  The  grand- 
parents of  Mrs.  Wilderman  were  John  and  Sarah 
(Watkins)  McBride.  The  former  was  born  in 
Loudoun  County,  Va.,  in  1766.  His  wife,  who 
was  born  about  the  same  time,  died  September  20, 
l'840. 

Mr.  and  Mis.  Wilderman  have  the  following 
children:  Hugh  H.,  who  lives  in  Belleville,  mar- 
ried Rosella  Moore;  William  Norris,  who  lives  on 
a  farm  south  of  Freeburg,  married  Mattie  McGuire; 
Adiel  L.  died  March  22,  1872;  Julius,  who  lives 
on  the  home  place,  married  Miss  Ella  Belle  Frazier; 
Dovey  and  Olive  are  at  home.  Mr.  Wilderman 
came  to  Lebanon  for  the  purpose  of  educating  his 
daughters.  They  have  attended  McKendree  Col- 
lege, and  are  very  accomplished  young  ladies,  the 
walls  of  their  beautiful  home  being  decorated  with 
specimens  of  their  skill  as  artists.  Our  subject  has 
held  no  oflices,  .although  he  has  been  a  good  Whig 
and  Kcpublicaii  .all   his   life.     He   iti   :in   inlluential 


member  of  tke  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  A 
ple.asant,  genial  man,  he  enjoys  the  respect  of  his 
host  of  friends,  to  whom  his  nobility  of  character 
has  endeared  him. 


(4\  I^ILLIAM  SIEBERT,  one  of  the  most  pop- 
\/iJ//  "'*'  *'=^'™®''*'  t"''  Smithton  Township,  St. 
W^  Clair  County,  is  the  owner  of  a  valuable 
estate  on  section  7,  survey  8,  this  township.  He  is 
the  son  of  Francis  Siebert,  who  came  from  Ger- 
many, where  he  was  born  and  reared.  Mr.  Siebert, 
Sr.,  married  Miss  Mary  Null  in  his  native  land, 
and  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  six  years  old 
when  the  journey  was  made  across  the  great  ocean. 
The  family  found  land  suitable  for  their  purposes 
one  mile  south  of  the  present  home  of  our  subject, 
in  Smithton  Township,  where  Mrs.  Siebert,  his 
mother,  now  resides.  The  father  only  enjoyed  his 
new  home  one  year  before  he  was  removed  by 
death.  The  five  children  of  this  family  are  .as  fol- 
lows: Conrad,  William.  George,  Dorothea  and 
Henry. 

William  Siebert,  our  subject,  was  born  June  (!, 
1840,  in  Germany,  and  can  remember  very  little 
of  his  native  country,  as  he  left  it  at  such  an  im- 
mature age.  He  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm  and 
attended  the  rough  prairie  schools  of  that  day, 
held  in  the  little  primitive  log  cabins.  January-  12, 
18fi8,  Mr.  Siebert  married  Miss  Magdalena  Runtz, 
the  daughter  of  Adam  Runtz,  a  resident  of  Suiith- 
ton  Township.  A  home  had  been  prepared  for  the 
bride  and  Mr.  Siebert  received  her  on  the  place 
where  they  have  since  resided.  The  famil}-  has 
been  blessed  with  an  interesting  family  of  fifteen 
children,  of  whom  eleven  are  yet  living,  namely: 
Henry,  Willie,  Theodore,  Walter,  Martha,  Adeline, 
Otto,  Leonard,  Daniel,  Katherine  and  Elnice. 

Mr.  Siebert  has  eighty  acres  of  valuable  land  in  a 
high  state  of  cultivation  which  yields  line  crops.  He 
is  a  faithful  and  active  member  of  the  P^vangelical 
Lutheran  Church,  while  his  wife  is  highly'  esteemed 
in  her  connection  with  the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 
Polilicallv,  Mr.   Siebert  is  a   Uopulilicnn  and  does 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


167 


all  in  his  power  to  uphold  the  piincipk',s  of  the 
party  of  Linculn  and  Grant.  This  family  is  highly 
respected  and  no  doubt  some  of  the  stalwart  sons 
and  daughters  will  I)e  heard  from  in  the  future  of 
the  State.  Mr.  Sieberl  is  a  gentleman  of  pleasing 
manners  and  Ins  affable  disposition  has  made  him 
many  friends  in  the  township  which  he  has  called 
home  for  the  greater  portion  of  his  useful  and 
busv  life. 


;»1LI.I.\.M  TOWNSKNI).  Among  the  suc- 
1  'Jl!  ^'^^'^f"'  farmers  of  St.  Clair  County  who 
Y^'  have  become  wealthy  and  influential  and 
are  now  retired  from  active  labor,  we  may  call  at- 
tention to  the  original  of  this  notice.  The  ances- 
tors of  Mr.  Townsend  came  originally  from  Eng- 
land, and  both  grandfathers  joined  in  the  struggle 
for  American  independence.  The  father  of  our 
subject  bore  the  name  of  Whitefield  Townsend,  and 
was  born  August  'li,  1782,  and  died  January  'i, 
18t6.  The  motlier  of  our  sul>ject  was  Sarah  Ann 
Farrar,  born  iu  North  Carolina  April  Id.  IT'.Mi.and 
died  .lune  7,  1826. 

Our  subject's  parents  were  married  in  Tennessee, 
and  came  to  Illinois  in  the  year  1815,  settling 
about  three  miles  north  of  Lebanon.  There 
the  father  engaged  in  farming,  and  there  was 
reared  a  family  of  eight  children,  as  follows:  Al- 
fred, a  farmer  on  the  home  place,  who  died  when 
within  two  days  of  being  sixty -six  years  of  age, 
August  8,  1879;  Adeline,  born  December  13,  1814, 
died  November  2(),  1850,  and  was  the  wife  of 
A.  J.  Dugger,  who  died  in  Madison  County; 
Klizabeth,  born  April  It,  181G,  lives  with  our 
subject;  .lohn  died  in  infancy;  Edmund,  who  mar- 
licd  .lane  lliggins.  lives  in  Madison  County. 
Nancy,  liorii  April  2,  1821.  was  married  to  T. 
Townsend,  who  died  in  18jr);  she  died  April  2, 
1880.  and  had  one  child,  which  died  prior  to  her 
dealh.  Whitefield,  born  October  24,  1823,  who 
ilied  .lanuary  20,  1887,  was  married  to  Jane 
Hradsby,  w))o  died  in  1851,  wiien  he  married 
Mrs,  Anna  Cook,  who,  with  fo||r I'lijldren,  survives 


Our  subject  was  the  eighth  child,  and  w!»s 
reared  on  the  home  place,  remaining  there  until 
seven  years  ago,  when  he  removed  into  Lebanon, 
lie  received  the  advantages  t^if  the  conunou 
schools,  and  jiassed  his  life  as  do  other  fanner 
boys  who  have  grown  to  be  the  strength  of  the 
nation.  Grown  to  manhood,  he  became  possessed 
with  a  desire  for  a  home  of  his  own,  and  May 
IC),  186G,  married  Catherine  Stephenson,  a  native 
of  Greene  County,  Mo.,  born  April  30,  1847.  Iler 
parents  bore  the  names  of  Henry  and  Sarah  Ann, 
respectively.  The  children  of  ilr.  and  Mrs. 
Townsend  are  Ana,  Mary,  Ella,  Lola,  Kate,  Jen- 
nie, and  Willie  W.,  who  died  in  infancy.  Ana 
married  C.  J.  Hanson,  and  resides  with  her  three 
children  in  Madison  County. 

Mr.  Townsend's  original  farm  contained  two 
hundred  and  eighty-seven  acres,  and  to  this  has 
been  added  from  time  to  time  until  he  now  has  four 
hundred  and  sixt\-tliree  acres.  He  in  former  yeai-s 
was  a  Whig,  but  since  the  formation  of  the  Repub- 
lican party  has  adhered  to  its  principles.  No  ottice- 
seeker  iu  any  sense,  he  yet  uses  his  influence 
wherever  he  thinks  he  c^an  do  good.  He  holds 
to  the  faith  of  the  Second  Adventists.  has  a  nice 
home  and  surroundings,  a  family  of  charming  and 
obedient  daughters,  and  commands  the  respect  and 
conHdence  of  a  wide  and  extended  circle  of  friends 
and  aoijuain lances. 


if;  ACOH  VALERIUS,  a  grain  farmer  residing 
on  section  7,  Smithton  Township,  St.  Clair 
County,  was  the  son  of  Peter  Valerius,  who 
pas.«ed  the  whole  of  his  life  in  Germany. 
Our  subject  is  one  of  the  men,  foreign  l)orn,  who 
have  come  to  this  country  ami  by  honesty  and 
industry,  combined  with  economy  and  self-denial, 
have  made  successful  business  men,  and  have 
earned  comfort  for  their  later  years. 

Mr.  \'alerius,  of  this  notice,  was  born  N'oyeinbor 
30,  1815,  and  cnine  to  this  country  wlioii  twenty- 
one  years  old.  His  Urst  choice  of  a  lioine  was  on  a 


168 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


farm  one  and  one-lialf  miles  from  tlie  city  of 
Belleville,  and  there  he  remained  four  3'ears,  when 
he  found  a  location  which  pleased  him  better,  and 
removed  to  his  present  residence.  He  married 
Miss  Marj-  Catherine  Billem  in  the  year  1874.  She 
was  the  daughter  of  William  Billem,  an  old  settler 
of  St.  Clair  County,  who  had  come  from  Ger- 
many, and  at  the  time  of  the  marriage  of  his 
daughter  lived  in  Smithtou  Township. 

After  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  ^'alerius  removed 
to  the  place  where  the}'  now  reside  and  have  spent 
these  3^ears  in  making  a  pleasant  home.  They 
have  been  blessed  with  a  family  of  eight  children, 
but  only  five  are  living,  and  these  are  John, 
Charles,  Annie,  William  and  Lizzie.  Our  subject 
has  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres, 
and  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  of  it  are  under 
good  cultivation,  yielding  large  crops  of  wheat  and 
corn. 

The  family  residence  is  a  very  comfortable  one, 
built  in  the  year  1884,  and  in  it  may  be  found  the 
modern  improvements  which  make  the  homes  of 
to-daj'  palaces  compared  with  those  of  a  generation 
ago.  In  his  political  convictions,  Mr.  Valerius  is 
a  Republican,  and  bravely  upholds  the  standard 
of  that  party.  He  belongs  to  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church,  and  is  a  sui)porter  of  it  to  the  best  of  his 
means  and  ability. 


^>^^<m 


\f|  OlINSON  C.  SINCLAH?.  Probably  no  man 
ill  the  village  of  East  Carondelet  is  better 
known  or  more  public-spirited  than  the 
gentleman  whose  name  opens  this  sketch, 
now  occupying  the  important  position  of  Post- 
master and  Clerk  of  the  township  and  also  Clerk 
of  the  Village  Board,  besides  being  a  Notary 
Public  for  the  past  sixteen  years. 

The  f.atlier  of  our  subject  was  named  Levi  M. 
Sinclair  and  was  born  in  Columbiana  County,  Ohio, 
in  181!),  where  he  w.as  also  reared  and  educated.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Myers,  daughter  of  .lacob  My- 
ers, of  that  place,  and  followed  the  trade  of  a  mill- 
wright,  carpenter   and    cabinet-maker.     Mr,    Sin- 


clair emigrated  from  his  liome  in  Ohio  to  Oska- 
loosa,  Iowa,  in  1850,  and  there  worked  as  a  car- 
penter and  builder  for  some  time;  he  then  changed 
his  location  to  Belmont  County,  Ohio,  where  he 
worked  as  millwright  and  carpenter  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Civil  AVar,  when  he  became 
one  of  the  Nation's  defenders.  He  became  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  E,  Seventy-seventh  Ohio  Infantry, 
and  went  through  the  war,  taking  part  in  the 
battle  of  Shiloh,  where  so  many  of  our  brave  and 
valiant  men  fell  to  rise  no  more.  Mr.  Sinclair  was 
wounded,  and  was  afterward  promoted  for  bravery 
to  the  rank  of  Second  Lieutenant. 

After  the  dawn  of  peace,  Levi  Sinclair  returned, 
but  w-ith  newer  ideas  and  broader  views,  and  de- 
cided to  take  his  famil}'  .farther  West.  He  came 
with  them  to  St.  Clair  County  and  located  near 
Belleville,  following  his  old  trade  of  carpenter; 
but  later  went  into  Marion  County,  111.,  where  he 
farmed  land;  two  years  afterward  he  came  to  East 
Carondelet  and  located,  here  remaining  until  he 
died,  August  24,  1878,  having  never  recovered 
from  the  wounds  received  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh. 
His  was  a  soldier's  death  just  as  truly  as  if  it  had 
occurred  at  the  mouth  of  a  cannon.  In  his  earl}' 
days  he  had  been  a  Quaker,  but  in  his  latter  }-ears 
attended  the  Presbyterian  Church.  His  six  chil- 
dren were  all  left  to  mourn  the  loss  of  a  kind 
father.  These  arc:  Iaicv,  living  in  East  Caron- 
delet with  her  mother;  A.  15.,  following  the 
trade  of  painter  and  living  in  Waterloo;  Austin, 
a  carpenter,  living  in  East  Carondelet;  Roscoe,  who 
makes  Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  his  home;  Orville,  living 
in  Clinton  County,  this  State,  a  tailor;  and  .John- 
son C,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

The  latter  was  the  second  in  the  family  of  good 
and  industrious  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Levi  Sinclair.  He  was  born  September  7,  1848,  in 
Ihuiovcr,  Columbian.'i  County,  Ohio,  and  was 
reared  and  educated  in  that  place.  ( »ne  of  the 
first  to  leave  the  plans  and  prospects  of  young 
manhood  and  take  up  his  musket  in  defense  of  his 
couiitrv.  he  enlisted  in  Company  E,  Seveiity- 
scventli  Ohio  liifunlry,  October  2(t.  ISOl,  and  was 
honorably  discharged  March  8,  18()G,  at  Urowns- 
ville,  Tex.,  but  was  taken  prisoner  at  AFiiiks  Mills, 
Ark.,  and  passed  tliirleen  months  of  liis  young  life 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


169 


in  .a  rebel  prison,  hoinii'  in  a  womuled  condition 
«licn  lio  was  capturtMl.  'riif  true  stoi-y  of  tiiose 
(lay.s  of  suffering  ivin  onl\  lie  lenined  from  iiis  lii)s. 
Our  subject  was  in  the  liatlles  of  Sliiloli,  Fallinij 
Timber,  Coiintli,  .Jackson  (JMiss.),  Hollow  Springs, 
Memphis,  Helena.  Camden,  Little  Rock  and  Elkins' 
Ford.  After  his  release  from  prison,  lie  took  part 
m  tlic  battles  of  Alohile  and  Whistler.  Ala.,  and 
during  his  service  he  w.as  not  only  ()romoted  first 
to  be  Corporal  and  then  to  he  Sergeant,  but  he 
w.as  also  given  a  special  medal  for  bravery. 
Toward  the  close  of  the  war,  our  subject  was  on 
detached  dut^-,  carrying  the  mail  from  Brazos  to 
Brownsville  on  the  steamer '•  Tamaulitus." 

After  the  war,  our  subject  came  to  Harmony, 
St.  Clair  County,  111.,  where  he  quietly  followed 
his  trade  of  carpenter,  and  a  year  later  went  into 
farming  for  two  years;  he  then  went  into  Monroe 
County,  where  he  remained  farming  part  of  the 
time  and  also  doing  some  carpenter  work.  From 
there  he  came  to  East  Carondelet,  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  married  Miss  Emma  .Sclnveickhardt, 
whose  father  still  lives  in  Monroe  Count}-,  where 
he  was  an  early  settler.  Eight  children  have  been 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sinclair:  Lillie,  Orville, 
Elmei',  IMyrtle,  Tlieo,  .Johnson,  Ada  and  Clarence. 

Mr.  Sinclair  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter  in  his 
young  days  and  has  been  engaged  .as  a  builder  and 
contractor  in  his  later  years.  Our  subject  has  a 
splendid  war  record,  as  had  his  lamented  father, 
and  now  occupies  a  prominent  jwsition  in  the 
(irand  Army  and  in  the  .Sons  of  Veterans  of  St. 
Louis.  In  his  political  opinions,  he  is  an  ardent 
Republican,  and  has  been  entrusted  with  the 
olfice  of  Postmastei-  under  a  friendly  adminis- 
tration. His  family  are  all  well  known  in  this 
neighborhood  ;ind  universally  respected. 


?OHN    I'llll.ll'    KKLLEi;,  whose   biography 
we  lake  plrjisinc  in  writing,  i.s  one  of  those 
worthy  men    who    take    no  active  part  in 
_       ludjlic  life,  but  pursue  the  even  tenor  of  their 
wa\'    in   their  chosen    \i)c:itio!j.   accumulating  by 


thrift,  industry  and  business  ability  not  only  the 
necessities  of  life,  liut  the  wherewithal  to  indulge 
in  luxuries  should  they  feel  so  inclined. 

.John  Philip  Keller,  Sr.,  the  father  of  liiin  whose 
name  introduces  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Hesse- 
Darmstadt,  Germany,  on  the  8th  of  October,  1807. 
He  received  his  carl\-  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  land,  and,  as  soon  .as  he  was 
old  enough,  fitted  himself  for  the  responsibilities 
of  life  by  learning  the  trade  of  blacksmith.  After 
attaining  his  majority,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Cath- 
erine (Jeisz,  whose  father  held  a  Government  posi- 
ition  in  his  native  province.  The  year  1814  marked 
an  era  in  Mr.  Keller 'slife, for  in  that  year  the  golden 
opportunity  of  ni.aking  a  fortune  in  the  New 
World  presented  itself  to  him  in  such  glowing 
colors  that  he  left  his  native  land  and  emigrated 
to  the  United  States,  and  on  the  4th  of  Jul}', 
1811,  landed  in  St.Clair  County,  111.  In  eon- 
sc(picnee  of  the  high  waters  of  that  year,  the 
steamboat  landed  INIr.  Keller  at  the  lUutf.  One 
of  the  most  striking  incidents  of  ^Ir.  Keller's 
journey  transpired  after  he  reached  the  portion  of 
the  country  where  he  expected  to  settle.  The  year 
in  which  he  arrived  is  memorable  for  the  great 
Hoods  which  inundated  all  the  Western  country, 
and  St.  Clair  County  presented  at  that  time  any- 
thing but  an  attractive  appearance  to  the  tillers  of 
the  soil. 

Air.  Keller  loc:it('<l  in  Prairie  dn  Long,  where  he 
immediately  entered  forty  acres  of  land  under  the 
Government,  the  same  being  partof  the  tract  now 
known  as  >,'ew  Athens.  The  results  of  his  native 
industry  and  thrift  soon  allowed  of  his  adding 
eighty  acres  more  to  his  first  possession,  thus  giv- 
ing him  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  good 
farming  land  in  an  almost  incredibly  short  time 
after  his  settlement  in  this  community.  I'or  the 
(Irst  three  or  four  ye.ars  of  his  residence  in  St. 
Clair  County,  he  li\(>(l  in  a  rented  house,  Jiut,  after 
adding  another  eighty  acres  to  the  land  already 
aciiuired,  he  built  a  home  near  Twelve  .^lile  Prairie. 
His  lirst  purchase  of  land  w.as  constantly  added  to. 
and  after  the  lapse  of  a  few  years  he  wjis  the 
owner  of  three  hundred  acresof  fine  fanning  land, 
and  a  man  favored  liy  fortune  in  all  his  under- 
takings.    His  family  consisted  of  live  children,  all 


170 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  whom  grew  to  manhood  and  womanhood,  and 
four  of  whom  aie  to-day  respected  citizens  of  this 
State.  One  son,  Loomis  Keller,  died  in  early  man- 
hood, leaving  a  wife  and  two  children  to  nioiun 
his  loss;  the  next  in  succession  was  Elizabeth,  wife 
of  Henry  Dintelmanu,  of  Belleville,  111.;  then  came 
Margaret,  who  is  the  wife  of  Conrad  Dintehnann, 
of  New  Athens;  and  Barbara,  wife  of  Michael  Frees, 
of  Twelve  Mile  Prairie,  an  old  soldier  in  the 
late  war. 

One  of  the  saddest  afflictions  that  can  be  re- 
corded in  the  history  of  this  family  was  that  which 
overtook  the  wife  and  mother,  who  for  ten  years 
l)revious  to  her  death  had  been  blind.  She  de- 
parted this  life  March  7,  1880,  mourned  by  a  fam- 
ily who  had  learned  much  by  her  patience  and 
fortitude,  and  beloved  by  a  large  and  sincere  cir- 
cle of  friends. 

Mr.  Keller,  Sr.,  was  an  active  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Churcii  and  a  firm  believer  in  its  teach- 
ings. His  sudden  and  untimely  death  was  an  oc- 
currence that  will  ever  be  deeply  regretted  in  this 
community.  It  occurred  in  the  year  1891.  On 
the  4th  of  September  of  that  year,  he  had  attendee'' 
the  County  Fair,  and,  in  crossing  the  track,  was 
knocked  down  by  one  of  the  race-horses.  Several 
ribs  were  broken,  and  he  lingered  but  a  short  time 
.after  receiving  the  injuries.  His  name  will  be 
handed  down  to  posterity  as  one  of  the  best-known 
and  highly-respected  citizens  of  this  community, 
and  those  of  his  immediate  family  who  live  in  the 
communitj' are  respected  for  their  connection  with 
a  citizen  so  higiily  esteemed  and  beloved. 

.lohn  Philip  Keller,  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Hcsse-Uarmstadt  on  the  12th  of  August,  1838,  and 
was  tive  years  old  when  he  came  with  his  parents 
to  America.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  St.  Clair  Count}-,  and  here  he  grew  to 
manhood's  estate.  The  vocation  of  farmer  was  the 
one  that  in  early  youtli  seemed  most  congenial,  and 
he  has  spent  his  life  as  an  agriculturist.  The  farm 
on  whicli  he  now  resides  consists  of  one  iiundred 
acres  of  fine,  well-improved  and  thoroughly- 
cultivated  land.  He  has  for  years  given  time  and 
study  to  the  best  methods  of  cultivating  grain,  and 
is  rewarded  for  liis  efl'orts  by  knowing  tlial  no 
Uuii)  ill  the  commuH-lty  yields  a  liner  wheat  erup 


than  the  one  he  harvests.  He  is  a  man  of  progres- 
sive mind  and  a  humanitarian  in  all  that  tiie  word 
implies.  He  is  noted  for  many  char.icteristics  in- 
herited from  his  father,  and  stands  high  in  the 
community  as  the  representative  of  one  of  the  old- 
est and  best  families  in  St.  Clair  County. 


6 


v._ 


>.,EORGE  H.  vSTOOKEY.     A  traveler  through 
the  farming  lands  of  St.  Clair  County  will 

[i  observe  with  pleasure  that  the  signs  of 
prosperity  are  on  every  side,  and  the  well-improved 
farms  far  outnumber  those  which  are  neglected. 
The  highly  improved  farm  of  the  gentleman  whose 
name  opens  this  sketch  will  attract  the  notice  of 
the  visitor.  It  is  located  on  section  13,  Smithton 
Township.  St.  Clair  County.  Mr.  Stookey,  of  this 
notice,  was  the  grandson  of  the  Daniel  Stookey 
who  came  to  this  county  on  a  prospecting  tour 
from  Virginia,  in  1797.  and  returned  to  settle  in 
1800.  The  old  House  which  he  built  on  the  place 
in  1802  is  still  standing.  Daniel  Stookey,  Sr.,  en- 
tered considerable  land,  was  one  of  the  Presidential 
electors  in  1828,  in  the  canvass  of  Andrew  .Jack- 
son, and  (luring  his  early  settlement  had  many 
thrilling  experiences  with  the  Indians.  The  father 
of  our  subject  was  also  named  Daniel,  and  he  was 
born  two  miles  west  of  Belleville  at  lie  old  Stookey 
homestead  in  1806,  where  he  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated. He  married  Miss  Margaret  McGuire,  the 
daughter  of  Thomas  McGuire,  an  early  settler  of 
this  county,  who  came  here  about  1816. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Stookey,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  entered  the  two  bundled  and 
thirty  acres  where  his  son  George  now  lives,  and 
lived  upon  this  place  until  the  time  of  his  death 
in  1844.  The  brother  and  sisters  of  our  subject 
are:  Thomas,  who  lives  in  this  township;  Susan, 
who  is  the  wife  of  i;ii  Green,  and  is  living  in 
Florida;  Barbara,  the  wife  of  R.  W.  Lemen,  who 
lives  in  Freeburg  Township,  this  county,  and  Mar- 
garet, who  is  the  wife  of  William  Pitt?*,  living  in 
New  Athens  Township.  Tlic  mother  !if  tiiis  fsmi- 
ily  was  taken  away  by  death  ia  1«U^, 


Of  ,. 


«> 

'i.1 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


173 


Uiir  subject  wa.-*  born  October  23,  1833,  on  the 
place  where  he  lives,  was  reared  on  the  farm  to 
manhood,  receiving  his  educatidii  in  the  schools  of 
the  district,  and  in  1H.")()  was  married  to  ]Miss 
Elizabeth  Wiklerman.  She  was  tiie  daughter  of 
Erancis  Wilderman.  the  S(ni  of  (leorge  Wilderman, 
who  w.as  one  of  the  tirst  settlers  of  the  county. 
Af  t«r  marriage,  our  subject  began  domestic  life  on 
the  old  place,  and  here  he  has  since  lived,  everv 
year  making  improvements,  until  now  he  has  a 
very  desirable  property.  Three  children  have 
blessed  this  household:  Emeline,  who  married  James 
(_;.  Carr,  a  resident  of  East  8t.  Louis;  (Jvven  N'.,  who 
is  a  lawjer  in  Chicago;  and  Ida,  who  is  at  home. 

Our  subject  has  three  hundred  and  sixty-three 
acres  of  excellent  laud,  which  produces  wonderful 
yields  of  wheat  and  other  grain.  It  is  well  located, 
and  as  the  market  facilities  are  of  the  best,  he  has 
no  ditliculty  in  disposing  of  his  produce.  In  poli- 
tics, Mr.  Stooke^-  is,  and  always  has  been,  a  Demo- 
crat, but  has  desired  no  olticial  recognition.  The 
religious  connection  of  the  family  is  with  the  Bap- 
tist Church,  in  which  body  tiiey  are  highly  useful 
and  valued  members. 


l^+^i 


eAPT.  JOHN  W.  HKNSllAW.  East  St.  Louis 
has  no  financial  interest  of  more  paramount 
importance  than  that  of  real  estate,  and  at 
the  present  time,  when  the  securities  of  the  mone.v 
market  are  so  dcjjressed,  coupled  with  their  di- 
minishing earning  power,  the  investing  public  has 
turned  its  attention  to  the  city  real-estate  market, 
as  one  absolutely  secure,  where,  if  judicious  pur- 
chases are  made,  not  only  is  a  steady  source  of  in- 
come assured,  but  likewise  increase  of  values. 
Prominent  among  the  activ(  and  enterprising  real- 
estate  and  insuraiici'  riicu  nf  this  cit\-  is  Capt. 
John  AV.  IJoiisliaw.  lie  is  a  native  of  Madison 
County,  Ind.,  and  was  born  at  Anderscm  on  the 
21th  of  August,  1H3(;. 

lion.  John  Heiishaw,  fatlier  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Washington  County,  Pa.,  in  1798.  After 
the  death  of  his  father  in  the  Keystone  Stale,  he 
came  with  his  mollicr  1o  Uos»  Cuuiil\',  (_)liio,  when 


but  a  small  boy,  and  settled  with  her  near  Chilli- 
cothe,  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  In  1832,  he 
removed  to  Ander.son,  Madison  County,  Ind.,  and 
there  imi)roved  one  thousand  .acres  of  land,  on 
which  he  had  a  sugar  camp  of  one  hundred  acres. 
He  was  quite  a  prominent  man  in  his  community, 
was  Sheriff  for  some  time,  and  also  represented  his 
county  in  the  State  Legislature.  In  184  4,  he  came 
with  his  family  to  Belleville,  111.,  and  located  on  a 
farm,  where  he  remained  for  some  time,  but  subse- 
quently moved  to  Belleville.  He  was  elected 
Justice  of  the  Peace  in  1848  and  discharged  the 
duties  of  that  position  until  he  resigned,  after 
which  he  devoted  his  time  and  attention  to  other 
enterprises.  In  1871,  he  took  a  trip  to  California 
and  remained  there  until  fall,  when  he  returned  to 
Belleville.  From  there  he  removed  to  Bethalto, 
Madison  County,  111.,  in,  1873,  and  made  his  home 
there  until  over  ninety-four  years  of  age.  For- 
merly a  AVhig  in  politics,  he  became  a  strong  Re- 
|)ublican.  He  was  of  English  descent,  and  from 
the  year  1849  held  membership  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  He  married  Miss  Malinda  Cissna,  a  na- 
tive of  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  and  of  Scotch  descent.  She 
passed  aw.ay  in  the  year  1877.  They  were  the 
parents  of  five  living  children. 

The  original  of  this  notice,  next  to  the  youngest 
child,  was  reared  in  Indiana  until  eight  years  of 
age.  and  Ihcu  with  his  parents  came  to  Belleville 
by  team.  The  tirst  .season  he  was  on  a  farm  and 
received  his  scholastic  training  in  an  old  log  school- 
house,  built  in  true  pioneer  style.  After  remov- 
ing with  his  parents  to  Belleville,  he  attended 
school  until  18.52,  when  he  was  apprenticed  to 
learn  the  plasterer's  trade  under  his  brother-in-law. 
lie  worked  at  his  trade  until  18o(),  when  he  went  to 
Mississippi,  settled  in  "Warrington,  and  in  1860  was 
.ludge  of  Election  in  that  precinct.  Being  a  North- 
ern Democrat,  he  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Stephen  .\.  Douglas.  He  was  also  engaged  in 
merchandising  at  that  place  with  a  cousin,  .John 
Kenuimore,  and  continued  with  him  until  IMCl, 
when  he  returned  to  his  old  home  in  Belleville. 
After  settling  here,  he  was  engaged  at  his  trade 
until  November,  18()4,  at  which  tiiiu'  he  raised 
Company  C.  One  Hundred  ami  I'oily-ninth  llli- 
1)1  lis  In  I'm  lit  IV.  and  was  at  once  made  ('aptMinol'  the 


174 


POETRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


conipnii_y  imisteied  in  at   Camp  Butler  under  Col.    j 
Kiiffner. 

Capt.  Rensliaw  went  South  to  Nashville;  thence 
to  Chattanooga,  where  he  was  engaged  in  guarding 
tiie  railroad;  li'Oin  there  to  Atlanta,  Ga.,  thence  to  I 
Augusta,  and  spent  the  remainder  of  the  time  in 
the  South,  where  his  company  was  detailed  to  en- 
force the  measures  of  reconstruction.  In  1866,  he 
was  mustered  out  at  Dalton,  Ga.,  and  discharged 
at  Springfield,  111.  During  the  spring  of  the  j 
above-mentioned  3'ear,  he  located  in  East  St.  Louis 
as  a  wholesale  and  retail  dealer  in  coal,  which  he 
hauled  by  teams  to  St.  Louis,  having  hundreds  of 
teams  on  ferry  boats  across  the  river.  He  had 
offices  in  both  cities,  and  continued  in  this  busi- 
ness until  1872,  when  he  was  appointed  Chief  of 
Police  by  the  City  Conncil,  and  discharged  the 
duties  of  tliat  important  position  for  nine  and  a- 
lialf  years,  or  until  1881.  During  the  dark  days 
of  East  St.  Louis,  when  riots  were  frequent,  liis 
name  was  a  terror  to  evil-doers.  But  for  his  cour- 
age and  promptness  in  quelling  all  disturbances, 
there  might  have  been  much  blood  shed.  Per- 
haps no  man  in  the  city  deserves  as  much  credit 
for  breaking  up  prize-fighting  as  he.  In  the  face 
of  great  opposition,  and  when  urged  by  friends 
not  to  take  the  step,  he  swore  out  the  first  warraut 
against  prizc-iighters.  boarded  the  boat  "Conti- 
nental," on  which  the  roughs  were  taking  passage 
to  the  head  of  the  Island,  and,  b}'  the  aid  of  a  few 
frieuds,  checked  the  fray.  The  step  was  a  hazaid- 
ous  one  and  boldly  executed.  Prosecutions  fol- 
lowed which  were  successful  and  it  soon  termin- 
ated prize-fighting  in  this  city. 

The  services  of  Capt.  Renshaw  in  all  public  af- 
fairs and  positions  have  been  meritorious  and  he 
deserves  much  credit  for  his  efHciency  and  dis- 
patch. He  is  a  large,  well-built  man,  is  genial  and 
pleasant  in  disposition,  and  has  won  a  host  of 
warm  friends.  In  1881,  he  retired  from  the  office 
of  Chief  of  Police,  and  in  the  spring  of  1882  em- 
barked in  the  real-estate  and  insiu'anee  business.  He 
laid  out  Winstanley  Park,  which  he  added  to  East 
St.  Louis,  improved  and  sold.  He  has  a  fine  in- 
surance business  and  represents  eight  of  the  lead- 
ing insurance  companies  in  tlje  United  States.  His 
f.llicr  is  located  at  N'>,   106  Nnrth    Maiii  Street. 


In  1873,  Capt.  Renshaw  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Caroline,  daughter  of  Capt.  John  Trend- 
ley,  who  came  to  East  St.  Louis  when  a  boy,  and 
who  was  employed  by  the  AViggins  Ferry  Com- 
pany over  sixty  years.  (See  sketch  of  Capt.  Henry 
Trendley.)  Four  children  have  been  born  to  Capt. 
and  Mrs.  Renshaw:  Henry,  John,  Eugene  and 
Joseph.  The  Captain  was  appointed  School  Treas- 
urer in  1877,  held  that  position  for  four  years,  and 
in  1887  held  the  position  of  City  Treasurer  for  one 
year.  In  1888,  he  was  rc-appointed  to  the  office 
of  School  Treasurer  and  held  that  position  until 
April,  1892.  He  is  Notary  Public,  and  is  one  of 
the  representative  men  and  old  settlers  of  the  city. 
He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity, is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason  in  East  St.  Louis,  and 
a  Knight  Templar  in  St.  Louis.  He  is  also  a  char- 
ter member  of  McDowell  Post,  G.  A.  U.,  East  St. 
Louis,  in  politics,  he  is  an  ardent  supporter  of 
Democratic  principles,  has  been  a  delegate  to  county 
and  State  conventions,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
County  Central  Committee  for  a  number  of  years. 


^^ii^-i^ilM^^ 


"if'OSEPII  LOUIS,  one  of  the  lutluenlial  and 
wealthy-  farmers  of  Smithton  Township,  is 
,  ,,  I  the  gentleman  to  whose  sketch  we  now  call 
■^^^  attention.  Our  subject  was  the  son  of  Jo- 
seph Louis,  Sr.,  who  was  born  in  Germany,  and 
came  to  this  country  with  his  parents,  first  loca- 
ting in  French  Village,  this  county.  Here  he 
lived  a  short  time,  and  then  came  to  this  county, 
where  the  father  bought  the  home  where  oiu-  sub- 
ject now  resides,  which  is  the  place  where  the 
grandfather  lived  and  died.  The  father  of  our 
subject  married  in  this  county,  the  lady  of  his 
choice  having  been  Miss  Kolsken,  and  as  she  was 
taken  away  from  him  by  death,  he  again  married, 
and  this  time  the  union  was  with  Miss  Cloud. 
Mr.  Louis  was  the  owner  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty-eight  acres  of  good  land,  on  which  he  reared 
his  family  of  fifteen  children,  ten  of  whom  are  still 
living.  He  was  n  consistent  member  of  the  Roman 
Catholic    Cliiircii,    and    lived    llio    life   »(  a  good 


POUTRAIT  AND  BIOGUAPIIICAL  RECORD. 


Christian  gentleinau.  Nearly  all  of  tlie  improve- 
ments, inchuling  the  honse.  wore  made  by  tlie  fa- 
ther of  our  subjeet.  and  he  wa.<  one  of  the  eailiest 
s:etllei!i  of  this  eoniily. 

Our  subject  was;  born  Ajuil  2.  KSli2.  on  the  old 
homestead,  where  he  continues  to  reside.  Here  he 
was  reared,  and  received  his  education  in  botli 
Cerman  an<l  Knglish.  in  the  parocliial  schools  of 
lielleville.  Mv.  Louis  has  a  line  farm  of  one  hun- 
drtd  acres  in  a  jiigh  state  of  cultivation,  where  he 
raises  both  stock  and  grain. 

>Ir.  Louis  was  married  in  ISffit  to  Miss  .losie 
lleinrict.  accomplished  daughter  of  George  Hein- 
rict.  a  pioneer  of  this  township,  who  has  since  died. 
Our  subject  brought  his  young  bride  to  his  pres- 
ent home  on  section  5,  Smithton  Township,  where 
they  dispense  hospitality  to  their  nianv  friends  in 
a  pleasant  manner.  One  child.  Mary,  has  been 
born  to  them. 

Our  subject,  like  his  father  before  him.  is  a  con- 
sistent member  o(  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  and 
also  like  him  endeavoi"s  to  live  up  to  the  teachings 
of  the  Divine  Master.  Politically,  Mr.  Louis  is  a 
Democrat,  and  generally  votes  the  ticket  iirepared 
by  that  party. 


■^i^MKHY  IIOLC'OMB.  The  subject  of  this 
11^  sketch  resides  with  his  brother.  Williani  II. 
jl^ — ^  Holconib,  on  scetictn  ."Jii,  Millstadt  Town- 
ship, in  St.  Clair  County,  111.,  where  they  have  one 
of  the  finest  farms  in  this  [lortion  of  a  Slate  that 
h.as  a  national  reputation  for  fine  farms.  Kaiery 
Holcomb  is  the  son  of  Williani  lloieomb,  who  was 
born  in  I'nion  County,  S.  ('..  in  the  yeai  178-t, 
and  who  was  the  son  of  .loel  Iloleomb,  who  lived  in 
his  native  State  of  South  Carolina,  and  is  supposed 
to  have  been  one  of  the  soldiers  in  the  Revolution- 
ary' "War. 

William  Iloleomb  was  reared  in  his  native  State 
until  nineteen  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  Ken- 
tucky and  front  there  to  N'ew  Madrid.  Mo.,  and 
>vas  living  in  that  place  at  the  time  of  the  great 


earthquake  in  1811.  Removing  thence  to  St. 
Clair  County,  III.,  he  located  near  IJelleville 
and  entered  land  of  the  fJovernnient  and  lived 
there  for  several  years;  but  finally  coming  to  the' 
place  where  our  subject  now  lives  and  entering 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land.  Williani 
was  one  of  the  very  earliest  settlers  here,  for  at 
that  time  the  county  was  the  home  of  the  deer  and 
of  the  Indian.  Ueing  an  Indian  fighter,  during  the 
War  of  1812  he  was  the  one  selected  for  bravery 
to  carry  a  message  right  through  the  savage  coun- 
try at  the  risk  of  his  life.  AVliile  living  near 
Belleville,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Polly  Reather- 
ford,  from  which  union  sprang  a  family-  of  eleven 
children,  of  whom  there  are  but  three  living: 
Daniel  C,  who  lives  in  Madison  County;  Mary, 
the  wife  of  Michael  Smith,  who  resides  in  Smith- 
ton  Township;  and  Sarah,  a  widow,  who  now  has 
her  home  in  Greeley,  Colo. 

After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  Williani  Hol- 
comb married  Mrs.  Catherine  Stout,  daughter  of 
Abraham  Eyman,  who  came  to  this  countj-  at  a 
very  early  day  from  the  State  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  was  of  (Jerman  extraction.  By  this  union 
there  were  five  children  born,  four  of  whom  grew 
to  maturity,  and  three  of  whom  are  now  living: 
Einmalissa  is  with  her  brother  at  home;  William 
H.  resides  with  his  family  on  the  old  homestead; 
and  Emery,  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch. 
Hannah  died  November  2.S,  1882;  she  had  been  the 
wife  of  I.  W.  Thomas,  by  whom  she  had  ten  chil- 
dren, six  of  whom  are  still  living.  The  father  of 
ilils  faniiU  was  a  remarkable  man  in  his  day,  not 
oiil\  in  war,  where  his  record  is  remembered  and 
cherished,  but  in  many  other  respects.  He  wa.s 
maile  .Justice  of  the  Peace  on  accoimtof  his  good 
judgment. and  for  sixteen  years  served  as  constable; 
he  acted  as  Deputy  Sheriff  under  Anderson  Beard, 
and  was  c;ille<l  upon  to  assist  at  the  first  hanging  in 
the  county.  In  the  Baptist  Church  he  was  a  valued 
member  and  for  many  years  was  an  earnest  and 
pious  exhorter.  The  land  which  he  bought  was 
a  wilderness,  but  he  cleared  and  left  one  hundred 
and  sixty-nine  acres  to  his  family  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  which  occurred  November  :},  1878. 

Willi-im  II.  Iloleomb,  a  son   of  the  above  prom- 
inent  man.  was  born  August  28.  18^0,  in  the  old 


176 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


homestead,  and  has  lived  here  all  of  his  life.  He 
was  married  June  10,  1884,  to  Miss  Margaret  A. 
Eynian,  who  was  the  daughter  of  Jacob  Eyiuan. 
Our  subject  was  born  December  2:i,  184  1,  here 
on  the  old  place,  and  has  grown  up  in  the  county, 
having  attended  the  commcm  schools.  He  de- 
cided upon  agriculture  as  his  occupation  in  life, 
and  settled  down  here  with  his  brother  William,  and 
together  they  operate  this  flue  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty-nine  acres.  They  conflne  their 
farming  to  grain,  principally  wheat,  but  have  some 
stock,  including  some  fine  Berkshire  and  Poland- 
China  hogs.  Some  very  superior  calves  have  Ijeen 
raised  and  sold  by  them. 

Politically,  these  gentlemen  are  Kepublicans,  as 
was  their  father,  believing  that  the  platform  of 
that  party  has  the  right  ideas  concerning  the 
proper  policy  in  governing  a  great  nation.  Mr. 
Holcomb  Sr.,  was  formerly  a  Whig,  and'  voted 
for  Fremont  and  later  for  Lincoln.  Socially,  Mr. 
Holcomb  of  this  notice  is  very  popular  in  his 
neighborhood,  is  an  active  member  of  the  Saxtown 
Debating  Society,  and  has  been  called  upon  to 
hold  the  office  of  Township  Trustee  for  some 
years,  being  still  in  that  position. 


■iflOHlSI  J.  WIES.  It  sometimes  seems  as  if 
much  of  mankind  only  lived  to  eat  instead 
of  eating  to  live,  and  to  this  class  the  gen- 
tleman whose  name  opens  this  sketch  is  the 
friend  in  need,  as  he  conducts  an  eating  house  and 
lunch  counter  at  the  Relay  Depot  in  East  St.  Louis, 
and  in  addition  caters  to  the  public  by  offering 
them  the  choicest  soda  and  the  finest  fruit.  He  is 
so  pleasant  and  affable  that  he  has  no  lack  of  cus- 
tomers and  is  fast  becoming  one  of  the  solid  men 
of  this  portion  of  the  city. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subji^ct  was  Emil  Wies, 
who  was  for  many  years  in  the  German  army  and 
served  under  the  great  Napoleon.  He  afterward 
became  a  carpenter  and  finished  out  his  days  in  his 
native  land.  His  son  Louis,  the  father  of  our 
.'<iil)ii'ct,  was  born    in    Ilcsse-Parmsladt,  Geimany, 


and  was  a  baker  by  trade.  In  the  fall  of  18.57,  he 
came  to  America,  via  New  Orleans,  and  arrived  in 
East  St.  Louis  when  but  eighteen  years  of  age. 
Before  he  had  been  in  this  new  country  long,  he 
started  a  bakery  on  Main  Street,  and  has  contin- 
ued there  to  this  day.  He  has  always  favored  im- 
provement and  reform  and  has  done  all  he  could 
to  carry  out  his  ideas.^  l^Ir.  Wies,  Sr.,  built  the 
first  high-grade  block  in  the  city,  now  the 
Workingman's  Hank,  and  still  owns  the  property 
and  vaiious  other  valuable  pieces.  As  he  believes 
that  the  Republican  party  carries  out  his  ideas  of 
Government,  he  votes  that  ticket.  The  mother  of 
our  subject  was  Julia  Floch,  who  was  born  in  Hesse- 
Darmstadt,  Germany. 

Mr.  Wies,  of  this  sketch,  was  the  fourth  of  thir- 
teen children,  of  whom  ten  are  living.  He  grew 
up  in  this  city,where  he  was  born  August  22,  1862, 
attended  the  public  schools  and  from  boyhood 
assisted  in  the  bakery.  From  the  age  of  fifteen  to 
eighteen,  he  worked  steadily  at  his  trade,  but,  tiring 
a  little,  he  engaged  in  the  Workingman's  Bank  as 
Collector  and  remained  two  years.  He  then  became 
clerk  for  another  large  house  in  St.  Louis  and  then 
clerk  in  the  Relay  Depot  lunch  counter;  he  later 
became  assistant  ticket  agent  at  the  Relay  Depot 
and  remained  there  two  years.  In  1889,  he  bought 
out  tlie  whole  lunch  department  of  the  Relay  De- 
pot and  has  added  the  other  features  since.  It  has 
proved  very  lucrative,  and  is  kept  going  all  night, 
and  under  the  management  of  Mr.  Wies  it  h.as 
been  well  patronized. 

Aside  from  this  regular  business,  our  subject  has 
engaged  in  buying  and  selling  real  estate,  dealing 
in  lots.  He  has  erected  two  residences  on  Kentucky 
Street  and  Findlay  Avenue,  respectively.  In  Dem- 
ocratic local  politics,  Mr.  Wies  is  very  prominent 
and  has  been  a  delegate  to  the  county  and  congress- 
ional con ventions,  and  is  a  member  of  the  City  Cen- 
tral Committee.  He  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the 
various  enterprises  intended  to  build  up  the  city, 
and  is  a  Director  in  the  first  Mutual  Building  and 
Loan  Association ;  a  stockholder  and  member  of 
the  Auditing  Committee  of  the  Second  Mutual 
Building  and  Loan  Association;  a  stockholder  in 
the  St.  Clair  IJuilding  and  Loan  Association ;  a  stock- 
JiolchT  ill  the  SI.  Clair  Land  Association,  an()  also  in 


'% 


'<f 


<2^>i^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


179 


the  Woikingiiian's  liankinij;  Company.  Tie  has 
sliovvn  hi.s  sagacity  by  l)iiying  hiiul  wIhmi  knv  and 
watching  tlie  market  and  selling  when  high.  He 
is  a  favorite  among  liis  neiglil>ors  and  business  ac- 
i|iiaintanccs  and  may  become  one  of  the  cily  mag- 
nates. 


^T/AMKS  H.  RICHARDSON.  On  section  33, 
Mascoutah  Townshij),  lies  a  line  farm  of 
three  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  fertile 
(!^/'  land,  one  of  the  most  pleasant  homesteads 
in  tiie  county.  Tlie  owner,  IMr.  Richardson,  has 
used  great  care  and  judgment  in  the  cultivation  of 
the  soil,  and  lias  placed  the  entire  estate  under 
good  improvements,  with  the  exception  of  a  small 
portion,  which  is  in  timber. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  .lohu  Richardson, 
an  E'.iglishinan,  who  learned  the  printer's  trade 
and  followed  it  until  his  death.  Our  subject  was 
born  in  Lanin,  Staffordshire,  England,  ,lune  28, 
l«'2ij.  Early  bereft  of  his  father,  he  was  obliged 
to  depend  entirely  upon  the  care  of  his  mother. 
The  latter  left  England  when  her  child  was  about 
one  and  one-half  years  old,  and  brought  him  to 
his  grandmother,  who  lived  in  Philadeliiliia.  In 
this  pleasant  home  Mv.  Richardson  lived  for  some 
time,  when  circumstances  occurred  that  made  a  re- 
moval to  Westchester  desirable.  Wishing  to  learn 
a  useful  trade,  when  the  jiroper  age  arrived  he 
went  to  Marshalllon,  Pa.,  and  there  apprenticed 
himself  for  four  years  to  a  carriage-maker.  Learn- 
ing that  trade  thoroughly,  he  left  Marshallton  and 
went  to  Kennett  S(iuare,  where  lie  helped  make 
tlie  first  four  drills  that  were  made  in  the  United 
States. 

Our  subject  remained  in  the  last-named  place 
three  or  four  years,  and  then  changed  his  business 
to  a  factory  in  IJridcsluirg.  where  he  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  cotton  machinery.  At  that 
place  he  remained  one  year,  and  then,  returning  to 
Kennett  Sc|uaie.  worked  one  year  in  the  drill  fac- 
tory. In  1818,  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  111., 
and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  bought  what  was  called 
the   Mound    Farm,  in    this   township;   but   this   he 


afterward  sold.  Just  about  that  time  the  Cali- 
fornia gold  fever  broke  out,  and  he,  with  others, 
decided  to  cross  the  plains  and  try  his  fortune 
there.  Six  months  were  consumed  in  making  this 
journej',  and  when  he  reached  the  Far  West  he  im- 
mediately began  working  in  the  mines.  More  for- 
tunate than  many,  he  was  quite  successful  in  ob- 
taining the  precious  metal,  and  in  1851  he  started 
for  home,  via  the  Pacific  Ocean.  This  latter  trip 
almost  became  his  last,  as  through  some  misman- 
agement of  the  officers,  the  ship  drifted  out  of  its 
course,  their  provisions  gave  out  and  for  thirty 
days  the  whole  ship-load  were  obliged  to  exist  on 
a  scant  pint  of  water  and  a  biscuit  per  diem. 

Things  began  to  look  very  serious  at  this  time, 
for  even  civilized  men  will  commit  barbarous 
crimes  under  the  spur  of  thirst  and  hunger.  It 
had  been  decided  among  the  most  savage  of  the 
crew  that  if  no  help  reached  them  the  next  day, 
lots  should  be  drawn  to  see  which  one  of  their 
number  should  be  sacrificed  to  preserve  the  rest. 
At  this  critical  time  land  was  discovered  and  as- 
sistance was  obtained,  which  was  sorely  needed. 
This  is  an  experience  which  does  not  often  occur 
in  civilized  countries  in  the  nineteenth  century, 
and  those  who  are  called  upon  to  endure  such 
strains  u|)on  mind  and  body  can  never  forget 
them. 

After  his  return  from  his  Californian  trip,  Mr. 
Richardson  stopped  with  Mr.  Rentchler,  afterward 
his  father-in-law,  where  he  made  a  dozen  wheat- 
drills,  which  were  the  first  made  in  the  State  of  Illi- 
nois, and  were  sold  for  ^100.  There  our  subject 
remained  through  the  summer,  after  which  he 
bought  the  place  where  he  now  resides,  and  in  1852 
sowed  the  first  grain  on  his  farm.  In  that  year  he 
married  Miss  Maria,  a  daughter  of  .lacob  Rentch- 
ler, who  was  an  early  settler  of  this  county.  Eleven 
children  have  resulted  from  this  marriage, and  the 
seven  living  are:  ISIary  Jane,  the  wife  of  Jacob 
Bachmann,  of  Mascoutah,  111.,  a  teacher  by  pro- 
fession; Sarah,  who  resides  at  home;  Frank,  who 
lives  on  one  of  his  father's  farms;  Ellen,  Annie, 
John  D.  and  Laura,  who  remain  with  their  parents. 
The  family  home  is  a  beautiful  brick  residence,  one 
of  the  finest  in  the  county.  It  was  erected  in  1876 
after  modern  plans  and  is  beautifully  located. 


IHO 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Politically,  Mr.  Richardson  is  a  believer  in  the 
principles  promulgated  by  Thomas  Jefferson  and 
has  served  his  district  as  Scliool  Director.  He  has 
had  a  life  of  more  adventure  than  many  of  his 
neiglibors.  During  his  trip  to  California  in  1849, 
he  became  better  acquainted  with  the  Indian  char- 
acter than  he  had  ever  been  before,  .lust  at  this 
time  the  Pawnee  and  Shawnee  Indians  were  at 
war,  and  they  often  visiied  their  enmity  upon  the 
innocent  emigrants,  who  were  invading  their  coun- 
try. Our  subject  was  one  of  those  sent  forward  to 
open  the  way  for  the  trains,  and  they  made  him 
captain  of  the  party.  At  a  place  called  Scott's  Bluff 
tiiere  is  a  deep  cut  through  the  mountains,  and 
as  he  rode  through  here,  he  came  upon  an  encamp- 
ment of  Pawnee  Indians.  He  w.as  in,  and  the 
question  was  how  to  get  out.  Knowing  if  he  re- 
treated it  was  certain  death,  he  finally  decided  to 
ride  right  up  to  tlie  camp.  This  he  boldly  did, 
and  advanced  to  the  Chief,  who  regarded  him 
very  angrily,  but  offered  him  no  personal  violence. 
Our  subject  remembered  Pocahontas,  .and  seeing 
the  Chief's  beautiful  daughter  in  the  tent,  he  ap- 
pealed to  her,  and  with  a  woman's  ready  wit  she 
succeeded  in  extricating  him  from  his  predicament. 
Our  subject  relates  many  other  interesting  adven- 
tures of  the  trip,  which  it  would  be  a  pleasure  to 
relate  if  the  limited  space  in  this  Ri'.coiui  did  not 
forbid. 


^  DOLPII  SCMLKRNITZAUEU,  IM.  D.    The 

little  city  of  Millstadl,  111.,  h.is  among  its 
l^\    highly  respected  citizens  none  more  greatly 

esteemed  than  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
His  father  was  .Joseph  Schlernitzauer,  who  was 
l)Orn  in  Lorraine,  France,  February  28,  1795,  was 
reared  there  and  at  that  place  w.as  married  to  Miss 
Catherine  Wassaraw.  A  farmer  in  his  native  land, 
when  he  came  here  he  immediately  began  to  search 
for  a  suitable  location  in  which  to  carry  on  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  The  year  was  1842,  at  which 
time  there  was  much  fine  land  to  be  had,  and  he 
first  located  two  miles  north  of  Belleville,  which  so 


pleased  him  that  he  continued  at  the  same  place 
until  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
November,  187(1.  The  father  left  a  family  of  four 
sons  and  two  daughters,  three  of  whom  are  still 
living.  The  mother  of  these  children  died  in  1873. 
Their  names  are  as  follows:  Joseph,  a  farmer  in 
Texas;  and  Mrs.  Philip  Herr  and  her  sister,  Mrs. 
Stoltz,  both  living  in  Belleville. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  in  Lorraine, 
under  the  sunny  skies  of  France,  November  9, 
1837,  being  five  years  of  age  when  his  parents 
brought  him  to  this  country.  Growing  up  to 
manhood  in  this  county,  he  attended  the  district 
schools  and  there  received  the  rudiments  of  an 
education,  which  was  finished  in  Belleville  and  at 
Charles  Stewart's  school  in  St.  Louis.  After  his 
school  days  were  over,  our  subject  went  into  a 
book  store  in  Belleville  as  a  clerk,  and  it  was  while 
here  that  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  under 
Dr.  Roman,  of  Belleville,  through  whose  encour- 
agement he  entered  the  medical  college  in  St. 
Louis,  from  which  he  graduated  March  4,  18(54. 
After  this  success.  Dr.  Schlernitzauer  came  to  Miil- 
stadt,  and  has  been  in  practice  here  ever  since. 

The  happy  marriage  of  our  subject  took  place 
June  1,  1865,  to  Miss  Mary  Ball,  daughter  of 
Ciiampness  Ball,  Postmaster  of  the  city  of  Belle- 
ville nnder  the  administrations  of  Presidents 
Pierce  and  Buchanan.  This  lady  lived  but  eight 
years  after  her  mariiage.  Our  subject  was  again 
married,  in  1878,  this  union  being  with  Miss  Mary 
Palmer,  whose  father,  Andrew  Palmer,  of  Janes- 
ville.  Wis.,  w.as  the  founder  of  the  Toledo  Blade  and 
one  of  the  foremost  newspaper  men  of  this  country. 
The  family  of  our  subject  consists  now  of  his  charm- 
ing wife  and  their  son  Robert;  William  C,  a  rising 
druggist  of  this  city;  Leon,  in  the  same  business 
in  Chicago;  and  Miss  Nellie,  who  has  been  educated 
at  a  convent  in  Belleville. 

Dr.  Schlernitzauer  has  built  up  a  large  prac- 
tice in  this  city  and  county,  great  reliance  being 
placed  upon  his  skill.  He  is  called  into  consulta- 
tion all  over  the  county  and  is  a  successful  practi- 
tioner in  his  profession.  The  gentleman  of  whom 
we  write  is  a  prominent  member  of  that  influential 
order  known  as  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  his 
face  is  familiar  at  their  meetings,  unless  kept  away 


PORTR.UT  AND  BlOGRAPlllCAL  RECORD. 


181 


liy  professional  duties.  He  is  an  active  member  of 
tiie  Democratic  party  and  gives  iiis  vote  and  in- 
rtuence  to  advance  its  interests.  Socially,  llic 
Doctor  and  liis  pleasant  family  take  a  foremost 
place  in  IMillstadt  and  deservedly  so.  for  none 
could  be  Itctter  fitted  educationally  and  by  tem- 
perament for  such  duties  than  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Schler- 
nitzauer. 


<Ml  D.  TUHNEH.  1.1-  P..  The  distinguished 
I  (@  gentleman  who.se  name  appears  at  the  head 
IIL-^  of  this  sketch  has  the  honor  of  being 
the  Master  in  Chancery  for  the  St.  Clair  Court, 
having  been  appointed  to  this  important  oflice  in 
December.  IX'Jl.  He  a  member  of  the  tirjn  of 
Turner  .t-  Holder,  one  of  the  leading  law  firms  of 
the  city  ofBelleville.  This  gentleman  is  a  native 
of  St.  Clair  County,  having  been  born  on  a  farm 
near  tiie  city  of  Freel)urg,  October  5.  1849.  He  is 
named  for  liis  father,  a  distinguished  pioneer  of 
this  county,  who  came  here  from  ^'lrginia  in  ).s:}0, 
wiien  about  twenty -seven  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Turner  w.as  educated  in  the  University  at 
Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  bein^  graduated  in  the  Class 
of  "73,  having  previously  read  law  for  some  months. 
After  graduating,  he  located  in  this  city  and  prac- 
tised alone  until  188'),  when  the  present  firm  with 
Mr.  Holder  was  established.  These  gentleman  have 
built  up  a  tine  practice  and  are  very  successful  in 
the  handling  of  their  cases.  In  addition  to  their 
other  business  they  are  attorneys  for  the  Cairo 
Short  Line,  the  Vandalia.  and  the  East  St.  I.ouis  A- 
Carondelet  Railroads. 

Hesides  his  law  practice,  Mr.  Turner  li.-is  been  :\n 
Alderman,  serving  with  great  credit  to  himself  and 
liimor  to  this  city;  lie  has  also  been  Chairman  of  the 
County  Board  of  Supervisors  and  is  no\T  Director 
of  the  Helleville  Savings  Bank.  In  all  of  the  po- 
sitions of  trust  and  res|)onsibility  he  has  held,  Mr. 
Turner  has  .awiuitted  himself  in  a  ni.asterful  man- 
ner, worthy  of  mention. 

Mr.  Turner   was    united   in    the   liolv  bonds  of 


matrimony  to  Miss  Josephine  Eckert,  of  Waterloo, 
Monroe  County,  III.,  in  August,  187.5.  To  this 
happy  union  have  come  fivechildren,  the  eldest  of 
whom,  Waldo,  is  deceased  Those  living  are:  Don, 
Zylphia,  Jo.sephine  and  Mary,  all  bright  and  intel- 
ligent children  who  are  a  joy  and  comfort  to 
their  parents.  Mr.  Turner  takes  an  important  part 
in  the  Old  .Settlers'  Society  and  is  one  of  the 
leading,  influential  men  of  the  community,  enjoy- 
ing the  respect  and  esteem  of  .all  who  know  him. 
Public  confidence  in  him  is  b.ased  upon  his  honest 
merit.  His  scholarly  attainments,  studious  habits, 
faithful  devotion  to  the  interests  of  his  clients, 
able  and  m.a,sterly  handling  of  cases,  united  with 
sterling  qualities  of  heart — all  these  combine  to 
stamp  Mr.  Turner  as  a  man  deserving  of  the  place 
he  holds  in  public  favor. 


l>-^<-| 


^EN.IAMIN  IIIOGINS  was  n  man  of  most 
''  noble  character  and  of  many  good  qualities, 
whose  name  will  long  be  held  in  reverence 
by  his  fellow-citizens,  by  whom  he  was 
considered  a  most  excellent  neighbor.  He  was  a 
native  of  St.  Clair  County,  born  one  mile  south  of 
(ieorgetown,  and  during  his  life  remained  in  this 
county,  where  his  father  lived  on  a  farm  which  was 
cleared  by  his  grandfather. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Timothy  Ilig- 
gins,  was  a  native  of  Maine,  b\it  removed  to  Ohio 
in  1H1(),  and  settled  in  tliat  State  about  twenty 
miles  north  of  Cincinnati.  He  remained  there, 
however,  but  tvvo  3"ears,  wluii  lie  i-euioved  to  Illi- 
nois and  located  on  the  farm  wliere  IJenjamin  af- 
terward lived.  He  married  Miss  Su.san  Smith,  who 
was  also  a  native  of  the  .State  of  Maine,  and  after 
building  a  log  house  and  reclaiming  a  home  from 
what  was  then  a  wilderness,  he  brought  his  family 
hither.  Here  he  helped  to  make  this  country  what 
it  is  at  present,  and  even  assisted  in  driving  the 
•'red  skins"  from  the  territory,  suffering  all  the 
privations  incident  to  pioneer  life.  Of  his  four 
children,  all  are  now  deceased.  One  son,  Robert, 
was  horn  in  Maine  in    180;'),  and   was  but  thirteen 


182 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


years  of  age  when  his  father  settled  in  Illinois. 
He  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Black  Hawk  War  and 
was  a  very  patriotic  man,  as  he  enlisted  three  dif- 
ferent times.  He  settled  on  the  farm  left  by  his 
father,  and  lived  there  until  his  death.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Sarah  Carr,  daughter  of  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  the  county,  and  they  lived  on  the  home- 
stead for  fifty  years. 

Of  the  family  of  Robert  Higgins,  which  con- 
sisted of  five  daughters  and  one  son,  the  latter, 
Benjamin,  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Here 
Robert  died  September  9,  1879,  while  his  wife 
survived  him'until  M.ay  1,  1890,  wlien  she  passed 
away,  aged  eighty-five  years.  Benjamin  Higgins 
grew  to  manhood's  estate  upon  the  home  farm  and 
received  a  very  liberal  education.  In  his  early 
manhood  he  married  Miss  Louisa,  daughter  of  the 
late  Jerry  Phillips,  one  of  the  worthy  pioneers  of 
the  county.  But  he  was  not  long  to  enjoy  the 
blessings  thus  found,  as  in  four  short  months  death 
robbed  him  of  his  helpmate,  and  although  he  sur- 
vived her  for  forty  years  he  never  sought  tlie  hand 
of  any  other  woman  in  marriage,  which  bespeaks 
his  love  more  plainly  than  could  be  told  by  pen. 
He  was  very  generous  with  his  wealth,  and  always 
kind  to  those  in  need  of  assistance  and  ready  to 
extend  what  aid  he  could  to  his  brother  man. 
When  his  death  occurred,  Marcli  13,  1892,  the 
community  suffered  a  loss  from  which  it  will  not 
soon  recover. 


\f J  OSEPH  R.  PADFIELD,  J.  P.  The  follow- 
ing sketch  is  of  one  of  the  best-known  men 
of  Lebanon  Township,  who  has  lived  heie 
_  many  years,  and  is  identified  with  the  vari- 
ous interests  of  the  neighborhood.  The  family 
record  is  an  interesting  one,  and  we  give  it  in  full. 
Joseph  R.  Pad  field  was  born  September  24,  1820, 
in  Mascoutah,  St.  Clair  County,  111.,  and  was  tlie 
son  of  William  Padfield,  Jr.,  and  of  IMahala  Barnes. 
His  father  was  born  about  1786,  near  Hopkins- 
ville,  Ky.,  and  died  there  in  1849.  The  paternal 
grandfather  was  William  Padfield,  Sr.,  a  good  old 


Methodist,  and  the  religious  meetings  were  held 
in  his  house.  He  was  a  native  of  Maryland,  and 
died  about  183.").  aged  seventy-five  years.  The  ma- 
ternal grandfather  of  our  subject  was  Josliua  Barnes, 
a  native  of  Maryland,  from  which  State  he  moved 
to  Kentucky;  he  was  a  Methodist  preacher,  who 
came  to  St.  Clair  County  about  1814,  and  settled 
in  Lebanon  Townsliip.  Death  came  to  him  about 
the  same  time  as  to  the  paternal  grandfather, 
when  about  the  same  age.  An  earnest  worker,  he 
was  the  first  Methodist  minister  in  this  section,  and 
helped  to  establish  the  first  meeting-houses  among 
the  early  settlers.  A  full  account  of  the  life  and 
labors  of  this  good  man  would  be  very  interest- 
ing. 

Our  subject  was  one  of  ten  cliildien,  eight  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity.  Susan  died  when  about 
forty-five.  She  w.as  the  wife  of  Sampson  Briggs, 
and  left  no  family.  Mary  Ann  died  in  1884.  Her 
first  husb.and  was  Jesse  Berry,  by  whom  she  had 
two  children.  Her  second  husband  was  Isaac  Hall, 
by  whom  she  had  also  two  children.  Mr.  Hall  is 
also  dead:  James  R.  resides  in  Clinton,  Henry 
County.  He  married  Elizabeth  Anderson,  a  na- 
tive of  St.  Clair  County,  and  has  two  children. 
William  N.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-five,  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Lunsford,  .and  left  one  child,  Mrs. 
Marie  Campbell,  a  resident  of  Belleville.  John  B. 
married  Susan  Harrington,  and  lives  in  St.  Louis. 
Evan  B,  married  Amanda  Bell,  and  diedaljout  the 
same  time  as  his  brother  William,  leaving  one  son, 
now  living  in  Clinton,  Henry  County,  Mo.  His 
widow  married  John  Curtis,  since  deceased,  and  re- 
sides in  Clinton,  also.  Joshua  died  when  about 
twenty-one  years  of  age;  Mahala;  and  Sarah,  who 
first  married  William  Huff,  and  at  his  de.Ttli  was 
again  married,  is  now  deceased. 

The  boyhood  of  our  subject  was  passed  on  a 
farm,  where  he  had  the  advantages  of  a  common- 
school  education.  His  marriage  to  Miss  Susan  Tip- 
ton occurred  April  23,  1844.  She  was  a  native 
of  Carter  County,  East  Tennessee,  and  w.-is  the 
daughter  of  James  I.  Tipton.  Her  parents  lived 
and  died  in  Tennessee,  and  she  came  to  Illinois 
with  her  aunt.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Padfield  became  tiie 
parents  of  seven  cliildren:  Martha,  wife  of  Joseph 
Utley,  residing  in  Boone  County,  Mo.,  the  mother 


,o\S. 


pylvrCt 


d/Z^^    iAe/^^^^.^7^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1  sr. 


of  six  c'liildion;  'riionias,  wlio  died  at  the  age  of 
six  yeai-s;  JIatiida,  living  at  home,  single:  John 
C,  living  in  Trenton.  111.,  a  seliool  teacher,  who 
married  5Iiss  .\ddie  Siiaffer,  and  li.as  two  .children  : 
Henry  I...  who  iii;irriod  Reliocca  ( iliene:  Afahnla 
anil  .lames,  whn  ilicil  in  childlinod. 

Oursnliject  lived  in  Mascoutah  Townshi(>  until 
18.J7,  when  he  moved  to  Sumnierflold  and  engaged 
in  the  eolleeting  business.  In  1864,  he  bought 
eighty  acres  of  land  which  are  included  in  his 
present  place,  where  he  has  two  hundred  acres. 
Mr.  I'adfield  h.as  followed  farming  most  of  his  life, 
and  h.as  been  very  successful.  Me  has  occupied 
the  offices  of  Township  Collector,  Constable  and 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  which  latter  office  he  has  iield 
for  the  Last  eight  years.  Our  subject  is  a  member 
of  the  masonic  fraternity,  being  connected  with 
Summerlield  Lodge  No.  344,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of 
wliicii  he  has  been  Treasurer  for  the  past  sixteen 
years.  The  principles  of  the  Democratic  party 
are  adhered  to  by  him.  The  Methodist  Church 
holds  him  as  one  of  her  most  valued  members,  and 
his  position  throughout  the  neighborhood  is  one 
of  importance,  he  being  held  in  highest  esteem. 


&0N.  PKTKR  SKir.EHT,  one  of  the  most 
induential  and  prominent  men  of  St.  Clair 
County,  resides  on  section  3(1,  f^ngleman 
Township.  For  many  years  he  has  been 
before  the  public,  and  is  now  .serving  as  Senator 
from  the  Forty-seventh  Senatorial  District,  a  posi- 
tion which  calls  into  use  his  distinguished  aliililies 
and  keen  judgment. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  lialthaser  Seiberl.  was 
a  native  of  Ilesse-D.nrmstadt,  (icrmany.  and  came 
to  America  with  his  family  in  18o2.  He  first  lo- 
cated on  a  farm  near  Belleville,  this  county,  and  re- 
mained there  for  twenty-five  years.  At  the  end  of 
that  time  he  removed  to  Mascoutaluwhere  he  resided 
until  the  time  of  his  demise.  After  he  came  to 
America  and  became  .acquainted  with  the  political 
issues  of  the  day.   he  joined  the  Republican    party 


and  voted  that  ticket  until  1872,  when  ho  became 
identified  with  the  Liberal  movement,  and  cast  his 
ballot  with  the  Democrats  until  the  time  of  his 
death.  He  left  a  family  of  six  children,  of  wlioni 
our  subject  is  the  fourth. 

The  birth  of  the  distinguished  gentleman  whose 
sketch  now  occupies  our  attention  took  place  in 
Hesse-Darmstadt,  the  home  of  his  forefathers, 
April  24,  1844.  He  had  reached  the  .age  of  eight 
years  when  his  parents  came  to  this  country,  and 
he  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  and  at  Belle- 
ville High  School.  His  schooling  completed,  he 
returned  to  his  father's  place  and  eng.aged  in 
farming  until  liis  marri.age.  which  occurred  in 
18()8.  His  wife  was  Miss  Catherine,  daughter  of 
^Martin  F.idmann.  who  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
this  county,  having  settled  in  Turkey  Hill,  this 
township,  in  1832.  After  his  marri.age,  Mr.  Sei- 
bert  located  six  miles  east  of  Alascoutah.  but  since 
1876  he  has  resiilcd  un  tlie  farm  which  is  his  pres- 
ent home. 

Eight  children  comprise  the  family  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Seibert,  viz.:  Louisa,  Amelia,  Bertha,  Julius, 
Emma,  Rudolph,  Ella  and  Henry  (ieorge.  The 
farm  of  our  subject  consists  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  well-improved  land,  on  which  he 
carries  on  general  farming,  .and  in  connection 
with  this  he  engages  in  stock-raising  and  dairying. 
He  has  made  all  the  improvements  on  this  jdace, 
and  has  a  home  most  beautifully  located,  where 
his  wife  assists  him  in  the  hospitable  entertain- 
ment of  their  friends. 

Senator  Seibert  is  a  member  of  the  organization 
of  Knight*  of  Honor,  and  is  also  one  of  the  most 
|)rominent  members  of  the  Farmers'  Mutual  Benefit 
Association.  Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat,  al- 
though previous  to  1880  he  voted  the  Republi- 
can ticket.  He  was  led  to  become  a  Democrat  be- 
cause that  i)arty  better  expressed  his  views  on  the 
tariff  rpiestion.  He  is  a  very  strong  advocate  of 
free  tr.ade,  and  is  oppo.sed  to  all  indirect  taxation. 
He  is  a  man  of  strong  convictions,  who  always 
does  what  he  believes  to  be  right,  regardless  of 
consequences,  and  has  always  been  a  strong 
worker  in  the  ranks  of  the  party,  .\lthough  he 
has  never  sought  olllce,  office  has  sought  him,  and 
he  served  as  Supervisur  of  the   township  for  three 


186 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


years,  and  School  Director  for  over  twenty  years. 
So  entirely  has  he  gained  the.  confidence  of  liis 
fellow-citizens  that  in  1890  they  elected  him  to 
tlie  lionorable  position  of  State  Senator  from  this 
senatorial  district.  He  has  ablj'  represented  his 
constituents,  and  is  as  strong  a  worker  in  public 
life  as  he  always  has  been  for  his  party  in  private 
life.  He  is  a  great  admirer  of  Henry  George,  and 
lielicves  thoroughly  in  the  principles  advocated  by 
tliat  political  economist.  He  has  named  his  young- 
est son  after  the  distinguished  leader. 


Wl  ULIUS  REUSS  has  tlie  iionor  of  being  a  na- 
tive of  St.  Clair  County.  He  resides  on 
section  3,  Shiloh  Valley  Township,  and  his 
(^^/  birth  occurred  on  a  farm  near  his  present 
home  in  1845.  His  parents  were  Dr.  Adolphus 
and  Caroline  (Raith)  Reuss.  Tiic  fatiier  was  born 
in  the  city  of  Frankfort-on-tlie-Main,  Germany, 
received  a  college  education  and  was  graduated 
from  one  of  the  noted  medical  scliools  of  his  na- 
tive country.  After  practicing  there  for  a  few 
years,  he  determined  to  seek  his  fortune  in  Amer- 
ica, and  in  1834,  in  a  sailing-vessei,  crossed  the 
briny  deep  to  the  United  States.  He  made  his 
first  location  in  Shiloh  Valley  Township,  this 
county,  near  where  our  subject  now  resides,  and 
the  old  homestead  is  still  occupied  by  members  of 
the  family.  Here  Dr.  Reuss  continued  his  practice 
in  connection  with  farming  for  a  period  of  nearly 
a  half-century  and  became  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent and  influential  citizens  of  the  community. 

The  Doctor  was  twice  married.  In  Germany  he 
wedded  Rachel  Jiicho,  who  died  soon  after  coming 
to  this  country,  leaving  no  children.  He  tlien 
wedded  Caroline  Raitli,  and  unto  them  was  born 
a  family  of  nine,  as  follows:  Henry,  Julius,  Caro- 
line; Rosa,  deceased;  Albert;  Augusta,  wife  of 
Charles  Eisher;  Johanna,  Mary  and  Ferdinand. 
The  father  of  this  family  was  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity  in  Germany,  but  never  identi- 
fied himself  with  tliat  order  in  this  country.  He 
was  a  stalwart  Republican  in  politics,  ardently  ad- 


vocating the  principles  of  that  party.  In  his  prac- 
tice, he  was  very  successful  and  won  a  high  repu- 
tion  as  a  skillful  physician.  As  his  financial  re- 
sources, increased  he  added  to  his  possessions  until 
he  owned  four  hundred  acres  of  land.  He  was  a 
great  student,  an  extensive  reader,  and  owned  the 
largest  and  finest  library  in  St.  Clair  County. 
This  is  still  in  the  possession  of  the  family. 

Julius  Reuss  grew  to  manhood  upon  his  father's 
farm  and  no  event  of  special  importance  occurred 
during  his  youth.  The  common  schools  afforded 
him  his  educational  privileges  and  he  remained 
with  his  father,  aiding  him  in  tlie  labors  of  the 
farm  until  after  the  death  of  the  Doctor.  He  is 
now  a  substantial  and  progressive  agriculturist, 
who  thoroughly  understands  his  business.  The 
neat  and  thrifty  appearance  of  his  farm  indicates 
his  enterprise.  He  owns  seventy-four  acres  of 
land  and  devotes  his  entire  energies  to  the  raising 
of  grain. 

In  1874,  Mr.  Reuss  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Sophia  Engelmann,  daughter  of  Louis  and 
Mary  A.  Engelmann.  Four  children  grace  their 
union,  namely:  Caroline,  Josephia,  Theodore  and 
Erna.  The  family  resides  on  the  farm  in  Shiloh 
Valley  Township,  where  they  have  a  pleasant  home. 
Mr.  Reuss  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  sup- 
port of  the  Republican  party,  but  has  never  sought 
or  desired  the  honors  or  emoluments  of  public 
office,  preferring  to  devote  his  entire  time  and  at- 
tention to  his  business  interests,  in  which  he  has 
met  with  signal  success. 


O^p^'IIOMAS  A.  STOOKEY  is  a  prominent  and 
l(f((^^.  successful  grain  farmer  and  stock-raiser  of 
^^0  St.  Clair  County,  residing  on  section  14, 
Smithton  Township.  He  was  one  of  the  sons  of 
Daniel  Stooke}*,  Jr.,  who  was  born  in  St.  Clair 
County  in  1805,  and  a  grandson  of  the  well-known 
Daniel  Stookey,  who  came  to  this  county  from 
Bedford  County,  Pa.,  in  the  year  1800.  'I'he  lat- 
ter made  his  first  iHp  through  here  in  1797  on 
horseKack,  and  in   1800    located    at    New  Design, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


187 


in  Monroe  County,  .•md  lived  there  several  years, 
when  he  located  near  Helleville  and  entered  Gov- 
ernment land.  He  reared  a  large  family,  and  died 
in  1835,  at  tiie  age  of  sixty-foni  years.  His  son 
Daniel  was  reared  and  educated  in  this  county 
and  married  Margaret  Mctiuire,  the  daughter  of 
Thomas  McGuire,  who  came  to  this  county  in 
1818  from  Crawford  County,  Pa. 

.\fler  marriage,  Daniel  entered  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  i:^,  in  Smithton 
Township,  where  he  stayed  until  his  death,  in  1844; 
his  wife  followed  him  September  2,  1862.  At  the 
time  of  his  death,  he  owned  three  hundred  und 
twentj-seven  acres  of  land,  the  most  of  which  had 
been  acquired  by  his  own  efforts.  Of  a  family  of 
seven  children,  six  grew  to  maturity  and  five  are 
still  living,  as  follows:  Our  subject;  George  H., 
who  lives  on  the  old  homestead;  Susan,  the  wife 
of  Eli  Green,  who  lives  in  Florida  and  runs  an 
orange  plantation;  Harbara  E.,  married  to  Robert 
W.  Lemon,  living  in  Frceburg  Township,  where 
they  own  a  farm;  and  Margaret,  the  wife  of  Will- 
iam Pitts,  living  in  New  Athens  Township.  Mary 
Emeline  (deceased)  was  the  wife  of  George  15. 
Short,  and  at  her  death  left  a  daughter,  who  mar- 
ried Peter  IJoler  and  now  lives  in  California. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  .June  '.>, 
1828,  on  the  old  homestead  in  Smithton  Town- 
ship, on  section  13,  St.  Clair  County.  111.  Roared 
and  educated  there,  he  remained  until  twenty- 
four  years  old.  when  he  married  and  removed  to 
the  place  where  he  now  lives,  ^fr.  Stookey  was 
married  September  2.  I8.V2.  to  Cyrena  L.  Short, 
daughter  of  William  1!.  Short,  who  was  born  in 
this  cfiiuity  in  1803,  and  whose  i)arents  came  here 
about  1800,  being  very  earl^-  settlers.  Mr.  Short 
w.as  a  prominent  farmer  of  this  county.  ^Irs. 
Stookey  was  born  October  17,  1834,  on  the  old 
homestead  that  her  fatlier  entered  from  the  (Gov- 
ernment. After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Stookey  moved 
to  this  place  (m  the  2oth  of  October,  18;')2, and  has 
lived  here  continuouslj'  ever  since.  He  has  made 
all  of  the  improvements  on  the  place,  cutting  and 
burning  the  brush,  cultivating  and  enriching  the 
land,  and  now  has  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  the 
neighborhood,  together  with  a  han<lsome  liousc 
and  cap.acious  barns,  and  lives  in  great  comfort. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  vStookey  are  the  parents  of  eight 
living  children,  as  follows:  William,  living  at 
Hillsboro.  Montgomery  County,  III.;  .lames  M., 
on  the  farm  in  Saline  County,  Mo.;  Samuel  K.. 
in  Smithton  Township,  is  a  farmer  on  section  l.'S: 
Mary  E.,  living  at  home;  George,  employed  at 
Pinckneyville.  Perry  County;  .lulius,  Charles  and 
Eben,  :ill  at  home. 

Our  subject  has  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land,  well  improved,  upon  which  are  raised 
large  and  profitable  crops,  together  with  herds  of 
Jersey  cows  and  other  valuable  stock.  Mr.  Stookey 
is  now  serving  his  second  term  as  Commissioner 
of  Highways.  His  children  have  been  given  good 
school  advantages,  and  Charles  and  .Julius  have 
been  at  college.  Our  subject  has  alw.ays  held  to 
the  tenets  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  feels  sure 
that  the  coiintiy  would  be  safe  under  the  niniiaijc- 
meiit  of  its  leaders. 


.'lOIIN  RODENHEISER,  one  of  the  leading 
and  influential  citizens  of  the  city  of  ]>elle- 
ville,  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Horn  A- 
Rodenheiser,  prominent  dry-goods  and 
carpet  niei'cliants.  occupying  an  elegant  store  in 
Belleville,  on  East  Main  Street,  in  the  New  Monk 
Building.  The  building  is  33^x1.50  feet,  and  the 
firm  has  been  located  here  since  March  II,  1891. 
Our  sid^ject  w.as  born  in  Waterloo,  111.,  Ocloher 
18,  18()1.  His  p.arents  were  Ernst  and  Barbara 
(Eschenfelder)  Rodenheiser,  natives  of  Germany. 
The  father  of  our  subject  upon  coming  to  this 
country  w.as  first  a  furniture  dealer,  after  which  he 
became  a  hotel-keeper.  The  death  of  this  esteemed 
gentleman  took  jilace  November  '.K  187.'i,  but  his 
wife  is  still  living. 

Mr.  .lolin  Rodenhei.ser  received  his  eaily  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  at  Waterloo,  and  was 
then  sent  to  the  Christian  Brothers'  College,  at  St. 
Louis,  where  he  graduated,  in  the  Class  of  '80, 
with  the  degree  of  B.  .\.  When  he  first  came  to 
this  tf>wii.  Mr.  Rodenheiser  was  engaged  as  a  clerk 


18.S 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAnilCAL  RECORD. 


for  nine  years,  after  which  he  established  his  pres- 
ent store.  The  stock  he  placed  in  his  business  was 
entirely  new  and  of  latest  designs.  Tiie  store  he 
occupies  is  the  longest  one-floor  store  in  the  county 
and  our  subject  has  it  fitted  up  with  all  modern 
improvements,  with  ten  obliging  clerks  to  attend 
to  the  wants  of  the  large  number  of  customers. 

Mr.  Rodenlieiser  was  married.  May  5,  1886,  to 
Miss  Minnie  Maus.  Two  beautiful  and  engaging- 
children  have  been  tlie  result  of  this  union, 
namely:  Meta  and  Edwin.  Mrs.  Rodenlieiser  was 
the  daughter  of  William  Maus,  one  of  the  old  and 
respected  citizens  of  Mascoutah,  which  was  the 
birth-place  of  Mrs.  Rodenheiser.  Mr.  Rodenheiser 
pays  close  attention  to  his  business,  and  on  this 
account  is  one  of  the  most  successful  merchants  of 
tiie  county,  and  Belleville  regards  him  as  one  of 
her  leading  citizens.  His  hosts  of  friends  proclaim 
him  to  be  one  of  the  best  men  in  the  world. 


|:h^^:h-| 


&0N.  JAMES  P.  SLADE,  A.  M.,  ex-State 
)  Superintendent  and  the  present  Superin- 
tendent of  the  East  St.  Louis  public  schools, 
is  a  gentleman  whose  career  may  be  studied 
witli  interest  and  emulated  witli  profit  bj' young 
men,  for  largely  through  his  own  efforts  he  fit- 
ted himself  for  a  calling  in  which  he  has  achieved 
honorable  distinction.  Energy,  force  of  character, 
sterling  integrity  and  kindness  of  heart  are  his 
distinguishing  characteristics,  and  his  brilliant  yet 
practical  mind  has  been  strengtliened  and  enriched 
l)y  tlie  highest  culture.  He  was  born  in  Albany 
County,  N.  Y.,  February  9,  1837,  in  wliich  county 
his  father,  Leonard  Slade,  was  also  born,  in  1802. 
.lames  Slade,  the  grandfather,  was  born  in  Con- 
necticut, but  became  an  earh'  settler  of  Albany'. 
He  was  a  very  successful  tiller  of  the  soil,  was  of 
English  descent,  and  traced  his  genealogy  in  this 
country  back  to  the  founding  of  Plymouth,  Mass. 
When  a  young  man,  Leonard  Slade  followed  tlie 
calling  of  a  teacher,  after  which  he  followed  in 
his  father's  tootsteps  and  began  devoting  his  at- 
tention to  agricultural  pursuits   in  the  vicinity  of 


his  old  home.  In  politics,  he  was  first  a  Whig,  and 
then  became  a  Republican,  of  which  party  he  was 
an  adherent  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1891.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  was  in  every  respect  an  earnest  Christian.  He 
was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  Park,  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut, and  a  daughter  of  Asahel  Park,  who  was 
born  and  spent  his  life  in  Connecticut.  Mrs. 
Slade  was  born  in  1802  and  died  in  1889.  She 
had  been  a  school  teacher  in  her  youthful  days, 
and  was  possessed  of  rare  intelligence  and  refliie- 
nient.  She  bore  her  husband  three  sons  and  three 
daughters,  all  of  whom  attained  maturity,  but 
only  three  are  living  at  the  present  time. 

James  P.  Slade  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm 
and  received  liis  early  training  in  the  public 
schools,  after  which  he  took  an  academic  course. 
In  1854,  he  entered  the  Fairfield  Seminaiy,  whicli 
he  attended  one  year,  and  the  following  summer 
followed  in  his  father's  and  mother's  footsteps  and 
taught  school,  an  occupation  he  followed  with  the 
most  desirable  results  until  the  fall  of  1856,  when 
he  came  West  and  located  in  Belleville  III.,  where 
two  of  his  sisters  were  living.  He  first  engaged 
in  teaching  in  the  district  schools  of  the  county, 
but  at  the  end  of  one  year  was  employed  in  the 
Grammar  School  of  Belleville,  and  after  a  time  be- 
came the  Principal  of  the  High  School,  which  posi- 
tion came  to  him  unsolicited  .and  as  a  reward 
of  merit.  He  entered  upon  his  work  thor- 
oughly equipped  and  fully  prepared  to  meet 
any  professional  demands  that  might  lie  made 
upon  him,  and  this  has  been  attested  b3'  the 
fact  that  success  has  attended  his  efforts  from  the 
start.  He  ably  filled  the  position  of  Principal  from 
1861  to  1866,  and  then  he  was  appointed  by  Judge 
Hughes  County  Superintendent  of  St.  Clair 
County  to  fill  a  vacancy,  and  so  ably  did  he  fill 
this  position  that  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  of 
service  he  was  elected  to  the  office  and  held  it  by 
re-election  for  ten  years,  at  one  time  having  no 
opposition.  At  another  time  there  were  three  can- 
didates and  Prof.  Slade  had  three  thousand  more 
votes  tlian  both.  While  filling  this  position,  he 
was  Principal  of  the  schools  of  Belleville,  and  be- 
came noted  throughout  the  State  as  an  able  and 
experienced  educator,  as  well    as  a  strict  discipli- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ISO 


nariaii.  Iii  wiitiiig  ami  speaking,  he  is  clear  and 
forcible,  iiarticularly  so  when  addressing  himself 
to  any  sulijeet  pertaining  to  tlie  theory  and  prac- 
tice of  teaching,  and  iiis  reasons  for  his  convictions 
are  always  well  delined  and  reasonable. 

In  187S,  he  made  the  race  for  State  Superinlou- 
dent  of  Schools  on  the  Republican  ticket,  and  so 
enviable  a  reputation  had  he  gained  as  an  instruc- 
tor of  the  3'oung,  that  he  was  elected  by  a  large 
majority  and  tilled  the  position  with  distinguished 
ability  for  hnw  years.  During  this  time  he 
made  his  home  in  Springlield  and  made  many 
journeys  to  different  portions  of  the  .Stiite  on 
business  connec'ted  with  his  office.  In  1878,  he 
purchased  a  one-half  interest  in  Alinira  College,  of 
Greenville.  III.,  and  the  following  year  became  its 
President.  In  1H72,  he  received  the  degree  of  A.  IM. 
from  .Shurtleff  College,  which  honor  was  unsolicited 
by  him.  While  filling  the  duties  of  President  of  Al- 
mira  College,  he  was  Professor  of  the  Theory  and 
Art  of  Teaching  and  of  Mathematics.  He  made  it  a 
school  for  both  sexes,  and  while  under  his  control 
it  greatly  improved  in  various  ways  and  be- 
came widely  patronized.  He  continued  to  hold 
the  position  of  President  until  1890,  when  he 
leased  his  share  and  later  sold  it.  In  1 890,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Superintendent  of  the  pul>lic  schools  of 
K.ast  St.  Louis,  without  any  solicitation  on  his  part 
and  has  since  ably  discharged  the  duties  of  this  posi- 
tion. In  Prof.  Slade  are  strikingly  exemplified  those 
characteristics  and  principles  which  conduce  to  the 
successful  filling  of  positions  demanding  the  dis- 
play of  great  mental  abilities;  and  the  arduous  bur- 
dens that  have  fallen  upon  his  shoulders  have  been 
carried  with  an  ease,  grace  and  dignity  that  have 
rendered  him  distinguished  throughout  his  State 
and  have  made  his  life  a  succession  of  honors. 

He  was  married  in  Belleville  in  1876,  to  Miss 
Ella  Bowman,  daughter  of  Jlrs.  Panny  Bowman. 
Mrs.  Slade  was  born  in  Belleville,  was  educated  in 
the  schools  of  her  native  town  and  in  the  Univer- 
sity of  Illinois,  and  afterward  followed  the  occu- 
pation of  teaching.  She  has  borne  her  husband  one 
child,  Leonard  Tracy.  For  some  years  Prof.  Slade 
was  a  Trustee  of  the  I'niversity  of  Illinois  at 
Champaign,  appointed  liy  Cov.  Palmer,  and  was  a 
jiH'inber  of  the    I'.oard  when  the  new  building  was 


erected.  In  whatever  locality  he  has  resided,  he 
h.as  always  taken  a  prominent  position,  and  while 
a  resident  of  (Jreenville  he  w.as  earnestly  solicited 
by  the  citizens  of  that  place  to  run  for  Mayor,  but 
he  respectfully  declined,  as  he  preferred  to  devote 
his  attention  to  his  profession.  He  has  been  active 
111  helping  to  establish  the  Normal  Universities  in 
the  .State,  and  has  been  Treasurer  and  Vice-president 
of  the  State  Teachers'  Association,  and  w.is  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  .Southern  Illinois  Teachers' 
Association,  of  which  he  w.as  President  at  two  dif- 
ferent times  and  Secretary  a  number  of  years. 
He,  with  others,  was  instrumental  in  creating  the 
Southern  Illinois  University,  and  all  measures  of 
education  and  morality  have  found  in  him  a  hearty 
supporter. 

Almira  College  was  organized  as  a  Baptist  school 
in  18.5.")  by  the  Baptist  Society,  and  I'rof.  Slade,  on 
being  requested  to  purchase  it,  in  1878  bought  a  one- 
half  interest,  but  was  soon  after  elected  State  Sup- 
erintendent, so  did  not  take  charge  of  it  until  188:J, 
when  his  term  expired,  after  which  he  operated  it 
veiT  successfully,  as  above  stated.  He  h.as  been 
prominent  for  many  j-ears  in  State  and  National 
Educational  Associations  and  has  taken  high  rank 
in  his  profession.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  and  for  sometime  has  been  one  of  it«  dea- 
cons. 


]^^-^P=-=— I 


^=^E()H(;E  HEBEHER.  Glancing  at  the  bio- 
(|[  ^-—  graphics  of  successful  men  and  noticing 
A^^l  that  almost  invariably  they  arose  from 
humble  positions  in  life,  it  would  very  naturally 
be  inferred  that  poverty  in  youth  is  a  blessing  in- 
stead of  a  misfortune.  It  is  certainly  true  that 
hardships  in  early  life  develop  sturdy  traits  of 
self-reliance  and  self-denial,  which  often  in  the 
wealth}'  lie  dormant.  There  are  many  citizens  of 
.St.  Clair  County  whose  unaided  exertions  have  re- 
sulted in  prosperity,  and  an  excellent  rc[)resenta- 
five  of  this  class  may  be  found  in  Air.  Heberer. 
This  gentleman  owns  and  operates  a  fiiioly-im- 
i  ])rovcd  farm  on  section  25,  Fayctteville Township, 
iiul  is  iniiijbere(l  among  the  luosl  progressive  and 


190 


PORTRAIT  AND  BlOGRAPmCAL  RECORD. 


enterprising  farmers  of  the  fouiitv.  Upon  his 
estate  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  lie  carries 
on  mixed  farming,  raising  tlie  various  cereals  to 
which  the  soil  is  adapted.  He  uses  tlie  latest  im- 
proved machinery  and  modern  methods  in  every 
department  of  agriculture,  and  the  result  is  that 
he  has  attained  a  degree  of  success  unusual  but 
highly  satisfactory.  His  life  furnishes  an  excel- 
lent example  of  what  may  be  accomplished  by 
perseverance  coupled  with  energy  and  good  judg- 
ment, for  he  was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources 
and  conii)elled  to  be  self-supporting  when  he  was 
a  mere  lad,  nor  did  he  receive  any  assistance  in 
his  efforts  to  accumnlate  a  competencj'. 

As  were  many  of  the  best  citizens  of  St.  Clair 
Count}',  our  subject  was  born  in  Germany,  his 
birth  occurring  in  1837.  However,  he  retains  no 
recollections  of  the  land  of  his  birth,  for  he  was  an 
infant  of  only  eighteen  weeks  when  he  accom- 
panied his  parents,  George  and  Christena  (Weil- 
munester)  Heberer,  to  the  United  States.  His  pa- 
rents were  both  natives  of  German}-,  the  father 
born  in  1810  and  the  mother  in  1809.  The  former 
was  reared  in  one  of  the  villages  of  the  Father- 
land and  in  his  youth  learned  the  trade  of  a 
wagon-maker,  which  he  followed  throughout  his 
entire  life.  His  death  occurred  May  II,  1846,  when 
George  was  a  child  of  nine  years,  and  his  body 
was  the  first  that  was  buried  in  the  Darmstadt 
cemetery.  In  his  religious  belief,  he  was  a  de- 
voted member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  in  which 
faith  he  reared  his  four  children.  They  are: 
Nicholas,  now  deceased;  George,  of  this  sketch; 
Conrad,  and  Christena,  who  liecaine  the  wife  of 
Daniel  Harman.  ' 

Early  orphaned  1)\'  tlie  death   of  his  father,  our 
subject    afterward    remained    at    home    with    his   ! 
mother,  and  was  a  pupil  in    the   public  school  of 
Darmstadt  at  a  time   when   there   were  but   four- 
teen  families  in  the  district.     The  school  was  of  a    I 
primitive    order,    both    in    the  furnisliing  of   tlie    I 
building  and  the  method  of  instruction,  but  i\Ir.    : 
Heberer  made  the  most  of  every  ojiportunity  of-    I 
fered  him  and  became  a  well-informed  man.  "When 
twenty. three  years  of  age,  he  was  united  in  mar-   ! 
riage   with   Miss  Barbara,  daughter  of  .John  and 
Margaret  Schuster,  iind  uuId  theiii  lune  been  born 


eight  children,  only  two  of  whom  sui  vive.  Anna 
M.  is  the  wife  of  Peter  Schickedanz,  and  Adam  I>. 
is  at  home.  Barbara,  who  married  Conrad  .luenei', 
is  now  deceased.  In  his  political  belief,  Mr.  Heb- 
erer is  firm  in  his  adherence  to  the  principles  of 
the  Democratic  party  and  ever  ready  to  support 
the  party  of  his  choice  by  his  intluence  as  well  as 
his  ballot. 


"ji^M.IJAlI  STOOlvEY.  The  subject  of  this 
1^  sketch  is  the  oldest  surviving  member  of  a 
/I' — y/  family  that  is  known  all  over  the  county 
of  St.  Clair.  His  birth  occurred  September  29, 
1813,  one-half  mile  south  of  the  place  of  his  pres- 
ent residence,  in  section  30,  St.  Clair  Township. 
The  house  is  still  standing,  and  is  now  occupied 
by  Mr.  Glad,  a  tenant,  and  is  one  of  the  landmarks 
of  the  township.  The  father  of  Elijah  was  Dan- 
iel Stookey,  a  native  of  Maryland,  who  was  reared 
near  Hagerstown.  Ilis  father  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, who  married  Barbara  Whetstone,  a  native 
of  Virginia,  born  near  the  Maryland  line. 

Daniel  Stookey  .seems  to  have  been  one  of  a 
family  of  pioneers.  His  eldest  brother,  Jacob,  re- 
mained on  the  home  place  in  Hardy  County,  Va., 
to  which  his  father  removed  from  Maryland. 
Abraham  was  the  next  eldest,  and  removed  to 
Ross  County,  Ohio,  where  he  lived  and  died. 
Simon  settled  in  Bedford  Count},  Pa.,  and  Samuel 
went  to  Canton,  t)liio.  Daniel,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  the  youngest  of  the  family  and  was  not 
to  lie  left  behind;  so  he  decided  to  tr\-  the  West, 
but  as  lie  did  not  wish  to  go  alone  he  was  mar- 
ried in  A"irginia  before  starting.  Shortly  after 
this  he  removed  to  Ohio,  settling  near  C'hilli- 
cothe,  and  remained  two  years,  when,  hearing  of 
the  rich  and  fertile  lands  in  St.  Clair  County,  111., 
in  1802  he  started  across  country  and  finally  made 
a  settlement  on  what  is  familiarly  known  as  the 
"old  Stookey  place."  This  became  the  home  of  his 
remaining  years,  he  dying  here  in  183o,at  the  age 
of  sixty-live  years.  His  wife  survived  him  four- 
teen }ea)'s,  dying  in  1849,  aged  sevejit^'-llye  years, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


191 


As  far  as  the  biographer  can  discover,  llie  children 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stookey  were  .Simon,  born  in 
179(j;  Muses,  in  1  71t«:  Aaron,  in  1808;  and  Klijali, 
in  1813.  From  these  brothers  iuwe  descended  the 
members  of  the  .Stookey  family  now  resident  in 
lielleville,  St.  Clair  and  Stookey  Townships  and  in 
Southern  Illinois,  and  wherever  found  this  name 
represents  intelligent  and  honorable  people. 

It  is  needless  to  say  that  the  boyhood  of  our  sub- 
ject was  spent  on  a  farm,  and  that  his  educational 
advantages  were  few.  'J'lie  ioij  schoolhouse  was 
his  temple  of  learning,  and  a  lew  weeks,  or  at 
most  three  months,  in  the  winter  for  a  few  years 
was  all  of  the  time  in  which  he  was  able  to  attend 
sdmol.  The  teachers  of  those  days  were  far  from 
being  the  capable  instructors  of  the  i)resent. 
They  were  strict  disciplinarians,  and  used  the  rod 
without  fear  or  favor.  Having  only  limited  op- 
portunities, it  did  not  take  long  to  impart  all  they 
knew.  Yet  such  use  did  the  early  settlers  make  of 
scant  learning,  that,  combined  with  industrious 
habits,  strong  common-sense,  and  clear-headed 
judgment,  they  grew  to  years  of  discretion  and 
kept  pace  with  the  progress  of  the  country,  accu- 
mulated pro|)erty  and  prospered  generally.  The 
most  of  them  lilled  with  fidelity  and  capability 
the  various  offices  of  trust  and  honor  to  which 
they  were  appointed  or  elected. 

Our  subject  did  not  go  to  school  after  he  was 
sixteen  years  of  age, but  grew  \\\)  on  the  home 
place  and  saw  his  .share  of  hard  work,  and  took  an 
interest  in  the  management  of  home  affairs.  In 
those  days  the  markets  for  farm  products  were  far 
remote,  some  farmei-s  shipping  down  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  Rivers  to  Xew'  Orleans.  The  nearest 
Eastern  market  w.as  Cincinnati,  which  in  1810  had 
a  population  of  twenty-live  hundre<l.  and  lri|is 
there  were  generally  made  overland.  After  our 
subject  left  school,  he  made  several  trips  to  Ohio 
and  Pennsylvania  in  company  with  others,  driv- 
ing and  selling  cattle.  When  he  reached  the 
age  of  twenty-three  years,  he  was  united  in  mat- 
rimony with  Miss  Klinor  Mc(;nire.  l)orn  in  Craw- 
ford County,  Pa.,  March  25,  181;'),  and  whose  par- 
ents moved  to  St.  Clair  County  when  she  was  four 
years  old.  Three  children  were  born  of  this  mar- 
liage;  .Madison  '[',,  borii   Novrmlier  20,  !837   (see 


sketch),  and  living  in  Belleville;  Lafayette,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  four  years;  and  William,  who 
died  in  infancw 

After  marriage  our  suliject  and  \\\(r  lived  eleven 
years  on  the  home  place,  now  a  \i:\\\  n(  the  I.Tud 
l)elonging  to  M.  T.  Stookey.  They  h.ive  m.-ide  the 
present  place  their  home  for  thirty-three  years. 
Mr.  Stookey  has  been  Road  Supervisor  and  School 
Director,  and  in  his  politics  follows  the  faith 
of  his  father,  the  Democratic.  The  farm  of  Mr. 
Stookey  has  in  it  one  hundred  and  thirty-five 
acres,  and  thele  the  fainily  lives  in  great  comfort. 
In  religion,  husband  and  wife  are  in  unison,  hav- 
ing joined  the  Baptist  Church  in  tlu'ir  youth,  and 
have  led  consistent  Christian  lives  ever  since. 
Considering  his  advanced  years,  ]Mr.  Stookey  is 
remarkably  active  and  bright,  and  has  a  genial, 
cheerful,  friendl\-  manner,  and  converses  with 
the  (piick  tone  of  youth.  He  personally  at- 
tends to  his  own  liusiness,  and  bids  fair  to  see 
manv  jears  of  enjoyable  life,  being  of  the  n um- 
ber that  will  never  lose  interest  in  their  own  or  pub- 
lic affairs  so  long  as  they  live.  Sir.  Stookey  is 
happj'  in  the  possession  of  many  cherished  friends, 
whose  intimacy  beuaii  in  their  childhoiid. 


C-'^SCAR  IIKINRICH.  The  subject  of  this 
jjl  notice  is  a  memlier  of  the  lumber  firm  of 
^jf^  O.  Heinrich  and  Company,  and  is  the  oldest 
dealer  in  the  cit}',  having  opened  up  his  business 
here  February  2,  18.55.  He  was  born  near  Dresden, 
Saxony,  Germany,  .Vugust  111,  1820,  was  educated 
there,  emplo^'cd  as  a  clerk,  and  was  apprenticed  in 
a  wholesale  house  for  nine  years.  For  four  year.-i 
he  then  worked  on  his  father's  farm.  .Vt  this 
time  he  decided  to  come  to  this  country  and  left 
home  alone  in  18o:?,  coming  to  Mascfuitah  III., 
and  engaging  there  in  the  lumber  business.  Our 
subject  was  married  to  .Miss  Johanna  Lang,  living 
in  I5elleville,  but  born  on  the  Rhine  in  Pru.s.sia, 
February  1,  1805,  and  who  came  over  in  184!*,  Feb- 
rnary  2,   1855,  he  opened   his  present   business    0|| 


Ht2 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


tlie  !>ame  premises  he  now  occupies.  At  first  Mr. 
Ileinricli  owned  but  tliree  lots,  but  now  the  busi- 
ness occupies  thirteen  lots  on  South  Illinois  Street, 
corner  of  Sixth,  near  the  Cairo  Short  Line  tracks, 
where  the  firm  deals  in  all  kinds  of  lumber,  sash 
doors  and  blinds,  and  also  a  full  line  of  builder's 
material. 

Our  subject  is  Director  of  the  Belleville  Saving 
Bank  and  one  of  the  first  stockholders.  His  feel- 
ings on  political  and  secret  society  subjects  have 
kept  him  from  joining  in  either.  Mr.  Ileinrich 
lost  his  faithful  wife,  Februar3-  o,  1890,  and  onl}' 
one  child,  Ida,  survives,  and  she  is  living  with  her 
father.  Her  sister  Mela,  wife  of  Theo.  Schmidt,  died 
in  Pittsburgh,  ia  1891.  Mr.  Heiurich  occupies  a 
very  nice  residence  on  the  corner  of  South  Illinois 
and  Fifth  Streets.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical 
St.  Paul  Free  CTcrman  Protestant  Church,  is  one 
of  our  best  German  residents,  and  enjoys  the  re- 
spect and  esteem  of  all  who  know  him. 


I>-M<m^-'- 


■ir/OHN  C.  SCHMIDT  is  a  farmer  residing  on 
section  24,  Millstadt  Township,  St.  Clair 
County,  III.,  who  was  born  in  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  on  the  28th  of  January,  1843.  The 
father  of  our  subject  bore  the  name  of  Phillip 
Schmidt,  and  his  mother  was  Rachel  Sibert.  The 
father  came  to  St.  Clair  County'  and  bought  a  farm 
soon  after  his  son's  birth,  it  being  located  partly 
in  Millstadt  and  partly  in  Smithton  Townships. 
Here  our  subject  was  reared,  and  here  he  grew  to 
manhood.  Mr.  Schmidt  received  the  advantages 
which  were  afforded  by  the  schools  of  the  district, 
and  grew  up  with  the  desire  and  intention  of  foU 
lowing  an  agricultural  life. 

In  due  time  he  began  to  think  <if  n  domestic 
hearth  of  his  own,  and  in  IHtlli  he  became  the  proud 
and  happy  husband  of  Miss  Louisa  Kalberteisch, 
daughter  of  Peter  Kalbelleisch,  a  resident  of  this 
county.  Alter  marriage  Mr.  Schmidt  moved  with 
his  wife  to  this  place,  which  he  rented  from  his 
father,  and  wlijcli  lie  bought  of  the  estate  after  his 
father's  death.     He  Uil»  lived  liei'c  iner  sij)cc,  and 


has  reared  a  famil}'  of  seven  fine  children,  who  are 
named  as  follows:  Emma,  George.  August,  Louisa, 
Ida,  Edward  and  Bertha.  They  all  have  enjoyed 
school  advantages  and  will  probably  be  prominent 
people  in  the  county  when  another  Ri;<()i;i)  of  this 
kind  is  comi)iled. 

Our  subject  is  the  owner  of  eighty  acres  of  land, 
upon  which  much  labor  and  expense  have  been 
lavished,  but  which  repays  him  with  magnificent 
crops  of  grain,  wheat  principally.  As  Mr.  Schmidt 
views  the  fine  fields  of  waving  yellow  grain,  he 
must  feel  in  a  great  measure  repaid  for  the  manj^ 
toilsome  days  and  for  the  many  nights  when  the 
setting  sun  found  him  with  such  aching  muscles, 
that  sleep  seemed  impossible.  In  many  ways  Mr. 
Schmidt  is  a  fortunate  man,  and  in  none  more  so 
than  in  his  land,  which  yields  him  a  double  income. 
A  great  part  of  it  is  underlaid  with  coal  and  is 
very  valuable.  Besides  this,  he  has  a  coal  mine  in 
operation  upon  the  land.  Much  of  the  land  along 
this  part  of  tlie  State  is  rich  in  coal,  and  those  who 
possess  it  may  be  considered  among  the  most  for- 
tunate of  property  owners. 

The  improvements  on  the  farm  of  our  subject 
are  superior  to  those  to  be  found  on  many,  as  both 
shade  and  ornamental  trees  are  to  be  seen,  with 
quite  an  abundance  of  fruit,  while  the  fences  and 
buildings  are  quite  up  to  the  average  of  those  seen 
through  this  section  of  old  St.  Clair.  The  Luth- 
eran Church  is  the  one  in  which  the  family  of  Mr. 
.Schmidt  finds  a  home,  in  which  association  they 
are  all  highly  regarded  as  good  and  Christian 
l)eople. 

Politically,  our  subject  is  one  of  the  standi  suj)- 
porters  of  the  Republican  party  in  this  district. 
He  gives  his  vote  and  influence  to  this  party,  hav- 
ing confidence  in  its  leaders.  Of  late  years  Mr. 
Schmidt  has  taken  an  interest  in  and  has  joined 
the  Farmers'  Mutual  Benefit  Association,  in  which 
liodv  he  is  considered  a  valuable  memlier.  He  has 
been  prominent  in  the  public  .affairs  of  the  district, 
and  has  served  his  fellow-citizens  as  Commissioner 
of  lligiiways,  as  District  Commissioner  and  .as 
Scliool  Director.  Mr.  Schmidt  has  always  done  his 
share  in  the  way  of  improvememeiit  nnd  is  con- 
sidered one  of  the  solid  men  of  Hii"  p.Trt  of  tlie 
county. 


Of  ^"f 


(WIVH" 


/^^^:^/.^>^^'^^^2:^^^^^- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOORAPHICAL   RECORD. 


195 


e 


OL.  HUGO  WESTERMANN.  The  Gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States  makes  very 
careful  selections  when  the  appointment  of 
important  ofMcials  comes  up,  and  in  this  case  no 
mistake  has  been  made.  The  revenue  is  a  Very 
necessary  branch  of  public  affairs  and  those  who 
manage  it  must  be  men  of  education  and  judg- 
ment. Col.  Westermann  is  the  Deputy  Collector  of 
the  Thirteenth  District  of  Illinois,  to  which  office 
he  W.1S  appointed  .Tuly  ."51,  i88!t.  He  has  his  olKce 
and  headcpiarters  at  Ik'lleviilc.  and  has  charge  of 
St.  Clair,  Monroe.  Randolph  and  Washington 
Counties. 

Hugo  Westerinanii  was  born  in  Nassau,  (ier- 
many,  December  3,  18"27,  and  was  given  an  educa- 
tion at  the  Polytechnic  .School  in  Carlsruhe,  Haden. 
In  1848,  he  was  drafted  into  the  army  of  Nassau, 
and  served  during  the  War  of  Schleswig-IIolstein 
for  one  and  a-half  years  as  a  piivate  soldier.  .\t 
the  expiration  of  thai  time,  in  September,  181!), 
he  started  for  .Vmerica,  and  after  landing  came  on 
West  as  far  as  Belleville,  where  he  arrived  .January 
2,  1850.  It  did  not  take  long  for  one  of  his  pleas- 
ant appearance  to  obtain  emi)loyraent,  and  he  im- 
mediately became  a  clerk  in  a  store  in  St.  Louis, 
but  soon  stiu-ted  a  store  of  his  own  in  Helleville 
in  company  with  his  uncle  Rubach.  Here  he  con- 
tinued in  this  busine.ss  until  shortly  before  tlie 
breaking  out  (jf  the  Civil  War. 

When  the  guns  were  (ppi-nid  on  Smntcr,  Col. 
Westermann  found  an  eclio  m  his  lireast  which 
made  him  one  of  the  first  to  en  li>l.  lie  was  elected 
Second  I^ieutenant  of  Coni|)any  A.  Ninth  Illinois 
Infantry,  his  commission  being  dated  .Vpril  'i-J. 
18(il.  The  company  was  first  sent  to  Springlield 
and  then  to  Cjiro,  111.,  for  three  months'  service. 
-At  the  expiration  of  that  time,  he  went  out  of  that 
regiment  and  raised  Comjiany  H,  Forty-third  Illi- 
nois Infanti\.  with  a  commission  of  Captain  from 
September  I.  IMlll.  His  regiment  was  sent  to  Se- 
dalia.  Jlo.,  and  from  thcie  to  Si.  Louis  and  I'l. 
Henry.  Ft.  Donelson  and  Shiloli;  then  to  \ick>lairg. 
Helena.  Little  Rock,  relieving  lianks  at  Canton. 
Ark.,  and  then  retreating  to  the  river  for  the  battle 
of  Jenkins  Ferry,  where  they  made  a  good  ll<,dit. 
They  were  next  sent  back  to  Little   Rock. 

For  efficiency   in   service  our  subject  was  |)ro- 

9 


nioted  to  the  rank  of  Major,  April  1,  1864.  and 
was  ai)pointed  Lieutenant-Colonel  April  29,  1865. 
Fortunately  lie  was  neither  captured  nor  wounded, 
although  he  .saw  four  years  and  eight  months  of 
actual  service.  He  was  finally  mustered  out  De- 
cember 1,  18(!.-).  I'lion  his  return  to  Belleville  he 
engaged  as  cashier  in  a  dry-goods  store  and  then 
served  as  liook-keeper  in  the  Belleville  Savings 
Bank,  and  also  engaged  in  the  brick  business.  His 
appointment  as  Deputy  Collector  of  Internal 
Revenue  for  this  district  proves  the  possession  of 
peculiar  and  unusual  ability,  and  he  li.as  served  in 
that  position  with  fidelity  and  tact. 

Col.  Westermann  married  Miss  Bertha  Abend,  a 
sister  ni  the  President  of  the  Bank.  They  have 
two  living  children:  Dorette,  the  wife  of  Herman 
Moeller,  of  Indi.anapolis;  and  Pauline,  wife  of 
Frederick  Paro,  of  this  city.  Col.  Westermann  is 
a  member  of  Hecker  Post,G.  A.  R.  He  h.as  been  a 
brave  soldier  on  two  continents  and  deserves  the 
high  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  as  a  favorite  citi- 
zen and  public-spirited  man. 


sy^c^i^sii 


/j^    r..  C.VRROLL   LL.  11.     .Vniong  the  promi- 

V  //  '"'"''  ■^'""""  ""'"  -'""^  successful  attorneys  of 
1^'  East  St.  Louis  is  our  subject,  whose  high 
reputation  and  material  prosperity  came  as  the 
reward  of  unusual  natural  abilities  industriouslv 
applied.  Mr  was  born  near  Wood  River,  Mad- 
ison County.  III.,  on  the  19th  of  September, 
18.')ii.  and  inherits  thecpiick  wit  and  native  i)olitc- 
uess  of  liis  Irish  ancestors.  His  father.  .John  15. 
Cairoll.  w:i>  born  in  (^ueen 's  County,  Ireland,  .June 
1(1.  l.s.S-2.  rhe  latter's  father  was  a  battle-scarred 
veteran  of  the  ill-fated  uprising  for  Irish  inde- 
pendence in  17!I8.  At  the  age  of  sixteen,  the 
grandfather  of  our  Milijcct  left  home,  and  enlisted 
in  the  light  dragoons  of    the  liritish  arnu'.      \Vith 

hi>  < ii)any  he  participated  in  the  Crimean  AVar, 

and  as  a  member  of  the  "Light  Brigade"  was  one 
of  the  survivors  of  the  ill-fated  six  hundred  at 
P>alaklava.  refeired  to  hv  Tenny-^on  in  iho  foljow- 
ini;  lin<>: 


196 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Cannon  to  right  of  them, 
Cannon  to  left  of  them, 
Cannon  in  front  of  them. 
Volleyed  and  thundered. 
Stormed  at  with  shot  and  shell, 
Boldly  they  rode  and  well; 
Into  the  jaws  of  death. 
Into  the  movith  of  hell, 
Rode  the  Six  Hundred. 

At  the  end  of  his  service,  the  grandfather  re- 
turned to  the  farm  in  his  native  country  and  tilled 
the  soil  until  his  death.  He  was  an  active  man  in 
the  Irish  Revolution  of  1798  and  received  a  pike 
wound,  from  the  effects  of  which  he  died  many 
yours  later. 

The  father  of  our  subject  came  to  America  in 
1M55,  and  at  Alton,  111.,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
McDonald.  About  1858,  he  opened  the  first  coal 
mine  in  Madison  County,  this  State.  After  the 
war  he  engaged  in  farming,  and  in  1871  settled  in 
East  St.  Louis, where  his  death  occurred.  He  was  one 
of  the  most  upright  and  honorable  citizens  and  he 
never  had  a  nickel  or  a  dollar  that  he  did  not 
cheerfully  give  to  one  in  need.  He  never  pledged 
his  word  to  break  it,  and  was  ever  moved  by  the 
noblest  of  impulses.  A  friend  more  true,  a  husband 
or  father  more  kind  and  devoted,  never  departed 
this  life.  He  was  a  man  of  wonderful  constitution 
and  was  never  ill  until  his  last  sickness  in  1884. 
This  developed  into  pleuro-pncumonia  and  lie 
passed  away  peacefully,  as  if  going  to  sleep,  with 
his  sorrowing  wife  and  children  around  him.  Thus 
passed  away  a  true,  brave,  and  generous-hearted 
man.  Me  was  six  feet  in  height,  was  powerfully 
built,  and  was  the  champion  wrestler  of  the  times. 
He  was  City  Marshal  of  East  St.  Louis  for  some 
turn'.  Im  religion  he  was  a  member  of  St.  Patrick's 
Cliurcii.  Mis  wife  was  born  in  Cavaii,  Ireland,  and 
lier  father  died  during  the  cholera  of  1844,  at  St. 
LiMiis,  whither  he  had  moved  a  number  of  3'ears 
previously.  ]Mrs.  Carroll  now  resides  in  East  St. 
I>(iuis  and  five  of  her  children  are  living. 

I'ntii  nineteen  years  of  age,  our  subject  reninined 
(in  Ihc  f:irni  and  attended  the  common  school.  In 
\x7\.  he  (■••unc  til  Kast  St.  Louis  and  clerked  in  a 
groceiy  store  for  some  time,  but  at  the  same  time 
Mttended  night  school,  Lfttor  he  entered  the  High 
Scii'iol  in  lljf  cily,  ai)d  when  nbout  twenty  yenvs  of 


age  began  learning  the  printer's  trade  in  the  office 
of  the  East  St.  Louis  Gazette,  remaining  there  for 
five  years,  when  he  became  the  head  of  affairs. 
Later  he  began  teaching  school  in  the  city  and 
after  following  this  for  eight  years,  four  years  of 
the  time  of  which  he  was  principal  of  the  schools, 
he  began  the  study  of  law  under  the  dean  of  Mc- 
Kendree  College,  Col.  Horner.  In  1887,  he  entered 
the  Law  College  and  graduated  with  the  degree  of 
LL.  B.  in  1889.  Afterward  he  was  employed  on 
the  Post-Dispatch  of  St.  Louis,  also  the  Olobe-Dem- 
ocrat,  and  was  activelj'  engaged  in  his  pi'actice. 

In  the  s|)ring  of  1891,  he  was  elected  City  At- 
torney on  the  Citizen's  Ticket  and  since  then  has 
held  that  position.  His  nuptials  with  Miss  Mary 
Bari'on,  a  native  of  St.  Louis,  were  celebrated  in 
the  j'ear  1880,  and  four  children  have  blessed  this 
union:  Hazel,  Charles,  Audrey  and  Percy.  Mrs. 
Carroll's  father,  Capt.  James  Barron,  was  a  plaster- 
ing contractor.  In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Carroll 
is  a  stanch  Republican,  and  he  and  wife  are  worthy 
members  of  St.  Patrick's  Ciiurch. 


/J^  ARL  M(JNTA<i,  editor  and  proprietor  of 
llf^.  the  Mascoutah  Herald,  and  one  of  the 
^i^'  prominent  and  influential  citizens  of  Mas- 
coutah, has  the  honor  of  being  a  native  of  the 
city  which  is  still  his  home.  He  was  born  October 
6,  1861,  and  is  a  son  of  Louis  Carl  Montag,  a  na- 
tive of  Germany,  who,  in  1848,  came  to  this 
country.  After  a  short  period  spent  in  New 
York,  he  came  direct  to  St.  Clair  County,  locating 
in  Mascoutah.  He  was  a  builder  and  contractor, 
and  followed  his  trade  here  until  his  death.  He 
also  owned  and  operated  a  lumber  yard  in  this 
place.  He  was  called  to  his  final  rest  May  7, 
I860,  but  his  widow  still  survives  him.  Unto  this 
worthy  couple  were  born  four  children,  three  of 
whom  are  yet  living:  Jacob,  a  resident  farmer  of 
Piatt  County,  111.;  Mrs.  J.  N.  Quick,  who  resides  in 
llazelton,  Kan.;  and  Carl,  of  this  sketch. 

Our  subject  spent  his  boyhood    days   under  the 
pttfuijtrtl  vuvf,  Mi(]  thtf  public  svliuuis  sffovJetl  hi«^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


107 


his  edacational  privileges.  However,  at  the  age 
(if  thirteen,  he  left  school  and  entered  the  print- 
ing office  of  the  Mascoutali  Banner,  there  remain- 
ing about  two  nionths.  The  same  3-ear  another 
paper  was  started,  called  the  Maseoutah  Enterprise, 
and  he  entered  tlie  new  olfice,  hut  after  a  short 
time  the  publication  of  the  paper  was  discontinued 
and  Mr.  Montag  secured  a  position  on  the  staff  of 
tlie  Lebanon  Jounio/,  with  which  he  was  connected 
for  about  a  year.  On  the  expiration  of  that  per- 
iod he  entered  the  office  of  a  new  (ierman  paper, 
the  Maseoutah  Anzeiger,  with  which  he  was  con- 
nected for  a  year  and  a  half.  The  succeeding 
year  of  his  life  was  then  spent  in  the  grain  busi- 
ness, after  which  he  went  to  .St.  Louis,  where  he 
worked  as  a  journeyman  printer.  We  next  find 
liini  in  Chicagt),  where  he  worked  at  his  trade 
until  the  fall  of  1882.  lie  was  then  employed  on 
the  Cleveland  Leader,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  after 
which  he  went  New  York  City,  where  he  worked 
at  his  trade  for  a  yeai'. 

On  the  expiration  of  tliat  period.  Mr.  Montag 
returned  to  Maseoutah,  where  he  s|)ent  a  year,  and 
then  went  to  Lebanon,  where  he  {)urchased  the  Leb- 
anon He)-ald,  publishing  that  paper  until  January, 
1885.  when  he  discontinued  the  same,  removed 
the  plant  to  Ma.scoutah,  and  established  the  Mas- 
eoutah/fcra/f?,  of  which  he  has  since  been  editor 
and  propric-tur.  It  is  a  bright,  newsy  sheet,  well 
conducted.  It  is  published  every  Friday,  and  has 
a  large  subscription  list,  which  is  well  de.served. 

June  18, 1891,  Mr.Montag  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  ^L-iry.  daughter  of  Adam  I'faff.  This 
worthy  coui)le  aie  highly  respected  throughout  the 
community  in  which  they  reside,  and  rank  high  in 
the  circles  of  society  in  which  they  move.  In  pol- 
itics, Mr.  Montag  is  a  stalwart  Democrat,  doing  all 
in  his  power  for  the  growth  and  success  of  the 
part}'.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Congressional 
Central  Committee  and  the  Ciiuiity  Central  Com- 
mittee. He  has  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  to  whicli  he  was  elected  in  1X86  and  again 
in  1888.  He  was  also  City  Clerk  from  May,  1889, 
until  May.  1891,  discharging  his  duties  with 
promptness  and  tidelity,  to  the  credit  of  liimsolf 
ftnd  lu  the  satisfaction  of  his  (Minstituents.  .So- 
cially, he  is  t\  luemlier  uf  the  Ocid  Fclhnvs'  societ\ , 


and  of  the  Knights  of  Honor.  Mr.  Montag  is  a 
public-spirited  and  progressive  citizen,  who  takes 
an  active  interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  welfare 
of  the  community-  and  uses  his  influence  for  its 
benefit. 


-h 


^f  UGIST  J.  MILLKK,  a  very  prominent 
W   |l    '^'^*^  general   farmer    and    stock-raiser    of 

'//  Ifc  this  section,  is  located  on  section  .5,  Free- 
'^!  burg  Township.     Here  he  has  a  tine  farm, 

and  one  point  upon  the  place  is  the  highest  land 
in  the  county,  and  has  been  utilized  by  the  I'nited 
.States  as  an  observatory. 

Our  subject  is  the  son  of  Boleei-  .Miller,  who  was 
born  in  Hesse-Uarmstadt,  Germany,  where  he 
was  reared  and  married.  The  name  of  the  mother 
of  our  subject  was  Margaret  Stugert.  Mr.  Miller, 
the  father  of  our  subject,  came  to  this  country 
in  1831,  and  first  entered  eighty  acres  of  land 
of  the  (iovernment,  and  there  lived  until  his 
death.  He  believed  that  ''a  rolling  stone  gathers 
no  moss,"  and  in  his  case  he  found  that  itw.as  bet- 
ter to  find  a  home  and  stay  there,  and  put  all  of 
his  energies  in  one  place.  Here  he  reared  a  family 
of  seven  children,  and  died  in  1875.  Those  of  his 
children  living  are:  our  subject;  John,  who  lives 
in  Freeburg  Township;  Henrv.  who  lives  near  Leb- 
anon, III.,  and  .Adam,  who  resides  in  this  State. 
Those  who  have  p.assed  away  are  Halsec.  Christena 
and  .lacob. 

Our  subject  was  born  September  l.'i,  IX.'iM.  on 
I  lie  old  home  place.  He  attended  the  pul)lic 
schools  ;iiid  there  received  his  education.  In 
18t)8,  Mi.ss  Margaret  Ilainann  became  liis  wife. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  George  H.  llaniiinn.a 
farmer  of  tlii.>  county,  .\fter  his  marriage,  our 
subject  settled  on  this  place.  !ind  has  lived  here 
ever  since.  Mr.  anil  .Mrs.  Miller  liuve  had  a  fam- 
ily of  eight  children;  those  who  h,i\e  been 
taken  from  them  by  death  are  Lena,  .\inelia,  Ida 
and  Bertha;  and  those  who  still  remain  are:  .Iiilius, 
Otto,  K.mnia  and  .Vniiif. 

Mr,  Miller  has  one  hundred  nml  seyeiity-tive 
rtcfes  of  laud,  all  well  impro\ed  and  in  a  line  state 


198 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRArHICAL  RECORD. 


of  cultivation.  Politically,  he  is  a  Republican, 
and  socially  lie  belongs  to  the  Fanners'  Mutual 
Benevolent  Association,  in  which  he  has  been  an 
active  worker.  He  has  been  honored  by  his  dis- 
trict by  being  selected  as  a  Director  of  the  schools, 
and  is  everywhere  regarded  as  a  man  of  good 
iudginent  and  strict  moralitv. 


/AMES  W.  XIKK,  City  Comptroller  and  Ed- 
itor of  the  Journal,  has  been  a  prominent 
factor  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  city  of  East 
St.  Louis,  and  is  one  of  the  representative 
men.  He  was  born  in  South  B^yron,  Genesee  Count}', 
N.  Y.,  on  the  1st  of  April,  1848,  and  is  of  Irish 
descent,  his  father,  Thomas  Kirk,  and  his  grand- 
father, Patrick  Kirk,  being  natives  of  the. Emerald 
Isle.  The  grandfather  was  engaged  in  the  dairv 
business  in  his  native  countrj',  but  at  an  early 
date  brought  his  family  to  America  and  located  in 
Vermont,  where  he  continued  his  former  occupa- 
tion. Later,  he  came  to  Genesee  County.  N.  Y.. 
was  engaged  in  the  dairy  business  there,  and  there 
he  died  when  eighty-one  years  of  age.  His 
wife  lived  to  be  one  hundred  and  two  years  of  age. 
The  Kirk  family  was  originall}'  from  Scotland. 

Thomas  Kirk,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
1812.  passed  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  Vermont, 
and  came  with  his  parents  to  Genesee  County,  N.  Y, 
where  he  assisted  on  the  farm  and  in  the  dairy 
business  until  the  New  York  Central  Railroad  was 
built,  when  he  eng.aged  in  contracting  and  build- 
ing between  Rochester  and  Buffalo.  After  itscoin- 
pletion,  he  was  Assistant  Superintendent  on  llii> 
road  for  years,  but  finally  retired  to  Bergen,  and 
there  died.  In  religion  he  was  a  Catholic,  and  in 
politics,  a  stanch  l^emocrat.  His  wife,  who  was 
formerly  Miss  iSusan  McDonald,  was  born  in  Ireland 
in  1824,  and  while  young  came  with  her  parents  to 
America.  She  is  now  a  resident  of  Rochester,  N.  Y. 
Of  the  eleven  children  born  to  this  wortliy  couple, 
ten  are  living  at  the  present  time,  and  our  subject 
is  the  eldest. 


Our  subject  was  reared  in  South  Byron,  N.  Y., 
and  since  the  age  of  fifteen  years  has  been  con- 
nected with  newspapers.  He  received  his  educa- 
tional advantages  in  the  common  schools  and  later 
began  clerking  in  a  dry-goods  store,  thus  accumu- 
lating sulHcient  means  to  enable  him  to  obtain  n 
better  education.  He  attended  the  Collegiate  In- 
stitute at  Batavia,  and  when  seventeen  years  of 
age  entered  the  State  Normal  at  Brockport,  from 
which  institution  he  was  graduated  in  1869.  He 
had  taught  during  this  time  in  the  public  and 
Normal  Schools,  and  after  graduating  he  received 
a  State  certificate,  afterward  teaching  at  B3-ron  and 
Bergen,  where  he  was  Principal  until  1871. 

In  April,  1871,  he  came  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  just 
after  the  great  tornado,  and  was  employed  for  a 
short  time  by  the  A.  Sumner  Piano  and  Sewing  Ma- 
chine Company.  He  was  sent  to  Kansas  City  for 
a  few  weeks,  and  after  returning  came  to  East 
St.  Louis,  at  a  time  when  the  city  was  beginning  to 
improve  a  little.  This  was  in  August,  1871.  He 
went  on  the  St.  Louis  Daily  Times  as  a  reporter 
from  St.  Clair  County,  East  St.  Louis  .and  Belle- 
ville, and  later  was  with  other  St.  Louis  papers 
and  witii  the  East  St.  Louis  Gazette  as  a  writer  and 
repoi'ter  until  1885.  He  earned  an  enviable  repu- 
tation as  a  writer,  his  articles  being  extensively 
copied,  and  in  that  year  leased  the  East  St.  Louis 
Gazette,  which  ho  edited  until  the  1st  of  tlanuarv, 
1889. 

Previous  to  this,  however,  in  1872,  he  was  ap- 
pointed City  Auditor  by  the  Mayor,  and  held  tliat 
position  in  a  capable  manner  for  five  years,  or  un- 
til 1877,  when  be  became  Librarian  of  the  Public 
Library,  filling  that  position  for  eighteen  months. 
After  this  he  became  Assistant  City  Clerk,  and 
held  tliat  position  for  three  years.  During  the"dark 
days'"  of  East  St.  Louis  he  was  reporter  on  the 
St.  Louis  Republican  and  Globe-Democrat,  and  he, 
with  Mayor  Ste[>hcns  and  otliers,  united  to  form  a 
new  city  government.  This  new  law  was  adopted 
in  the  fall  of  188G.  After  leaving  the  Gazette,  Mr. 
ICirk  established  the  East  St.  Louis  Journal,  edited 
it  under  that  name  for  a  year,  and  then  changed  it 
to  llie  Daily  Journal  in  March,  189(i.  and  is  con- 
ducting it  at  the  present  time> 

In  April,  1887,  he  was  appointed  City    Auditor 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


199 


by  Major  Stepheiiti,  and  in  September.  1888,  he 
was  appointed  City  Comptroller,  yiv.  Kirk  owns 
considerable  real  estate  in  the  city,  including  the 
Journal  office,  which  is  a  two-story  briek  on  Broad- 
wa.v,  at  the  head  of  CoUinsville,  and  hi.s  liand.<ome 
residence  on  Pennsylvania  Avenue.  !Mr.  Kirk  was 
married  in  East  !St.  Louis  to  Mrs.  Mary  (Pow- 
ers) Godin,  a  native  of  Providence,  R.  I.,  and  the 
daughter  of  John  Powers,  who  was  a  joiner  in  roll- 
ing mills.  She  had  one  son  by  her  former  marriage, 
William  J.  Godin,  who  is  pressman  in  the  Journal 
ottiee.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kirk  have  one  child,  .Su.sie. 
Mr.  Kirk  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  has  been 
a  delegate  to  county  and  State  conventions  fre- 
quently. He  has  been  a  leading  spirit  among  the 
Democrats  of  the  city  and  county  since  1871,  and 
has  rendered  the  city  great  and  valual)le  service. 
For  several  years  he  w.is  a  member  and  Secretary 
of  the  County  Democratic  Committee.  Much 
might  have  been  written  of  the  public  life  of  Mr. 
Kirk,  of  the  predictions  that  have  been  fulfilled, 
and  of  the  numberless  occasions  where  his  opinions, 
held  in  opposition  by  the  wayward  views  t)f  the 
unthinking  public,  have  been  justified  by  results; 
but  a  recital  would  not  bo  approved  by  iiim.  lie 
is  one  of  the  county's  most  induential  citizens, 
and  is  a  pleasant,  genial  gentleman.  He  and  Mrs. 
Kirk  are  member'^  <>f  the  St.  ratrick's  Catholic 
Church. 


^Sf^HARLES  DEXTER.  The  adventurous  life 
[1^  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  cannot  half  be 

^^^/  told  in  the  limits  permitted  by  the  publish- 
ers of  the  record  of  prominent  men  of  St.  Clair 
Countj-,  but  this  record  would  be  very  incomplete 
if  there  was  no  mention  made  of  it.  Thirty-eight 
years  seenv  a  short  time  in  which  to  accomplish  so 
much,  but  that  is  the  length  of  time  that  has 
elapsed  since  our  subject  fii-st  saw  the  light  in  Lan- 
caster, N.  H.  He  was  the  son  of  Charles  W.  Dexter, 
who  was  a  very  important  man  in  his  native  place. 
The  stock  was  good,  the  grandfather.  Horace,  hav- 
ing been  a  direct  descendant  from  a  "Mavflower" 


family.  The  latter,  born  in  Massachusetts,  fought  in 
the  War  of  1812,  and  spent  many  years  of  his  life  as 
Captain  of  an  ocean  steamer.  He  finallj'  came 
home  to  Lancaster  and  ended  liis  days  there. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Dexter,  of  this  notice,  became 
Editor  of  the  Lancaster  Weekly  and  was  also  the 
Recorder  of  Deeds  of  the  county  .ind  held  other 
offices.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Caroline 
Smith,  who  was  born  in  New  Hampshire.  Her  fa- 
ther had  served  as  a  drummer  boy  in  the  War  of 
1812,  and  was  a  saddler  by  trade.  Hotli  parents 
liave  passed  off  the  stage  of  life.  Two  children 
were  the  result  of  tlieir  union.  Bennett  W.,  who  re- 
sides in  Jliuneapolis,  and  our  subject.  The  latter 
was  1  eared  in  Lancaster  and  graduated  from  the 
High  School  there.  He  then  entered  a  preparatory 
school  at  New  Hampton  and  in  the  year  1874  he 
entered  Dartmouth  College.  While  liere  he  dis- 
played special  talent  in  the  geological  researches 
and  was  employed  by  the  United  States  Geological 
Survey  Corps  to  assist  during  vacations  in  the 
(ieodetic  Coast  .Survey.  In  1879,  he  graduated 
witli  the  degree  of  A.  B.,  and  then  came  West  as 
far  as  Charles  City,  Iowa,  and  then  spent  one  year 
in  travel. 

During  his  travels  he  penetrated  into  the  wild 
countiT  in  New  Mexico,  where  the  Apaches  were 
giving  the  troops  miicli  trouble,  and  with  the  spirit 
of  youth  and  tlie  daring  of  a  man,  he  joined  the  re- 
gular army  on  the  frequent  scouting  expeditions 
and  had  some  narrow  escapes  from  capture.  He 
was  on  the  Government  Survey-  and  went  through 
Arizona  when  the  Indians  were  in  one  of  their 
most  serious  outbreaks.  He  was  exposed  both  to 
the  wild  animals,  which  still  roamed  over  those 
virgin  forests  and  to  the  reptiles,  but  the  great- 
est peril  was  from  the  treacherous  Indian.  His 
work  in  prospecting  and  geologizing  was  so  satis- 
f.ictory  that  he  was  offered  the  appointment  of  De- 
puty Mineral  Surveyor,  but  by  that  time  his  most 
ardent  desire  was  to  get  back  to  civilization.  In 
1881.  he  reached  Minneapolis,  just  at  the  time  the 
great  real-estate  boom  struck  the  city,  and  he 
immediately  purchased  land  and  laid  out  three 
additions,  Vinton  Heights.  St.  Louis  Park,  and 
Minnetonka  Heights.  Here  he  continued  in  the 
same  lucrative  business  until  the   real-estate  boom 


200 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


struck  13enver  and  there  he  went  and  managed 
some  large  transactions.  He  laid  out  two  addi- 
tions, South  View  Park  and  Montressor  Park,  and 
after  this  was  all  satisfactorilj'  attended  to  he  went 
to  the  Pacific  Coast,  and  then  returned  to  Minnea- 
polis, but  in  December,  1889  he  located  in  East  St. 
Louis.  He  has  ten  .icres  on  Tenth  Street,  on 
Broad waj',  which  he  platted  as  Dexter's  First  Addi- 
tion; then  he  added  Dexter's  Second  Addition  and 
later  Dexter's  Third  Addition,  and  McDonald's 
East  Clearmont  Addition.  He  handles  only  his 
own  property-  and  has  built  about  one  hundred 
residences  here.  He  has  his  office  in  the  Opera 
House  Block  and  owns  a  house  in  St.  Louis.  He 
still  has  interests  in  Minneapolis,  Denver,  Kan.sas 
City,  Chicago  and  other  points. 

Our  interesting  subject  made  a  great  step  for- 
ward in  1881  by  his  marriage.  The  cliarming  lady 
was  Miss  Wyllian  Knapp,  horn  and  educated  in 
Charles  City,  Iowa.  He  is  a  strong  Republican 
and  can  give  many  reasons  in  his  cheery  style  why 
he  is  one.  He  belongs  to  the  Unitarian  Club  of 
St.  Louis. 

Mr.  Dexter  is  a  fine  convers.ationalist  and  his  de- 
scriptions of  killing  deer  and  bear,  and  of  marching 
one  hundred  and  even  two  hundred  miles  without 
sleep  with  loaded  muskets,  when  on  the  way  to  Ft. 
Stanton,  are  very  thrilling.  He  is  one  of  the  most 
successful  business  men  of  this  place. 


<S^Mn.  .1.  EGGMANN,  lawyer,  and  State  In- 
jlU)  spector  of  the  National  Stock  Yards  at  East 
Jj— ^  St.  Louis.  Among  those  who  rank  deserv- 
edly high  in  the  profession  of  law  is  Emil  J.  Egg- 
mann.  who  was  born  in  Switzerland,  March  5, 
1844, to  Conrad  Eggmann,  who  was  born  at  Ro- 
manshorn,  on  Lake  Constance,  Switzerland,  and  was 
a  seaman  by  calling,  which  life  he  commenced  to 
follow  when  a  boy.  He  sailed  around  the  world, 
and  made  many  voyages  to  different  countries. 
He  later  became  first  officer  and  then  cashier  of  a 
steamer  on  tlie  lakes  in  Switzerland,  and  still  later 
became  harbor-master  at  Romnnshorn.     He  died  at 


the  age  of  sixty-six  years.  The  paternal  grand- 
father, who  was  also  Conrad  Eggmann,  followed 
the  calling  of  a  farmer  and  fisherman,  and  died 
when  about  seventy-five  years. 

The  mother  of  Emil  J.  Eggmann  was  Anna 
Kathrina  .leanrenaud,  who  was  of  French  descent, 
but  was  born  in  Switzerland.  Emil  .J.  Eggmann 
was  the  only  scion  of  his  father's  house,  and  was 
reared  in  the  large  manufacturing  town  of  St. 
Gallen,  where  he  first  attended  the  gymnasium, 
and  afterward  the  polytechnic  school,  where  he 
completed  the  prescribed  course.  Following  this, 
he  was  employed  as  clerk  in  a  mercantile  house  for 
some  time,  then  spent  two  years  in  traveling 
through  Southern  Europe.  He  was  a  fluent  speaker 
of  both  (ierman  and  French,  and  therefore  derived 
much  more  benefit  from  his  travels  than  he  other- 
wise would.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  years  he  came 
to  America,  deciding  to  do  so  while  in  England, 
and  with  this  end  in  view,  he  returned  to  Belgium, 
sailing  from  Antwerp  in  .Tanuar^',  1864.  and  land- 
ing at  New  York.  The  Civil  War  in  this  country 
was  tlifn  in  progress,  and  Mr.  Eggmann  at  once 
enlisted  in  Company  F,  Eleventh  New  Jersey  In- 
fantry, under  the  name  of  Emile  .leanrenaud,  and 
was  mustered  in  at  Newark  in  November,  1864. 
He  joined  his  regiment  in  front  of  Petersburg,  and 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  in  the 
Grand  Review  at  Washington.  1).  C,  and  received 
his  discharge  in  .Inly,  I860. 

In  the  fall  of  that  year,  he  went  to  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  and  a  short  time  after  engaged  in  the  general 
mercantile  business  at  Mcredosia,  111.,  but  six  months 
later  began  clerking  in  St.  Louis.  September  19, 
1866,  he  located  in  East  St.  Louis,  and  after  a  few 
years  spent  as  a  clerk  in  a  grocery  store  he  began 
in  the  same  capacity  in  a  hardware  establish- 
ment, and  although  he  experienced  many  ups 
and  downs,  he  in  the  main  was  successful.  In 
1872,  he  was  elected  to  the  position  of  .lustice  of 
the  Peace,  and  during  the  four  years  that  ke  filled 
this  position,  he  dispensed  justice  with  an  impar- 
tial hand.  He  was  also  appointed  as  Notary,  and 
soon  began  the  study  of  law  under  L.  H.  Hite, 
practicing  in  the  Probate  Courts,  and  in  1890  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar.  After  his  term  of  Notary 
had  expired,  he   was  appointed   by   Gov.  Oglesby 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


•2(11 


as  State  Officer  for  the  Prevention  of  Cruelty  to 
Auimals  in  East  St.  Louis,  and  lield  this  position 
three  and  a  half  years.  In  1890,  he  received  the 
appointment  from  Gov.  Fifer  as  Public  Adininis- 
trator  for  .St.  Clair  County,  and  in  February,  1892, 
he  was  appointed  by  the  State  Hoard  of  Live  Stock 
('omniis<ioneis  to  his  present  position,  which  he  is 
ably  filling,  and  which  occupies  much  of  his  time. 
Our  subject's  marriage  to  Mi.ss  Caroline  Manewal 
took  place  in  St.  Louis  in  1866.  She  was  born  in 
Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany,  and  has  become  the 
mother  of  nine  children:  Kmil  W.,  who  is  study- 
ing law  in  St.  Louis;  Dr.  Jerry  P.,  who  is  a  prac- 
ticing physician  of  Chicago;  Horace  .1.,  a  school 
teacher  of  tliis  city;  Katie  .\.,  P^lvira, George,  Aug- 
ust M..  Tancred  C.  and  Riciiard  .T.  ^Ir.  Kggmann 
is  a  Knight  Templar  in  the  Ancient,  Free  and  Ac- 
cepted Masons;  is  a  member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows;  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen;  the  Mystic  .Shrine;  and  the  Or- 
der of  Owls.  He  is  a  Republican,  tiolitically,  and 
belongs  to  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He 
and  his  family  attend  tiic  F.vanaetic.il  Lntlieran 
Church. 


♦^^ 


^^ 


j^R.  H.  .1.  okHAAN,  one  of  the  most  em- 
inent of  Western  physicians,  and,  in  all 
the  term  implies,  one  of  the  most  success- 
ful practitioners  of  medicine  in  the  cit}- 
of  East  St.  Louis,  was  born  in  .St.  Louis,  Mo.,  May 
24,  1858,  a  son  of  J.  .1.  de  H.ian,  who  was  born  in 
Coin,  German}-.  At  the  age  of  seven  years,  the 
latter  began  attending  the  Latin  school  of  Coin, 
where  he  acquired  a  good  education,  and,  upon  at- 
taining the  required  age,  he  enlisted  in  the  Ger- 
man army,  and  during  the  nine  years  he  was  in 
the  service  attaine<l  to  consideralile  rank.  He 
served  in  tlie  Revolution  of  1848,  in  tlie  King's 
Guards  in  Berlin,  and  w.os  later  honorably  dis- 
charged at  Coin.  In  18.')7,  he  came  to  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  with  his  wife,  and  became  manager  for 
the  Saler  Publishing  House,  the  largest  (merman 
establishment   of   the  kind  in  the  West.     In  1865, 


he  located  in  East  St.  Louis,  and  two  years  later 
became  a  real-estate  agent,  and  afterward  general 
paymaster  for  the  Wiggins  Ferry  Ccmipany,  but 
resigned  in  1889.  and  has  since  lived  in  retirement 
at  his  pleasant  and  comfortable  residence  at  No. 
70  Penn.Mlvania  Avenue.  His  wife  was  Catherine 
Rudtge,  a  native  of  Coblenlz.  Germany,  and  by 
her  he  became  the  father  of  two  sons  and  three 
daughters,  one  son  being  now  deceased.  The 
paternal  grandfather  was  born  in  Holland  and  be- 
came well  known  .as  an  architect  of  more  than  or- 
dinary ability. 

Dr.  H.  J.  deHaan  spent  the  first  nine  years  of 
his  life  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  although  he  after- 
ward became  a  resident  of  East  St.  Louis,  III.,  he 
still  continued  to  pursue  his  studies  in  St.  Louis, 
where  he  first  attended  a  German  institution, 
later  entering  the  Sacred  Heart  College  at  Ruma, 
111.,  where  he  graduated  in  the  Latin  course  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  j-ears.  .Succeeding  this,  he 
was  for  about  three  years  Assistant  Railroad  Agent 
for  the  Wiggins  Ferry  Company,  at  the  end  of 
which  time,  as  it  had  always  been  his  desire  to 
study  medicine,  he  became  a  disciple  of  Eseulapius 
in  St.  Louis,  under  the  able  instruction  of  Dr. 
Prewitt.  and  in  1881  entered  the  Missouri  Medical 
College,  in  which  he  remained  until  1883.  In 
order  to  further  perfect  himself  in  his  profession, 
he  went  to  Berlin,  Germany,  in  the  spring  of  1883. 
While  an  attendant  of  Berlin  University,  one 
of  the  professors  under  whom  he  studied  was  the 
now  celebrated  Dr.  Koch.  He  graduated  in  188."). 
with  the  degree  of  M.  D.,  and  soon  after  returned 
to  East  .St.  Louis,  not,  however,  before  he  had 
traveled  over  the  most  of  the  Continent  and  had 
taken  special  medical  courses  in  Vienna,  Paris  and 
London. 

Our  subject  is  fainiliar  willi  both  (iciiiiaii  and 
French,  and  this  aided  him  largely  in  his  deter- 
mination to  avail  himself  of  every  opportunity 
which  presented  itself  to  increase  his  practical 
knowledge  of  his  profession,  and,  in  pui-suance  of 
this  design,  he  attended  the  International  Medi- 
cal Congress  at  Copenhagen  in  1884,  and  after- 
ward visited  the  principal  points  of  interest  in 
the  Scandinavian  Peninsula.  In  1885,  he  opened 
an  office  in  the  First  National  Bank   Building  and 


•202 


POUTEAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  it 
was  not  long  before  the  public  began  showing  its 
appreciation  of  his  ability,  Ids  earnest  effort,  and 
his  conscientious  devotion  to  the  duties  of  his 
profession,  as  it  always  shows  appreciation  of  gen- 
uine merit.  AVith  professional  skill  which  brought 
him  the  best  class  of  patronage,  he  combines  the 
tact  which  makes  fast  friends  of  the  patients  who 
come  to  him  for  treatment,  and  the  closest  and 
most  assiduous  attention  to  l)usiness  has  swelled 
his  annual  income  to  goodly  proportions.  This 
has  also  been  increased  by  judicious  investments 
in  real  estate,  in  which  business  he  has  shown  him- 
self shrewd  and  far  seeing. 

Our  subject  was  the  prime  mover  in  establishing 
St.  Mary's  Hospital  in  1889,  and  since  June,  1890, 
he  has  been  its  Surgeon.  He  was  married  in 
1886  to  Miss  Nell  Bergen,  who  was  born  in  Litch- 
field, 111.,  and  by  her  has  three  bright  children: 
Adrian,  Nellie  and  Marie.  He  has  recently  been 
bereft  of  his  wife,  whose  untimely  demise  occurred 
in  1891.  The  Doctor  has  a  pleasant  home  at  the 
corner  of  Seventh  Street  and  Tennsylvania  Ave- 
nue, and  is  in  receipt  of  a  handsome  income  from 
his  real-estate  ventures  and  practice.  He  did 
much  to  boom  the  town,  and  has  ever  been  one  of 
its  most  enterprising  citizens.  He  is  a  member 
of  St.  Henry's  Church,  and  is  a  Democrat  polit- 
ical 1  v. 


R.  ALKXANDER  FEKLTI-:,  the  etticient 
Postmaster  of  East  St.  Louis,  111.,  and  a 
well-known  physician  of  this  section,  was 
born  in  Buda  Pesth,  Hungary,  December 
2,  1827,  of  wliicli  country  his  father,  Louis  Fekete, 
was  a  Government  officer.  The  latter  died  in  the 
'40s.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  Sabo,  was  born  there  and 
bore  her  husband  five  children,  of  whom  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  the  youngest,  and  is  the  only  one 
now  living.  Dr.  Alexander  Fekete  was  reared  and 
educated  in  the  gymnasium  imder  Jesuit  instruc- 
tion, and,  after  completing  his  course  there  in 
1845,  he  entered  the  University  of  Vienna  as  a 
medical   student;  but  at  the  end  of  three  years  lie 


became  involved  in  tiie  Revolution  of  1848,  in 
wliieh  he  served  during  tlie  eighteen  months  that 
it  was  in  progress.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Le- 
gion of  Vienna,  became  First  Lieutenant,  and  was 
wounded  in  tlie  battle  of  Hermannstadt,  on  the 
10th  of  .lanuary,  1849.  His  wound  was  in  the 
left  thigh,  wliich  prevented  him  from  making  his 
escape,  and  he  was  taken  prisoner.  Three  months 
later,  he  effected  his  escape,  and  made  his  way 
to  Turkey;  in  tlie  spring  of  1850  he  left  Con- 
stantinople with  Kossuth,  on  board  an  American 
vessel  of  war,  and  for  some  time  thereafter  was  in 
the  hospitals  of   London. 

In  the  fall  of  1850,  he  crossed  the  .Atlantic  to 
America  and  readied  New  York  at  the  end  of  six 
weeks.  He  became  a  clerk  in  a  drug  establish- 
ment in  that  city,  but  in  1852  came  West  to  St. 
J^ouis,  Mo.,  where  he  followed  the  same  occupa- 
tion, and  completed  his  medical  studies,  which  had 
been  so  seriously  interrupted.  He  graduated  as  an 
M.  D.  in  1854  at  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College, 
after  which  he  located  in  Clinton  County, and  was 
married  the  same  year  to  Miss  Kate  Fisher,  who 
was  born  in  Kentucky,  a  daughter  of  William 
I  Fisher,  a  tiller  of  the  soil,  whose  father  had  been 
a  Revolutionary  soldier,  as  was  also  her  maternal 
grandfather.  Dr.  Fekete  remained  in  Aviston,  111., 
for  about. five  ye.ars,  and  was  then  a  resident  of 
Marine,  Madison  County,  until  the  opening  of  the 
Civil  War.  May  19,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  ser- 
vice, and  was  made  Assistant  Surgeon  of  the  Fifth 
Missouri  Cavalry,  and  was  in  Mi.ssouri,  Kansas  and 
Arkansas  fighting  bushwhackers.  In  1864,  he  be- 
came Surgeon  of  the  regiment,  witli  the  rank  of 
Major,  and  on  the  14th  of  April,  1865,  vvas  mus- 
tered out  of  the  service  at  Rolla,  Mo.,  tlie  same 
night  that  President  Lincoln  was  assassinated. 

About  May  26,  Dr.  Fekete  located  in  East  St. 
Louis,  and  for  many  years  thereafter,  while  on  his 
long  rides  o\t'v  the  country  to  visit  his  patients,  he 
carried  his  drugs  in  his  saddle  bags.  As  a  medi- 
cal inactitioner,  he  has  shown  the  same  tenacity  of 
purpose  and  the  same  devotion  to  duty  that  he 
showed  upon  the  field  of  battle  in  two  hemispheres, 
and  his  painstaking  professional  effort  has  placed 
him  in  an  independent  financial  condition.  He 
is  a  practitioner  of  the  homeopathic   school,  and 


■l/.i 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


20.1 


has  been  siuce  1><77.  In  the  year  18«0.  he  made  the 
race  for  County  Coroner  on  the  (iarfield  ticket, 
but  the  county  wns  largely  Democratic,  and  he  was 
defeated  by  a  small  majority.  In  December.  1889. 
he  was  appointed  Postmaster  of  East  .'^t.  Louis  by 
President  Harrison,  and  on  the  1st  of  February. 
1h;iO,  he  entered  upon  his  duties.  At  that  time  it 
was  a  third-cl.i,ss  ollice.  but  it  is  now  second-ciass, 
and  h.is  a  free  delivery. 

The  Doctor  h:us  a  pleasant  residence  at  No.  "223 
Collinsville  Avenue,  where  he  and  his  family  dis- 
pense a  refined  hospitality.  lie  lias  two  children. 
Thomas  L.  and  Ida  M.  The  Doctor  has  been  As- 
sistant County  Physician  for  years, and  was  Health 
Ollicer  also  for  some  yeai-s.  Politically,  he  is  a 
strong  Republican. 


-^^ 


ONHAI)  RKINKCKK.  of  Belleville,  is  Presi- 
dent and  owner  of  the  m.ajority  of  stock  in 
the  Reinecke  Coal  Company,  beside  which 
he  owns  extensive  mining  interests  near  the  Louis- 
ville it  Nashville  Depot  and  at  Madisonville, 
K}-.  Born  in  Martsausen,  Kurhessen,  German}-, 
May  19,  1844,  our  subject  is  a  son  of  Frederick 
and  Mary  (Oundl.icli)  Reinecke,  who  became  resi- 
dents of  Belleville.  111.,  in  18.')(i.  The  father  had 
learned  the  miller's  trade  in  his  native  land,  but 
after  becoming  a  resident  of  America  he  did  not 
engage  in  any  special  business.  His  famih*  con- 
sisted of  two  sons  and  two  daughtci-s,  of  whom 
the  onl}-  survivors  are  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
and  one  sister,  Eleanor,  the  wife  of  John  Brown. 
Both  parents  died  in  this  country. 

Conrad  Reinecke  acquired  a  practical  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  .St.  Clair  County  and  made 
fair  progress  in  his  studies,  as  he  was  an  ambitious 
youth  and  w.as  anxious  to  obtain  suHicient  educa- 
tion to  fit  him  for  the  practical  duties  of  life. 
After  leaving  school,  he  turned  his  attention  to 
blacksmithing,  at  which  he  worked  until  186.5.  he- 
coming  thoroughly  proficient  in  the  business.  At 
the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  he  began  coal-mining 
as    superintendent     and    manager    for    .Tohn    A. 


Reeves,  with  whom  he  remained  until  1871.  At 
that  time,  having  through  economy  and  prudence 
ac<|iiired  sufficient  means,  he  became  a  partner  of 
William  M.  Reeves,  a  son  of  his  former  employer, 
in  operating  a  mine  at  Reeves  Station.  At  the 
end  of  three  years  he  came  to  the  conclusion  that 
he  could  make  more  money  if  he  embarked  in 
!)usiness  alone,  and  with  this  object  in  view  he 
leased  some  coal  land  and  sank  a  shaft,  which  he 
is  still  operating.  lie  has  gradually  increased  it 
to  its  present  capacity  and  now  takes  out  about 
seven  thousand  bushels  of  coal  per  da\-.  He  has 
shipped  .OS  many  as  fifteen  thousand  busliels  per 
day  on  the  Louisville  &  Nashville  Railroad  and 
gives  employment  to  about  fifty  men.  He  has 
purchased  the  coal  underneath  about  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  and  has  been  an  important 
factor  in  the  development  of  the  bituminous  coal 
resources  of  Western  Illinois. 

The  mine  of  which  Mr.  Reinecke  is  owner  is 
ei|uipped  with  all  the  necessary  machinery  and 
appliances  for  the  successful  operation  of  the  busi- 
ness, and  the  maii.agcment  and  practical  details  of 
the  work  are  in  the  hands  of  a  man  who  is  thor- 
oughly familiar  with  ever\-  branch  of  the  business. 
He  is  the  organizer  of  the  Reinecke  Coal  Company, 
which  has  a  capital  stock  of  ¥100,000  paid  up.  I. 
Baile}-  is  the  Secretary  of  this  company,  also  Treas- 
urer and  General  Manager.  Shipments  of  hiscoal 
are  made  exclusively  by  rail  to  all  parts  of  the 
South,  where  the  product  of  his  mine  is  especially 
noted  as  a  superior  tiuality  and  is  in  large  demand 
throughout  the  territor}"  covered  by  his  trade. 

Through  his  own  efforts  Mr.  Reinecke  has  at- 
tained to  his  present  enviable  financial  condition, 
and  h.os  the  unbounded  satisfaction  of  knowing 
that  he  is  not  beholden  to  any  one  for  the  prop- 
erty he  h.as  .icquired,  or  for  the  success  with  which 
his  efforts  have  been  attended.  He  has  done  much 
for  the  community  in  which  he  is  located,  and  as 
a  business  man  h.is  the  respect  of  all  with  whom 
he  has  had  busines.-  relations.  He  is  decidedly 
pr.actical  in  his  views,  has  always  been  a  keen  ob- 
server and  h.as  had  the  good  judgment  to  grasp  at 
every  opportunity  that  presented  itself  for  tlie  ad- 
vancement of  his  interests,  but  never  at  the  ex- 
pense of  others. 


206 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


February  19,  1884,  Mr.  Reinecke  married  Amelia 
M.  Herman,  of  Belleville,  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
Herman,  a  Bohemian  by  birth,  their  union  resulting 
in  the  birtli  of  one  child,  Harrison.  He  was  first 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eliza  Reeves,  and 
by  her  became  the  father  of  three  children:  Caro- 
line, wife  of  John  Fenn,  of  Belleville;  Clara,  and 
Fred,  who  is  attending  school.  Mr.  Reinecke  and 
his  family  aie  attendants  at  and  supporters  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Cluirch. 


II^R.  H.  C.  FAIRBROTHER.  There  are  men, 
I  )))  and  the  number  is  by  no  means  small,  who 
V^  drift  into  what  we  are  accustomed  to  look 
upon  as  the  learned  professions  in  the  same  way 
that  thousands  of  men  in  the  lower  walks  of  life 
drift  into  the  ordinary  bread-winning  occupations. 
Having  no  special  preference  for  any  calling,  and 
without  feeling  that  they  have  any  particular  fit- 
ness for  a  certain  profession,  they  find  themselves 
drifting  in  that  direction  as  a  result  of  associa- 
tions or  environments,  and  in  the  course  of  time 
they  also  find  themselves  shouldering  responsibili- 
ties for  which  they  have  scant  liking,  carrying 
burdens  which  rest  heavily  upon  them,  and  labor- 
ing in  a  field  which  has  for  them  no  attraction 
other  than  what  it  yields  in  the  way  of  annual  in- 
comes. Dr.  Fairbrother  impresses  even  those  who 
meet  him  in  a  casual  way  as  a  man  who  has  drifted 
easily  and  naturally  into  the  medical  profession, 
who  realizes  that  he  has  made  no  mistake  in  the 
choice  of  his  vocation,  and  who  feels  thoroughly 
at  home  in  the  position  which  he  occupies.  This 
impression  deepens  with  a  more  intimate  acquaint- 
ance and  familiarity  with  the  history  of  his  life, 
and  leads  to  the  unbiased  and  impartial  view,  that 
the  splendid  success  which  he  has  achieved  is  the 
logical  sequence  of  talent  rightly  used,  together 
with  energy  and  industrj*  never  misapplied. 

Dr.  Fairbrother  was  born  near  the  village  of 
Bonaparte,  Van  Buren  County,  Iowa.  His  father, 
Henry  Fairbrother,  and  his  grandfather  of  the  same 


name,  were  from  Lancashire,  England.  His  mother, 
Frania  Tollman,  now  in  her  eighty-sixth  year,  is 
of  hardy  New  England  slock  that  can  Ije  traced 
back  to  near  the  time  of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers.  The 
Tollman  family,  in  April,  1788,  assisted  in  the  lay- 
ing out  and  settlement  of  the  city  of  Marietta, 
Ohio.  In  June,  1844,  Dr.  Fairbrother's  parents, 
lured  by  the  flattering  reports  of  greater  prosperity 
in  the  West,  started  upon  a  Westward  journey,  and 
halted  at  St.  Louis  during  the  very  high  water  of 
that  season.  The  St.  Louis  of  that  day  presented 
few  attractions  at  best,  but  at  that  time  all  the  houses 
on  the  river  front  were  half  buried  in  water,  and 
boats  landed  and  received  their  freight  from  the 
second-story  windows.  Looking  to  the  East  over 
the  present  site  of  East  St.  Louis,  there  was  pre- 
sented to  the  view  nothing  but  one  broad  expanse 
of  water.  Not  attracted  by  anything  in  the  out- 
look here,  these  homeless  emigrants,  with  very 
meagre  possessions  and  five  little  children,  wended 
still  further  their  journey  toward  the  setting  sun. 
They  finally  settled  in  the  interior  of  the  new 
State  of  Iowa,  then  hardly  more  than  a  wil- 
derness, inhabited  by  the  red  man  and  the  buf- 
falo. In  this  wild  country  home,  in  a  log  house, 
for  there  was  no  other  kind,  on  the  19th  of 
June,  1845.  Heniy  C.  Fairbrother  was  born.  After 
a  few  years'  residence  here,  the  family,  now 
ten  in  number,  removed  to  Clark  County,  Mo., 
where  they  followed  the  occupation  of  farming. 

Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  Henry,  al- 
though only  sixteen  j'ears  of  age,  with  his  two 
elder  brothers,  Philo  and  John,  entered  the  Union 
army  and  went  South  in  the  conflict  of  States. 
They  were  all  wounded — Philo  but  slightly,  John 
permanently  crippled  by  two  musket-ball  shots  at 
the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  and  Henry  having  his 
right  arm  badly  shattered  in  a  night  engagement 
with  Thompson's  band  of  guerrillas  in  Southeast 
Missouri.  At  the  close  of  the  war,  he  received  his 
discharge  in  St.  Louis,  and  returned  to  his  old 
home  on  the  farm  in  Clark  County.  It  was  found, 
however,  that  the  adventures  and  exciting  scenes 
of  more  than  three  years  of  army  life  had  robbed 
the  plow  and  the  hoc  of  their  former  charms. 
Realizing  that  his  education  had  been  almost  lost 
sight  of,  he  began  to  cast  about  as  to  how  he  should 


PORTRAIT  AM)  BIOGRAPHICAL    KFXORD. 


•i((7 


retrieve  this  loss.  Upon  the  advice  of  his  mother, 
and  brother  John,  wlio  was  then  a  student  there, 
lie  heff.an  an  aeademic-al  course  at  Denmark,  Iowa, 
graduating  in  the  classical  course  of  four  \-ears,  in 
18(58.  at  wliieli  time  lie  was  valedictorian  of  his 
class.  During  the  greater  part  of  this  time  he  was 
dependent  upon  his  own  resources,  and  earned  tlie 
means  for  iiis  support  either  by  tlie  occasional 
teaching  of  a  term  of  school  or  by  various  kinds 
of  manual  labor.  After  graduating  he  continued 
teaching  for  about  one  year,  when  he  began  the 
study  of  medicine  under  tlie  direction  of  Dr.  An- 
gear,  at  Ft.  ^ladisoii.  Iowa.  He  remained  here 
for  a  year  and  a  half,  maintaining  himself  in  the 
meantime  by  work  in  a  drug  store,  after  wiiich  he 
came  to  St.  I.oiiis  and  entered  the  St.  Louis  Medical 
College. 

During  the  Krst  year  of  his  ct>urse  his  expenses 
were  defrayed  by  various  kinds  of  work,  chiefly 
in  the  ortice  of  the  old  Times  newspaper.  At  the 
end  of  this  time,  upon  the  advice  of  his  professor, 
Dr.  Gregory,  he  opened  an  office  for  the  practice 
of  medicine  on '•  The  Island  "  in  East  St.  liOuis. 
A  pasteboard  card  with  the  name  and  new  title  upon 
it  was  tacked  upon  the  door  of  a  room  in  Ixivings- 
ton's  Row.  The  furniture  that  decorated  this 
office  was  unearthed  from  the  cellar  of  Con  Fal- 
lon's saloon  on  tiie  corner  of  Sixth  and  Chestnut 
Streets,  having  gone  through  a  sufficient  number 
of  bar-room  fights  to  be  retired  from  active  busi- 
ness. What  this  furniture  lacked  in  quality  it 
made  up  in  ijuantity,  as  it  formed  a  fair-sized  load 
for  a  one-horse  coal  wagon  that  was  passing  that 
way,  and  tlie  teaming  cost  but  a  trifle.  But  as  luck 
would  have  it.  tiie  office  had  two  rooms,  and  every 
chair  and  table  that  had  less  than  three  legs  was 
relegated  to  the  back  room.  Notwithstanding  the 
few  attractions  presented  either  in  furniture  or 
medical  skill,  a  few  straggling  patients  began  to 
appear,  an  occasional  (inergency  call  was  made, 
and  tlie  Doctor,  for  now  he  was  styled  such,  man- 
aged to  procure  enough  in  the  way  of  fees  to  bear 
the  few  expenses  incurred  and  complete  his  medi- 
cal education,  graduating  in  March,  1872. 

In  December  of  the  same  year,  having  obtained 
a  pretty  fair  start  in  his  profession,  he  was  mar- 
ried  to  Miss  Mildred    .\.  Carpenter,  a  teacher  in 


the  public  schools  of  St.  Louis,  who  died  of  child- 
bed fever  in  September,  1882.  A  few  days  after 
her  death,  Eva,  their  first-born,  a  bright  little  girl 
in  her  ninth  year,  died  of  scarlet  fever.  Still  liv- 
ing from  this  union  are  Raymond,  now  in  his  six- 
teenth year,  and  Mildred  in  iier  tenth  year.  In 
April,  1883,  Dr.  Fairbrotlier  was  apjiointed  by  Gov. 
Hamilton  as  a  Trustee  of  the  State  Normal  Uni- 
versity, at  Carbondale.  During  the  fall  of  this 
year,  in  order  to  be  better  fitted  for  the  discharge 
of  the  duties  of  this  position,  he  visited  a  number 
of  the  Normal  Schools  of  the  Eastern  States,  chiefly 
those  of  New  York  and  Boston,  and  made  careful 
observations  of  their  methods,  and  brought  back 
with  him  many  suggestions  with  regard  to  the 
conducting  of  these  schools.  He  had  scarcely  re- 
turned, when  their  magnificent  University  build- 
ing, erected  at  a  cost  of  %300,000.  was  consumed 
by  fire.  As  the  State  does  not  insure  its  proj)- 
erty,  there  was  no  insurance  on  tlie  building,  and 
many  were  the  fears  that  were  felt  about  obtain- 
ing an  appropriation  for  its  rebuilding.  Dr.  Fair- 
brother,  accompanied  by  Judge  J.  B.  Messick  and 
John  B.  Lovingston,  went  imraediatel}-  to  Spring- 
field and  laid  before  the  Governor  a  petitlcui  to 
call  a  special  session  of  the  Legislature  to  make 
this  appropriation.  The  petition  failed  so  far  as 
calling  of  the  session  was  concerned,  hut  it  suc- 
ceeded in  all  that  was  expected.  It  caused  the 
subject  to  be  so  freely  published  and  discussed 
throughout  the  State,  that  when  the  regular 
session  occurred,  the  members  were  so  familiar 
with  the  matter  that,  with  veiy  little  trouble,  the 
appropriation  was  secured. 

Dr.  Fairbrother  gave  personal  attention  to  tlie 
erection  of  the  new  building,  which  was  one  year 
in  construction  and  is  the  finest  school  building  in 
the  State,  and  equal  to  any  in  the  United  States. 
In  November,  1884,  he  w.as  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Kate  H.  ilerry,  also  a  teacher  in  the  i)ublic 
schools  of  St.  Louis,  from  which  union  there  have 
been  born  Henry  Merry,  who  died  when  a  little 
over  one  year  of  .age,  and  Katie  May,  now  in  her 
fifth  year.  For  the  past  eighteen  years  Dr.  l-'air- 
brother  has  been  an  active  member  of  the  St.  Louis 
Medical  Society.  He  is  a  member  of  the  St.  Clair 
Countv  Medical   Society,   of  which  he  is  now  the 


208 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


presiding  officer.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi Valley  Medical  Association,  and  during 
tUe  meeting  of  that  body  in  St.  Louis  in  1861,  as 
Cliairman  of  the  Committee  of  Arrangements,  he 
did  much  to  promote  its  success.  He  is  now  Sur- 
geon for  the  various  railroads  entering  East  St. 
Louis,  and  also  for  the  St.  Louis  Bridge  Company. 
Although  a  sincere  student  of  medicine  and  sur- 
gery and  actively  engaged  in  professional  work, 
he  has  always  found  time  to  devote  to  whatever 
concerned  the  interests  of  his  fellow-men.  He 
has  always  been  a  strong  advocate  and  supporter 
of  liberal  education  and  has  devoted  both  time 
and  mone}'  to  the  elevation  of  the  public  schools 
of  East  St.  Louis,  and  in  securing  their  freedom 
from  entanglement  with  religious  dogmas. 

In  public  meetings  for  the  promotion  of  the 
general  good,  he  is  an  active  participant,  and  upon 
all  committees  where  active  work  is  required,  his 
name  usually  appears.  At  the  present  time  he  is 
a  member  of  the  relief  committee  for  the  sufferers 
from  high  water,  and  a  great  deal  of  his  time  is 
occupied  in  adjusting  their  claims  and  distributing 
funds.  He  has  also  given  due  attention  to  the 
business  side  of  life,  and  has  succeeded  in  accumu- 
lating a  verj'^  fair  competence.  He  is  Vice-presi- 
dent of  the  First  National  Bank  of  East  St.  Louis 
and  is  a  member  of  its  discount  board.  He  is  of 
a  very  social  nature  and  domestic  habits,  and  takes 
great  pride  in  his  grounds  and  lesidence  which  is 
adorned  by  many  beautiful  paintings.  In  politics, 
he  is  Republican,  and  in  his  theory  of  life  he  is 
guided  by  the  principle  of  love  and  service  to  his 
family  and  mankind. 


=» — ■■ ;i 


^^EORGE  L.  CORLIS.  The  grandfather  of 
II  j_.  tlie  pleasant  gentleman  whose  sketch  it 
'^^^  gives  us  pleasure  to  place  before  the  readers 
of  the  Ri;roiii>  was  an  English  Captain  who  brought 
his  famil3'  to  America.  His  vessel  was  afterward 
lost,  while  it  was  chartered  by  the  United  States 
Government,  and  is  now  in  the  French  Spoliation 
Claim.     In  the  meantime,  he  had  located  in  Ken- 


tucky, and  there  practiced  medicine,  in  which  he 
had  graduated  before  he  went  upon  the  sea.  He 
spent  his  last  days  in  Metropolis,  111. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Edwin  Corlis, 
who  was  reared  in  Brookville,  Ky.,  where  he  re- 
ceived a  good  education  and  became  a  teacher, 
which  profession  he  followed  for  eleven  years, 
partlj'  in  Kentucky  and  partly  in  Metropolis,  111., 
seven  years  as  the  Principal  of  a  school.  He  then 
became  a  general  broker  and  is  now  traveling 
over  the  West.  He  has  alwaj'S  been  very  much 
interested  in  school  advancement  and  has  served 
as  School  Director  and  Trustee  of  Metropolis  since 
he  stopped  teaching.  He  believes  in  Free  Trade 
and  is  a  Democrat  from  principle.  The  mother  of 
our  subject  was  Sallie  Scott  who  was  born  in  Ohio, 
near  Cincinnati,  and  was  the  daughter  of  William 
Scott,  a  native  of  Scotland,  who  became  a  farmer 
in  Southern  Ohio,  and  spent  his  last  days  there. 
His  eldest  son,  William,  is  now  a  Chaplain  in  the 
regular  army  of  the  LTnited  States.  Both  parents 
afHliated  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  was  one  of 
four  children,  as  follows:  Edwin,  George,  Thrift, 
and  Scott.  George  was  born  in  Metroi)olis,  111., 
May  26,  1868,  and  was  reared  in  the  place  of  his 
birth.  He  attended  the  common  schools  tliere  and 
completed  the  High  School  course  in  Cairo,  which 
he  accomplished  when  he  was  seventeen  years  old. 
He  then  returned  to  Metropolis  and  began  the 
study  of  law  under  the  guidance  of  ex-Supreme 
Judge  Mulkey  and  his  son,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained for  several  years.  In  1888,  he  entered  Mc 
Kendree  College  and  graduated  from  there  in  1891 
with  the  degree  of  LL.  B.  lie  had  been  practic- 
ing in  Metropolis  during  his  vacation,  and  his  first 
case  was  one  of  murder,  when  the  brilliant  j'oung 
lawyer  had  the  delight  of  securing  the  acquittal  of 
his  client.  In  the  spring  of  1891,  he  became  a 
partner  with  W.  W.  Edwards,  the  Dean  of  the  law 
department  of  McKendree  College,  and  is  now  lo- 
cated in  the  Flannigan  Building,  wlieie  the  firm 
eno'ages  in  a  regular  law  practice. 

Mr.  Corlis  is  not  disappointing  his  friends,  who 
predicted  from  his  college  triumph,  that  he  would 
make  a  name  in  the  future.  He  w.as  twice  selected 
by  his  classmates  to  take  the  President's  chair  in 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


209 


If 


the  Platonian  Society  and  was  the  salutatorian  of 
his  cl.ass.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  tlie  church  of  his  parents,  and  is  proud 
of  the  connection.  The  Democratic  party  finds  in 
liim  a  valiant  champion,  and  we  maj-  venture  to 
predict  great  things  for  this  young  son  of  a  college 
that  has  sent  out  many  prominent  men  in  the  last 
half-centurv. 


11^^51  m\]^  lo^aii^' 


oris  BOISME^■UE,  Chief  Clerk  in  the  Heim 
jj,  Brewery  of  East  St.  Louis,  and  a  reiMc- 
^  sentative  of  one  of  the  very  oldest  families 
of  the  Mississippi  Bottoms,  is  a  native  of  East  St. 
Louis,  born  on  the  9th  of  June,  1861.  His  father, 
Louis  Boismenue,  was  a  native  of  Cahokia.  this 
State,  but  the  grandfather,  Louis  Boismenue,  was 
a  native  of  sunny  France,  born  in  the  southwest- 
ern part.  When  still  a  single  man,  the  latter  came 
to  America,  settled  in  the  bottoms  of  the  Missis- 
sippi River,  and  followed  agricultural  pursuitii  in 
Cahokia  after  his  marriage  and  until  his  death. 

His  son.  the  father  of  our  subject,  grew  to  man- 
hood on  this  farm,  .and  when  eighteen  or  nineteen 
years  of  age  went  overland  to  California  with  oxen 
and  horses.  He  remained  there  several  years  en- 
giiged  in  mining,  and  then  returned  to  the  East, 
where  he  tilled  the  soil  for  some  time.  Later,  he  was 
engaged  in  freighting  and  trading  in  produce  and 
provisions  with  the  soldiers  at  the  Western  forts, 
ffoing  .as  far  West  as  Ft.  Laramie  during  the  war. 
When  the  railroad  came  to  St.  Joseph,  he  went 
from  there  West  for  a  few  years.  After  thi.s,  he 
was  engaged  in  the  livery  business  on  Main  and 
Third  Streets  f()r  four  years,  but  subsequently  be- 
came Cashier  of  the  East  .St.  ].,ouis  Bank,  with  Col. 
J.anott  as  President,  ilr.  Boismenue  held  that 
position  until  he  had  to  retire  on  account  of  ill- 
ness, and  was  succeeded  by  our  subject.  He  died 
in  188."i.  wlien  fifty-six  years  of  age.  He  was  Alil- 
erman  in  the  city  for  some  time,  and  in  politics 
was  a  Republie.-ni.  He  held  membership  in  the 
Catholic  Church.  He  married  Miss  Josphine  Jar- 
rolt,  a  native  of  E:wt  Si.  Louis  and  the  daughter 


of  Col.  Vital  Jarrott,  who  was  a  native  of  Cahokia, 
this  State.  The  grandfather,  Nicholas  Jarrott,  was 
a  native  of  France  and  was  one  of  the  first  pio- 
neers in  this  section.  He  was  a  trader  and  ran  flat- 
boat*  to  New  Orleans,  being  at  the  time  of  his 
death  one  of  the  largest  owners  in  the  Bottoms. 

Col.  Jarrott  was  reared  here  and  educated  in  the 
Jesuit  College,  Georgetown,  D.  C.  He  made  the 
journey  on  hoi-seback  overland  to  the  Ohio  River 
at  Louisville,  and  there  graduated  with  the  degree 
of  LL.  B.  After  practicing  a  short  time,  he 
turned  his  attention  to  other  enterprises,  and  dur- 
ing the  Black  Hawk  War  was  an  Adjutant-General. 
He  afterward  made  a  trip  to  California  and  Color- 
ado on  mining  expeditions,  and  was  one  of  the 
'49ers  in  California.  He  retired  to  the  East  much 
the  richer  for  his  venture  to  the  Gold  State.  In 
the  '50s,  he  served  three  terms  in  the  State  legis- 
lature, and  after  the  war  he  served  three  terms 
more.  He  was  Republican  candidate  for  Speaker 
when  Col.  Morrison  was  elected.  During  the  war, 
he  was  United  States  Peace  Commissioner  over  the 
Sioux  Indians,  later  Indian  Agent  for  Spotted 
Tail,  and  after  the  war  he  returned  to  East  St. 
Louis,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  banking  and 
lumber  business.  He  was  President  of  the  East  St. 
Louis  Rolling  Mill,  and  w.as  organizer  of  the  East 
St.  Louis  Bank.  In  1875,  he  was  .again  taken  with 
the  gold  fever,  closed  out  business  here,  and  went 
to  the  Black  Hills,  where  he  was  engaged  in  min- 
ing. His  death  occurred  in  1.h7().  when  ovei- 
seventy-five  years  of  age.  lie  was  one  of  the 
original  strong  Republicans  of  the  Stale,  being 
elected  Representative  on  the  Whig  and  Republican 
ticket.  He  was  Mayor  of  E.ast  St.  Louis  one  term, 
and  in  religion  was  a  worthy  member  of  the  Cath- 
olic Church.  The  mother  of  our  subject  died  in 
1884.  leaving  four  children,  as  follows:  Margaret, 
Mrs.  Brislow,  resides  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.;  George 
makes  his  home  in  East  St.  Louis;  and  Agnes  also 
ni  East  St.  Louis. 

The  original  of  this  notice,  who  was  the  eldest 
child,  was  reared  in  East  St.  Louis,  and  received 
his  education  in  the  public  and  High  Schools, 
graduating  from  the  latter  when  seventeen  years 
of  age.  He  then  became  Deputy  City  Clerk  under 
Maurice  Tissier  for  a  year,  then  book-keeper  for  a 


210 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


lumber  firm  for  two  3'ears,  and  afterward  Cashier 
of  the  East  St.  Louis  Bank  for  five  years.  Later, 
he  became  Tax  Collector  for  East  St.  Louis  for  two 
terras  of  one  year  each.  In  1887,  he  became  Chief 
Clerk  for  the  Heira  Brewing  Company  and  has 
been  here  ever  since.  He  is  interested  in  real- 
estate  and  has  about  three  hundred  and  fifty 
.acres  adjoining  the  city  limits.  He  has  imi)roved 
his  farm  and  rents  it.  In  the  year  1884,  he  was 
married  here  to  Miss  Kate  Healey,  a  native  of 
Ohio,  who  was  reared  and  educated  here.  Four 
children  have  blessed  this  union,  viz.:  .larrott, 
Adele,  Marie  and  Margaret.  They  have  a  pleasant 
liome  on  Ninth  Street.  Mr.  Boismenue  is  a  Re- 
publican in  politics  and  has  been  a  delegate  to 
county  and  State  conventions.  He  is  at  present  a 
member  of  the  County  C'ontral  Committee  and  is 
one  of  the  foremost  men  of  the  county. 


'■   '  ^S- 


/^N  HAHLES  F.  BERKEMEYER,  Secretary  and 
(l(  p  Treasurer  of  the  East  St.  Louis  Hardware  i 
'^^/  Company,  is  the  subject  of  the  following 
sketch.  He  is  a  gentleman  in  every  sense  of  the 
word,  and  conducts  his  business  witii  an  amount  of 
energ3'  that  ensures  success.  The  company  whicli 
he  represents  w.as  incorporated  in  189U,  witii  a 
capital  of  455,000,  and  their  place  of  business  is 
No.  216  East  Broadway,  where  a  building  25x65 
.accommodates  their  large  stock  of  stoves,  heavy 
and  shelf  hardware  and  agricultural  implements. 
The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  named  Henry, 
and  in  his  native  country,  Germany,  he  worked 
at  liis  tiade  of  carpenter.  He  brought  his  family 
to  America  many  years  ago  and  settled  in  St. 
Louis,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  ninety  years. 
The  father  of  our  subject  was  also  a  fine  carpenter, 
but  lie  became  a  farmer  in  1877,  when  he  located 
on  eighty  acres  in  Madison  Coiinty,  where  he  still 
resides.  Our  subject  is  one  of  the  children  of  his 
father's  second  marriage,  the  others  being  Albert, 
who  residcfi  in  filast  St,  Louis;  Rosa,  who  is  Mrs. 
Isenberg,  of  Madison  Cunnty;  and  George,  who  is 
Ih  t^itj  employ  of  k\o  h(u\Uv\;    'J,"l(0  wotliec  >yss  of 


German  descent,  but  was  born  in  Switzerland.  Her 
maiden  name  w.is  Bertha  Guenther,  .and  both  she 
and  her  husband  were  Protestant  in  their  religious 
views.  She  died  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-five. 
The  son  of  the  first  marriage  is  the  partner  of  the 
gentleman  of  whom  we  write,  and  is  the  President 
of  the  company. 

Mr.  Berkemeyer  of  this  notice  was  reared  in  St. 
Louis  and  attended  the  public  schools  until  his 
sixteenth  year,  but  at  that  time  he  went  to  the 
farm  with  his  father  and  resided  there  fov  four 
yeais.  In  1880,  he  came  to  East  St.  Louis  .as  a 
clerk  for  George  Shaub  in  the  hardware  and  agri- 
cultural implement  business,  and  here  he  con- 
tinued for  nine  years.  In  the  spring  of  1890,  he 
started  the  present  large  store,  and  the  company 
was  incorporated  in  April.  This  is  a  very  busy 
place,  .as  from  roof  to  basement  the  space  is  stored 
with  all  kinds  of  material  in  their  line.  Our  sub- 
ject manages  the  store,  and  the  machinery  in  which 
the  firm  also  deals. 

Our  subject  was  married,  in  September,  1888,  to 
Miss  Ann  Spannagel,  the  charming  daughter  of 
Nicholas  Spannagel;  she  was  reared  and  educated 
in  this  city.  They  have  one  bright  little  girl, 
Lola  by  name.  Mr.  Berkemeyer  belongs  to  the 
order  of  Knights  of  Honor,  and  is  a  Republican 
of  no  uncertain  kind.  He  is  highly  regarded 
amonjj  the  business  men  of  East  St.  Louis. 


DAM  BAU(;LEY.  The  very  .agreeable 
gentleman  whose  honored  name  opens 
this  sketch  belongs  to  a  family  that  has 
made  an  impression  on  the  history  of  this 
section.  He  now  resides  on  a  very  valuable  farm 
of  four  hundred  acres  of  land,  which  not  only 
yields  a  propei'  amount  of  grain  and  fruits,  but 
holds  in  its  secret  recesses  vast  quantities  of  the 
bl.ack  diamonds  whicli  have  made  the  fortunes  of 
so  many,  and  which  are  destined  to  make  wealth 
for  more, 

For  tlin  dateof  iiis  birth  we  must  go  hack  to  the 
^■(irtf  l.sia,  Jmiwary  3i,   ^\\v  joiitiUon    Mug   miw 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


211 


the  place  now  owned  by  George  W.  Badgley,  in 
section  9.  He  was  the  son  of  Aaron  and  Catherine 
(Stroud)  Badgley.  They  were  natives  of  Hardy 
County,  Va.,  the  father  born  in  the  year  1773,  and 
the  mother  in  1776.  The  mother  was  of  Dutt-h 
parents,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Adam  and  Kve 
Stroud — hence  tlie  pleasant  little  fiction  in  the  fam- 
ily that  their  home  was  the  (iarden  of  Kden,  with  an 
Adam  and  Eve,  but  noserjjent. 

The  Badgley  family  first  settled  in  tiiis  country 
in  Essex  County,  X.  J.,  where  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  David  Badgley,  was  born  in  1749.  In 
1796,  he  and  his  son,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
came  from  Virginia  to  St.  Clair  County,  in  com- 
pany with  a  number  of  others,  to  look  at  the 
country.  The  long  journey  was  made  overland  on 
liorseback,  and  they  came  together  in  order  to  bet- 
ter protect  themselves  from  the  attacks  of  the  In- 
dians. In  this  company  came  our  subject's  mater- 
nal grandfather.  Being  satisfied  with  the  appear- 
ance of  the  new  country,  they  returned  to  their 
families,  and  the  next  year,  in  1797,  the  Badgleys 
and  the  Strouds  moved  from  their  Virginia  home 
and  settled  in  Monroe  County,  near  what  is  now 
known  as  Bond's  Lake.  Thev  made  the  journey 
down  the  Ohio  River  on  a  flat-boat  to  Shawnee- 
town.  and  went  the  rest  of  the  way  by  land.  The 
country  was  then  i)ractically  a  wilderness,  and  the 
Indians  had  not  been  driven  West.  The  tribes 
which  inhabited  these  regions  were  the  Kickapoos 
and  the  Pottawattamies.  Before  proceeding  further 
in  tlie  immediate  history  of  our  subject,  we  pause 
a  moment  to  pay  a  tribute  to  the  good  old  grand- 
father. He  was  a  Baptist  preacher,  belonging  to 
what  was  known  as  the  Ironsides  or  Hardshell 
Baptists.  He  organized  the  first  Baptist  Church 
west  of  the  Ohio  River, at  Kaskaskia,  and  traveled 
among  the  settlers,  ])reaching  in  the  open  air  and 
in  their  homes,  exluirting  them  to  pious  living, 
joining  their  sons  and  daughters  in  holy  matrimony, 
baptising  Ihem  into  the  church,  and  administering 
words  of  comfort  to  the  dying  and  of  consolation 
to  the  mourning. 

The  father  of  our  .subject  started  for  Illinois 
with  his  wife  and  one  child,  but  on  the  way  another 
little  life  was  added  to  the  company.  Within  a 
veai'  after  arriving  ii)  >ioin'oe  Coi»«t^',  the  (aitlifuj 


wife  and  the  infant  died.  In  1800,  Mr.  Badgley. 
Sr.,  married  .again,  the  wife  being  Catherine  Stroud. 
\t  that  time  there  was  no  regular  survey  of  the 
lands  by  the  (iovernment,  nor  was  the  land  upon 
the  market.  Mr.  Badgley  and  his  father  squatted 
on  land  belonging  to  the  Government,  the  claim 
thus  established  being  recognized  as  giving  the 
right  to  purchase.  Mr.  Badgley  continued  to  re- 
side in  Monroe  County  until  1804.  when  he  came 
to  St.  Clair  County  and  settled  on  tiie  place  where 
our  subject  was  born.  He  first  took  up  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres,  and  at  his  death  he  owned 
about  three  hundred  acres.  He  followed  an  agri- 
cultural life,  and  was  very  successful.  He  had 
onh"  the  common-school  education  of  those  days, 
which  was  limited  to  a  few  weeks  in  winter  in  the 
log  schoolhouse  with  its  surroundings  of  burnt 
stumps.  He  was  a  man  of  prominence,  acting 
!is  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  w.as  made  Over.seer 
of  the  Poor.  He  was  a  strong  Democrat  in  his  po- 
litical opinions.  After  his  useful  life,  he  died 
lamented  by  his  family  and  neighborhood  and 
friends,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years,  ia  Decem- 
ber, 1828.  His  wife  survived  him  ten  years,  and 
passed  to  her  rest  at  the  age  of  ninety-two.  Of  the 
eight  children  born  to  them,  only  three  are  left. 
Elijah  was  born  June  1.'),.  1802,  and  resides  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  northwest  of  the  farm  of  our 
subject.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  St.  Clair  County 
since  1804.  With  the  exception  of  a  partial  loss  of 
iiearing,  he  is  in  the  full  possession  of  his  faculties. 
He  has  a  remarkable  memory,  particularly  of  dates 
and  the  early  pioneer  days  of  the  county.  Strow- 
ther,  the  youngest  of  the  living  children,  resides 
in  Bates  County,  Mo. 

The  iimucdiate  subject  of  tliis  sketch  was  born 
oil  a  farm,  and  reared  there.  He  hail  very  little 
chalice  f(M-  obtaining  an  education,  but  he  was 
naturally  (piick,  and  has  overcome  the  early  dis- 
advantages in  that  line.  While  young,  his  father 
administered  on  an  estate,  ll  was  in  the  days  of 
[)aper  money,  and  tiie  bank  that  issued  the  bills 
that  represented  the  estate  failed,  and  Mr.  Bad- 
gley, Sr..  found  himself  seriously  crippled  finan- 
(ially.  It  took  him  a  number  of  years  to  make 
up  tlie  amount  lost,  and  this  young  man  had  to 
bear  the  bvi^ut  &f  atraiteiiud  nieHUsi,    He  luai'iiec} 


212 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Eva  Zanes,  August  17,1834.  The  father  of  his 
wife  died  before  she  was  born,  and  her  mother  later 
married  George  Estiff.  Her  maiden  name  was  Re- 
becca Stroud,  a  daughter  of  Adam  Stroud.  Our 
subject  and  his  wife  were  first  cousins  and  neighbors. 
They  had  but  two  children,  an  unusual  circum- 
stance, as  in  those  days  tlie  families  generally  as- 
sumed patriarchal  proportions.  The  children  are 
Rebecca  and  Austin.  The  former  married  William 
Boo-gy,  by  whom  she  had  one  child,  now  deceased. 
Her  daughter's  husband  is  Ham  Scott,  who  re- 
sides in  this  township.  The  son,  Austin,  is  his 
father's  right  hand,  and  resides  with  him.  He  has 
a  very  pleasant  wife  and  an  accomplished  daugh- 
ter, Nellie,  who  is  at  home  with  them.  His  wife 
was  Mary  .T.  Henderson,  of  Iowa,  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Eliza  Henderson.  Mr.  Badgley  lias 
served  his  district  as  School  Director  and  Road 
Overseer.  He  has  been  in  liarmony  with  the  Dem- 
ocratic party  all  Ids  life. 


'tfj  OHN  DOYLE  is  one  of  the  pioneers  of  East 
St.  Louis.  111.,  with  whom  time  has  dealt 
most  kindly,  and  although   he   has  lahon-d 

hard  throughout  his  life,  he  is   in   the  full 

vigor  of  manhood.  His  early  days  were  marked 
by  struggles  to  gain  a  foothold  in  the  business 
world,  and  that  he  has  succeeded  is  due  wholly  to 
his  own  efforts.  He  was  born  in  County  Wexford, 
Ireland,  in  1837,  a  son  of  Garrett  and  Margaret 
(Reynolds)  Doyle,  both  of  whom  were  born  in 
the  Isle  of  Erin.  Garrett  .Doyle  was  a  worthy 
tiller  of  the  soil,  but  in  1851  became  convinced 
that  better  opportunities  for  advancement  were 
offered  across  the  Atlantic,  and  the  same  year 
removed  to  Canada  with  his  son  .John  and  secured 
employment  in  the  public  works  of  Toronto.  In 
18.54  he  returned  to  Ireland  and  brought  the 
balance  of  his  family  liither,  and,  in  1862.  re- 
moved with  them  to  East  St.  Louis,  111.,  and  here 
resided  until  his  death  in  1869,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
nine  years.  The  motlier  lived  until  1879,  when 
she,  loo,  passed  away.     Six  of  their  children  grew 


to  maturity,  but  only  three  are  living  at  the  pres- 
ent time. 

John  was  the  eldest  of  the  family  and  until 
about  fourteen  years  of  age  he  resided  in  Ireland, 
and  there  acquired  a  fair  knowledge  of  the  "world 
of  books."  He  left  Ireland  in  1851,  taking  pas- 
sage at  Waterford  on  board  a  sailing-vessel,  which 
landed  at  Quebec.  He  attended  the  night  schools 
of  Toronto,  for  he  was  ambitious  and  anxious  to 
obtain  a  good  education,  and  being  intelligent 
and  industrious,  he  made  satisfactory  progress  in 
his  studies.  After  a  time  he  was  bound  out  to 
learn  the  grocer's  trade,  and  during  the  three 
years  that  he  was  thus  employed,  his  father  had 
the  benefit  of  his  salary.  On  the  23d  of  June, 
1857,  he  found  himself  in  Illinois,  and  soon  found 
employment  with  Valentine's  Express  Company, 
at  which  time  there  were  only  two  railroads  in  the 
place.  He  remained  with  the  above-mentioned 
company  until  they  sold  out  to  J.-H.  Alexander  6; 
Co.,  and  later  was  in  the  employ  of  the  St.  Louis 
Transfer  Company.  He  labored  in  different  ca- 
(lacities  from  driver  up  to  foreman,  attaining  the 
latter  position  in  1865.  In  1858,  the  island  was 
overflowed  and  Jlr.  Doyle  rode  all  over  the  city 
in  a  skiff,  and  also  to  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  where 
he  was  making  his  home  at  tlie  time. 

INIr.  Doyle  has  always  been  a  faithful  worker 
and  his  untiring  industry  and  persistent  effort 
have  been  crowned  by  success,  and  he  is  now  in 
the  enjoyment  of  a  comfortable  competency.  He 
is  the  owner  <>f  some  valu.-ible  real  estate  on  Col- 
linsville  Avenue,  :ind  is  in  the  enjoyment  of  a 
competency,  which  is  tlie  result  of  his  own  earnest 
efforts.  Taken  all  in  all,  Mr.  Doyle's  life  h.as  been  one 
success,  and  the  lesson  that  it  teaches  is  that  suc- 
cess in  life  is  the  reward  of  honest  effort,  industry 
and  sobriety.  He  has  never  been  an  idler  or  trifler, 
but  an  earnest,  conscientious  and  persistent  toiler, 
wIk)  deserves  all  the  success  he  has  achieved.  He 
is  lortnuiii  (if  the  St.  Louis  Transfer  Com- 
l)any  on  llic  Illinois  side  of  the  river,  and  has 
lieeii  longer  engaged  in  this  business  than  any 
man  in  the  city.  He  thoroughly  understands  all 
its  requirements  and  his  services  are  highly  valued 
by  the  company  with  which  he  is  connected. 
In  1«71.  he  was  elected  one  of  tbe  direclors  of 


LIBHARY 


PORTRAIT  A>;D  biographical  RECORD. 


2ir> 


the  Douglass  School  and  has  held  the  position  to 
the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned  up  to  the  present 
time.  He  is  the  oldest  member  of  the  Board  in 
the  city,  and  for  the  past  five  years  has  acted  in 
the  capacity  of  Secretary  and  Clerk.  The  Doug- 
lass School  building  is  a  fine  brick  structure,  the 
first  in  the  city,  and  Mr.  Doyle  was  the  only  mem- 
ber of  tlie  Board  that  was  on  tlie  building  com- 
mittee. In  186i),  he  was  elected  an  Alderman 
from  the  First  Ward,  in  which  capacity  he  served 
until  1879,  when  he,  on  account  of  the  dual  gov- 
ernment, resigned  and  has  not  accepted  any  official 
position  since.  He  was  married  in  this  city  in 
August,  1807,  to  Miss  Kate  Cooney,  a  native  of 
Ireland,  and  six  of  the  children  born  to  them  are 
living:  Thomas  J.,  who  graduated  at  the  St.  Louis 
rniversity,  is  now  holding  an  official  jiosition  in 
a  Vandalia  railroad  office;  William  J.  was  also 
educated  in  the  St.  Louis  University  and  is  now  a 
railroad  clerk  at  the  same  place;  Henry  M.  is  with 
the  Illinois  A-  St.  Louis  Railroad;  John  G.  is 
with  the  St.  Louis  Transfer  Company;  OUie  M. 
and  Robert  E.,  at  home. 

Mr.  Doyle  was  on  the  Building  Committee  of 
St.  Mary's  Church  and  is  now  one  of  the  Trustees. 
He  is  a  Democrat  politically,  and  lias  been  a  dele- 
gate to  countv  conventions. 


♦^^^1©-©®!^^^- 


.A'l'RlCK  11.  STAC  K.  a  wealthy  real-estate 
owner,  lias  been  a  resident  of  the  city  of 
East  .St.  Louis  since  1804,  .•iiid  has  identi- 
fied himself  with  every  worthy  interest  of 
this  section.  He  was  born  in  County  Kerry,  Ire- 
land, lint  ill  IMID  w.as  brought  by  his  father,  to- 
gether with  the  lest  of  llic  family,  to  America, 
taking  passage  on  the  sailing-vessel  '"Christopher 
Columbus,"  at  Liverpool,  England.  The}'  reached 
New  Viirk  Harbor  nftcr  a  five-weeks  ocean  voyage, 
and  imnu'dialcly  proceeded  to  Lpper  Canada, 
where  the  fathei,  (Jarrett  Stack,  bought  a  farm  of 
IvTo  hundred  and  forty  acres,  which  he  improved, 
and  on  which  he  resided  until  his  death.  He  was 
a  son  of  Robert  Stack,  a  farmer,  which  occupation 

19 


the  mother's  father,  Patrick  Hanrahan,  also  fol- 
lowed. Mrs.  Stack,  the  mother  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  Miss  .Johanna  Hanrahan,  a  native 
of  the  Isle  of  Erin.  She  died  in  Canada,  after  hav- 
ing become  the  mother  of  fourteen  children. 

Patrick  H.  Stack  was  the  fourth  in  order  of 
birth,  and  obtained  a  good  education  in  his  birth- 
land,  attending  school  at  Ballylongford,  Listowel, 
and  Anttralee,  and  taking  a  thorough  classical 
course.  He  possessed  the  bright  intellect,  keen 
wit  and  versatility  for  which  the  Irish  people  are 
noted,  and  upon  coining  to  America  found  a  wide 
scope  for  the  exercise  of  these  talents.  He  entered 
college  at  Cleveland  for  the  purpose  of  fitting  him- 
self for  the  priesthood,  but  decided  that  other 
[)ursuits  would  be  more  congenial  to  his  tastes,  and 
he  afterward  turned  hisattention  to  book-keeping. 
He  went  to  Nashville,  Tenn.,iu  18.5  L  as  a  railroad 
employe,  in  which  capacity  he  traveled  all  over  the 
Southern  States,  and  later  he  began  contracting  on 
railroads  and  levees.  I'pon  the  opening  of  the 
Civil  War  he  went  first  to  Natchez,  then  to  Mem- 
pliis,  and  there  entered  the  employ  of  the  Federal 
Government  as  Commissary  Supply  Clerk,  in  which 
cap.Hcity  he  served  three  years. 

In  May,  1864,  Mr.  Stack  came  to  East  St.  Louis, 
then  a  very  small  place,  and  built  three  miles  of 
the  Chicago  ct  Alton  Railroad,  acting  in  the  capac- 
ity of  foiemau.  He  then  turned  his  attention  to 
other  occupations,  and  by  good  management  be- 
came the  owner  of  thirteen  acres  of  land  within 
the  city  limits,  near  Brighton  Park,  which  he  ex- 
pects soon  to  lay  out  in  lots.  There  he  is  building 
an  elegant  two-story  brick  residence,  wliicli,  when 
completed,  will  lie  one  of  the  finest  in  the  city. 

He  owns  other  valualile  property  in  East  St. 
Louis,  besides  one  liundied  mihI  forty  acres  of  land 
near  Carlyle,  Cliiiloii  County,  111.,  mm  iiiipioved 
and  valuable  farm,  wliicli  he  ieiil>.  He  lias  liiiilt 
iii.-iiiv  hoUM's  in  the  city,  among  which  ma}-  be 
nicnlioiu'd  the  Turf  Clnli  House,  tni  Main  Street. 
Ill'  was  innrieil  in  (  liicago  to  Miss  Margaret  Lillis, 
aiialixcof  Comity  Clare,  Ireland,  and  by  her  is 
the  fatlici  of  Ilic  following  children:  .lohaiiua, 
Mrs.  Ilealay,  a  resident  of  St.  Louis;  Garrett  .1.,  a 
clerk  with  Nelson  Morris  iV  Co.,  of  (liicago:  .lolin 
J.,  at  home,  and  Margaret  I', 


216 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Mr.  Stack  has  been  a  member  of  the  School  Board 
of  East  St.  Louis  for  three  years,  held  the  oftice  of 
Justice  of  the  Peace  from  1869  until  1877,  and  was 
Township  Collector  for  one  term.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  First  Mutual  Building  tfe  Loan  Association, 
and  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  East  St.  Louis 
Building  &  Loan  Association,  in  which  he  is  now 
Director.  At  present  he  is  a  stockholder  in  the 
Workingmen's  Bank,  and  was  a  Director  for 
seven  years.  Ho  aided  in  organizing  the  East  St. 
Louis  Gazette,  and  also  has  served  as  Director  of 
the  same.  Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat,  has  been 
a  delegate  to  count}'  and  vState  conventions,  and 
been  chairman  of  county  conventions.  He  and  his 
family  attend  St.  Mar^-'s  Catholic  Church.  He  is 
well  known  in  the  business,  political  and  social 
circles  of  the  city,  where  for  so  many  j-ears  he  has 
made  his  home. 


^^  APT.  HENRY  E.  TRENDLEY.  In  ordei-  to 
[if  perpetuate   for  coming  generations  the  re- 

^^^''  cord  of  one  whowas  verj'  prominently  con- 
nected with  laying  the  solid  foundation  of  the 
prosiierity  of  East  St.  Louis,  a  brief  sketch  of  the 
life  of  Capt.  John  Trendley,  father  of  our  subject, 
wiio  might  properly  be  called  the  "Father  of  the 
City,"  maj-  be  of  interest  to  all.  He  was  born  in 
the  Black  Forest,  Germany,  on  June  20,  1804,  and 
his  father,  Paul  Trendley,  was  a  native  of  that 
country  also,  and  a  farmer  b^'  occupation.  The 
latter  came  to  America  with  his  family  as  early  as 
1817,  and  resided  for  some  time  in  Alexandria, 
Va.  F"'rom  there  he  moved  to  St.  Charles  County, 
Mo.,  bought  new  land,  and  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  days  in  improving  it.  lie  was  a  devfuit  Catho- 
lic in  his  religious  views. 

Capt.  John  Trendley's  youthful  days  were  spent 
in  assisting  his  father  in  clearing  the  farm  and  re- 
ceiving what  little  scholastic  training  he  could  in 
the  pioneer  schools  of  those  days.  After  growing 
up,  he  came  to  East  St.  Louis  and  was  witii  Capt. 
William  AViggius  oii  ll)o  civcr,  first  ns  q,  deck  hand, 


then  as  Captain  and  afterward  as  agent.  When 
twenty  years  of  age  he  was  made  Captain  and  con- 
tinued with  William  Wiggins  for  over  fifty  years. 
Later  in  life,  he  became  a  stockholder,  retired  and 
received  his  pension.  He  was  well  known  on  the 
river,  was  a  man  well  liked  by  all.  and  had  a  host 
of  warm  friends.  His  death  occurred  in  October, 
1886,  when  eighty-two  3'ears  of  age.  A  Republi- 
can at  first,  he  finally  advocated  the  principles  of 
the  Democratic  party  and  was  an  active  supporter 
of  the  same.  lie  was  one  of  the  original  members 
of  St.  Henry's  Church  in  East  St.  Louis  and 
was  deeply  interested  in  its  growth  and  prosperity. 
Capt.  Trendley  was  one  of  the  oldest  members  of 
the  AVMggins  Ferry  Company  when  he  died. 

The  Captain  had  married  Miss  Harriet  Eberley, 
a  native  of  Switzerland,  who  came  alone  to  Amer- 
ica. She  died  in  East  St.  Louis  in  1869,  when 
fift^'-five  years  of  age.  Ten  children  were  born  to 
them,  only  three  beside  our  subject  now  living: 
Elizabeth,  Caroline  and  Josephine.  Capt.  Henrj' 
Trendley'  was  reared  and  educated  in  the  private 
schools  of  St.  Louis,  and  subsequently  attended 
the  University  of  St.  Louis  for  two  years.  Later 
still,  he  entered  McKendree  College,  where  he  re- 
mained for  one  year,  and  then  began  clerking  in  a 
wholesale  liquor  house  in  the  city.  In  1862,  he 
became  clerk  and  book-keeper  for  the  Wiggins 
F"'erry  Company,  the  main  office  being  in  St.  Louis. 
He  was  thus  engaged  for  five  years  and  a  half  and 
was  very  busy  during  the  war.  Later,  he  engaged 
in  business  on  the  Island,  built  a  brick  store  on 
Front  Street,  and  was  in  partnership  with  John 
Kidman  in  the  grocery  business  for  about  one 
year.  After  this,  he  sold  out  to  Mr.  Eidman,  and 
in  the  year  1869  went  as  Captain  of  the  "Charles 
Mulligan."  Since  then,  he  has  been  on  all  the 
different  boats  and  was  on  a  night  boat  for  some 
time.  He  has  been  with  the  Wiggins  Ferry  Com- 
pany since  1862,  and  is  the  oldest  and  steadiest 
Captain  with  thom  now.  At  present  he  is  Captain  of 
the  -'Henry  L.  Clark."  Formerly  i)art  of  his  bus- 
iness was  to  take  excursions  up  tlu'  river  for  six- 
teen miles. 

Captain  Treinllcv  owns  one  hundred  imd  Iwcntv 
acres  of  land  tm  the  North  Belleville  Rock  Road, 
adjoining  the  corporation,  wljidi   ho  leases.     He 


POlMHAir  AM)  UKXiRAIMI'CAL    KECOKD. 


217 


resides  on  the  farm,  and  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Wij^- 

<,Miis  Ferry  Comptiny.  lie  was  married  in  Si. 
Louis,  ill  ISCiT,  III  Mi.-'S  Cflestine  (iautier,  a  natnc 
of  St.  Louis,  ami  two  rliildicii  have  blessed  this 
union,  .loliii  M.  was  educated  in  St.  Louis  and  was 
for  a  lime  Assistant  Casliier  of  tlie  Yandalia  Rail- 
road, and  at  present  he  is  traeing  clerk;  and  Rosalie, 
now  Mrs.  W.  W.  Dean,  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.  The  fam- 
il\- holds  ineinbership  in  St.  Henry's  C'iiurch,  and 
Capt.  Trendley  is  an  ardent  Republican  in  his 
political  views.  lie  is  one  of  the  city's  represen- 
tative men  and  is  as  popular  and  well  liked  as  his 
father,  which  is  saying  a  great  deal. 


^.,  LKXANDKK  FLANNHiKX.  The  gentle- 
'J^lJj  man  whose  biographical  sketch  it  is  now 
Is  our  purpose  to  give  is  a  successful  lawyer 
of  East  St.  Louis,  and  has  gained  (luite  a 
name  in  the  county  for  his  good  judgment  and 
sound  rendering  of  the  law.  His  place  of  business 
is  in  the  Flannigen  Huildiiig  on  Tliird  Street, 
which   was  erected  in  1H82. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Belfast, 
Ireland,  and  was  a  shoemaker  in  tliat country.  He 
came  to  America  when  about  thirty  years  of  age 
and  locateil  in  riuladelpliia,  where  he  was  mar- 
ried. He  resided  on  t'.allowliill  Street  in  that 
city,  and  there  his  two  ehlest  children  were  born. 
In  .the  year  ISAH,  he  started  Westward  via  (ialena, 
and  first  made  liis  home  in  Washington  County, 
111.  He  was  fond  of  travel,  and  visited  Indi- 
ana and  Kentucky;  at  Kvaiis\ille  ln'  became 
overheated  and  injudiciously  drank  a  eiip  of  cold 
water,  which  caused  his  iiiiiiie<liatc  de.-itli.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  ludiight  hci'  three  chil- 
dren to  Washington  (  ouiity.  where  she  had  a 
cousin,  a  Mr.  McCiine.  She  aflcruard  married  a 
James  McLellaii.  who  now  resides  in  Nashville, 
111.  Her  maiden  name  w.as  .lane  McMunii  and  she 
was  born  in  Helfjist.  Irehiud.  ;ifler  her  father, 
Hugh  McMunii,  a  nati\-e  of  Scotland,  had  emi- 
grated to  tliat  city.  She  now  resides  with  her 
youngest  son,  Kd  McLellan,  who  is  »  banker  in 


C'hanute,  Kan.  The  three  children  of  the  first  un- 
ion, were:  .lames,  who  now  is  in  Denver,  Colo.; 
William,  who  resides  in  Cli.'uiute,  Kan.,  and  is 
a  farmer  there;  and  the  subject  of  our  sketch.  His 
two  step-brothers  are  Edward,  and  George,  who 
is  a  Police  .ludge  at  Oklahoma. 

Mr.  Flannigen  w.as  born  in  (Jaleiia,  111.,  De- 
cember 8,  IH.').'!  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  near 
Nashville,  111.,  and  began  early  to  display  his  pro- 
fessional tendencies.  He  commenced  teaching 
school  before  he  had  reached  his  .seventeenth  year. 
He  first  taught  at  Hridgeport,lll.,and  then  at  Nash- 
ville, 111.  He  then  taught  three  years  at  Ogle  Sta- 
tion, and  in  1871  he  became  first  assistant  in  the 
Franklin  School.  Here  he  taught  for  three  j'ears, 
and  then  began  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of 
William  (J.  Kase.  It  required  some  "grit"  to 
teach  all  day  and  then  study  nearly  all  night,  but 
this  young  man  did  not  have  his  persevering 
Scotch-Irish  blood  for  naught.  In  June,  1876,  he 
was  rewarded  by  being  admitted  to  the  Bar,  and 
November  12,  1877,  he  entered  into  partnership 
with  Henjamin  II.  Canby,  who  is  Judge  of  the 
City  Court.  This  partnership  lasted  until  the 
election  of  Jlr.  Canby,  in  188(1.  Since  then  Mr. 
Flannigen  has  practiced  alone.  He  is  interested  in 
much  real  estate,  and  has  a  veiy  extensive  busi- 
ness. He  held  the  office  of  City  Attorney  for 
three  years  and  was  Cit3-  Treasurer  for  one  year. 
While  holding  the  latter  office,  he  secured  a  con- 
fessed judgment  against  the  city  for  .i!80,000  of 
the  money  belonging  to  the  schools,  which  had 
been  improiierly  used  by  the  city,  and  with  this  sum 
twoschoolhouses  were  built.  He  is  a  man  of  very 
iiidepeiuh'iit  views  and  has  never  permitted  himself 
to  join  aii\  oilier,  as  he  wishes  to  bean  unpre- 
jiiiliccil  alloniey.  lie  is  a  decided  .Vgnoslic  in  his 
belief,  alMiouuli  the  teaching  of  his  youth  was  the 
faitli  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Late 
years  have  aNo  shown  liim  that  his  political  views 
are  not  the  same,  anil  now  he  is  a  Democrat  when 
once  he  was  a  [Republican. 

Mr.  Flannigen  was  m.arried  here  N'ovemlier  30, 
IH8-2,  to  .Miss  Dora,  the  accomplished  youngest 
daughter  of  .Mitchell  Marsh,  the  projtrietor  of 
Summit  .\veiiuc  Hotel,  who  was  a  native  of  llalv; 
her    mother,    Ivjizabeth    Goodwin,    though    born 


•218 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


In  St.  Clair  Count)-,  was  of  French  descent. 
Walter  A.  and  Nellie  are  the  fairies  of  Mr.  Flan- 
nigen's home,  and  with  the  mixture  of  Scotch-Irish- 
Italian-French  blood  in  their  veins,  they  ought  to 
be  well  equipped  for  almost  any  emergency  of  life. 


]^-f^! 


\I^  A.  TWITCHELL,  M.  D.  The  subject  of 
Ls^'  the  following  sketch  represents  an  old  pio- 
li^%  neer  family  of  Illinois.  He  is  one  of  the 
'  most  successful  of  the  physicians  of  East 
St.  Louis,  and  is  located  at  No.  426  Fourth  Sti-eet. 
The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  born  in 
Maine,  and  came  to  Illinois  as  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  Hardin  Count}-.  He  came  down  the 
Ohio  from  Cincinnati  on  a  flat-boat  which  he  had 
constructed,  and  located  three  miles  north  of  the 
river,  on  Government  land,  which  was  then  Pope 
County,  and  here  he  built  a  mill  and  operated  it 
until  his  death.  He  was  the  pioneer  miller  in 
that  section,  and  a  very  good  friend  he  was  to  the 
farmers  who  had  to  come  so  many  miles  to  get 
their  grain  ground.  All  these  things  form  whole 
histories  by  themselves,  but  in  a  brief  sketch,  such 
as  the  present  Riccoiai  permits,  these  things  can 
only  be  mentioned.  The  father  of  our  subject  was 
born  in  Hardin,  then  Pope  County,  in  1829.  His 
name  was  .La  Fayette,  and  in  his  love  of  adven- 
ture he  resembled  his  illustrious  namesake.  In 
1849,  when  onl}-  twenty  years  of  age,  he  started 
overland,  with  a  number  of  companions,  to  Cali- 
fornia. It  was  a  five-months  walk  and  many 
were  the  adventures  on  the  way.  He  remained 
for  three  years  in  the  mines,  and  was  very  success- 
ful, and  returned  via  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  and 
New  York.  He  then  bought  a  tract  of  land  on  the 
banks  of  the  Ohio  near  Elizabethtown.  The  farm 
consisted  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  and  here 
he  engaged  in  farming.  Later,  he  built  a  mill  on 
Big  Creek,  one-half  mile  from  the  Ohio," and  oper- 
ated it  until  il  burned.  He  then  went  back  to 
farniing  and  continued  there  until  1859,  when  he 
was  seized  with  the  prevailing  Pike's  Peak  fever, 
ni)(l    went   overland    again.      lie   remained    two 


years  this  time,  but  did  not  find  mining  as  profit- 
able as  formerly.  Upon  his  return,  in  the  fall  of 
1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty- 
first  Illinois  Infantry  as  a  private,  and  later  was 
appointed  to  be  Acting-Adjutant.  He  served  two 
years,  then  came  home  and  made  up  a  company, 
with  which  he  returned  to  the  field  as  one  hun- 
dred-day men.  He  was  the  Captain  of  this  com- 
pany, which  was  consolidated  with  the  Twenty- 
ninth  Illinois.  He  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  was  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  and  never  re- 
ceived a  scratch.  He  returned  to  the  peaceful  life 
his  sword  had  helped  to  procure,  and  spent  the 
next  five  years  in  the  sawmill  business.  He  was 
then  called  upon  by  his  fellow-citizens  to  fill  the 
office  of  Circuit  Clerk,  which  he  acceptably  did  for 
four  years.  During  the  present  administration,  he 
has  been  serving  as  Postmaster  of  Elizabethtown. 
He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Grand  Army,  a 
member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
and  a  member  of  the  Republican  party. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Harriet  A. 
Steele,  born  in  Rosiclare,  III.,  a  daughter  of  James 
Steele,  who  was  born  in  Ireland,  of  Scotch  descent, 
and  came  to  America  when  a  boy  with  his  parents. 
They  settled  in  South  Carolina  and  he  afterward 
came  to  Illinois,  and  located  in  what  now  is  Har- 
din County.  The  father  followed  farming  until 
the  time  of  his  death.  The  brothers  of  our  subject 
are:  La  Fayette,  an  attorney  in  Colorado;  Dr.  B. 
E.  Twitchell,  of  Belleville;  and  J.  W.,  who  is  now 
in  Colorado  studying  medicine. 

Dr.  Twitchell  passed  his  boyhood  upon  the 
farm  and  was  eniplo3ed  in  the  sawmill  until  his 
fifteenth  year,  when  the  family  moved  into 
Elizabethtown.  There  he  attended  the  common 
schools  and  remained  at  his  home  until  he  was 
seventeen.  He  then  went  to  Evansville,  Ind.,  and 
became  a  clerk  in  a  crockery  and  queensware  house, 
where  he  remained  for  about  three  years.  He 
then  took  a  commercial  course  at  the  Evansville 
Commercial  College  and  graduated.  Afterward  he 
was  engaged  .as  book-keeper  at  Rosiclare,  111.,  for 
four  years  and  then  took  up  the  study  of  medicine, 
and  for  five  years  w.as  under  Dr.  R.  R.  Lacy.  He 
assisted  in  his  practice  and  in  1888  he  entered  the 
Meciical  College  of  St.  Louis.     He  graduated  from 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


thoie  iji  .1 11110.  18iMt,  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  He 
then  Iiipntcd  here  and  has  worked  up  a  fine  prac- 
tice. He  does  a  great  deal  of  surgical  work,  as  he 
is  near  the  Rolling  Mills  and  the  St.  Louis  Short 
Line  Railroad. 

Dr.  Twitchell  was  married  April  l.i.  lt<!S2,  to 
Jliss  Laura  L.  Simmons,  who  was  born  in  Salem. 
Ky.,  but  was  reared  in  Hardin  County.  Ill-  They 
have  one  bright  little  daughter.  Laura  Ouida.  The 
Doctor  is  socially  inclined  and  belongs  to  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Modern  Woodmen,  and  the 
Knights  and  Ladies  of  Honor.  He  is  the  Kxamin- 
ing  Physician  for  the  Commercial  Alliance  In- 
surance Company  of  New  York.  Although  an 
Eclectic  in  his  education,  he  pr.actices  with  the 
regular  school  and  belongs  to  the  F^clectic  Med- 
ical Society  of  St.  Louis.  He  is  a  follower  of  the 
Republican  party,  but  no  office-seeker.  He  was 
brought  up  by  a  pious  mother  in  the  faith  of  the 
Methodist  ?^piscopal  Church  and  to  that  he  clings. 


'iflEREMIAH  BENNETT,  one  of  the  honored 
jjioneers  of  St.  Clair  Countj-,  residing  on 
section  26,  O'Fallon  Township,  was  born 
near  Hillsboro,  Guilford  County,  N.  C, 
January  19.  1819,  and  is  of  English  descent.  His 
grandfather,  Elijah  Bennett,  ,was  born  in  England, 
and  having  emigrated  to  this  country  in  Colonial 
days,  served  in  the  War  for  Independence,  partici- 
pating in  many  engagements  of  the  Revolution. 
He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  died  at  his 
home  near  Hillsboro,  N.  C..  in  1837,  at  an  advanced 
age. 

The  father  of  oursubject,  John  Bennett,  was  also 
a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and  in  1825  emigrated 
to  Tennessee  with  his  faniilj-.  He  there  engaged  in 
farming  and  operating  a  distillery  until  1833,  when 
he  removed  to  Savannah,  Ga.  He  afterward  went 
to  the  Cherokee  Nation,  and  his  death  there  oc- 
curred. His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Rosanna  Lineberry,  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-three 
years.     They  were  married  near  Greensboro.  N.  C, 


and  unto  them  were  born  these  children:  Eman- 
uel and  Daniel,  who  died  in  infanc3'.  Sarah,  who 
was  born  near  GreensVjoro  in  1812,  married  John 
Moreland  in  Tennessee.  In  1836,  they  removed  to 
Missouri  and  resided  on  a  farm  near  Vienna,  where 
Mr.  Moreland  engaged  in  business  as  a  stock-dealer 
.and  shipper.  They  had  two  sons  who  are  now 
farming  and  stock-raising  in  the  Cherokee  Nation, 
and  a  daughter,  now  Mrs.  Eliza  John,  who  resides 
on  the  home  farm  in  Missouri.  Emily  married  Elijah 
Ilathaw.ay  and  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years. 
They  had  five  children:  James,  Eliza.  Pleasant, 
Sarah  and  Paraleah.  Polly  w.as  married  in  Ten- 
nessee in  1833,  to  AVilliam  ^Moreland  and  they  have 
four  children:  John,  G.  Washington.  Sarah  and 
Russell.  Our  subject  is  the  next  of  the  family. 
John,  born  in  1821,  is  deceased.  William  died  in 
1854.    Eliza  was  the  youngest  of  the  family. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  removed  with  his  par- 
ents to  Tennessee  when  six  years  of  age,  and  in 
1835  removed  to  a  farm  near  Lebanon,  St.  Clair 
County,  111. .since  which  time  he  has  resided  upon  his 
present  farm,  a  period  of  more  than  half  a  century. 
The  county  was  then  wild  and  unimproved  and 
from  a  tract  of  raw  land  he  developed  a  good  farm. 
He  experienced  all  the  hardships  and  trials  of  pio- 
neer life  and  since  has  been  eng.aged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  and  in  operating  a  coal  mine. 

On  the  29th  of  October,  1840,  Mr.  Bennett  wed- 
ded Mary  E.  Alexander,  who  was  born  October  22, 
1824,  near  Lebanon,  on  the  farm  of  her  parents, 
David  and  Catherine  (Thomas)  Alexander.  After 
her  mother's  death,  her  father  married  Naomi 
Chase.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bennett  were  born  six 
children:  Eliza  J.,  born  March  1,  1841,  was  married 
in  1859,  to  John  T.  Pulliam,  a  retired  farmer  of 
Wichita,  Kan.,  and  they  have  four  children :  Charles, 
Caioline,  John  and  an  infant.  Emily,  born  October 

9.  1844.  and  John  D.,  August  17,  1847.  died 
in  infancy.  Daniel  S.,  a  prominent  engineer  of  this 
county,  was  born  October  23,  1849,  and  on  Janu- 
ary 1,  1872,  married  Emetine  Cooper,  by  whom 
he  has  six  children:  Jeremiah,  Arthur,  Harry, 
Lutie,  Daniel  and  Walter.  Margaret,  born  February 

10,  1851,  was  married  in  1875  to  Jonathan  Wright, 
a  native  of  England. and  they  have  seven  children: 
Huffh.  Rosa  M..   Alberts..  Jeiemiali    H..    William. 


222 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Elsie  M.  and  John.  William  H.  was  born  February 
1,  1859,  and  was  the  youngest  of  the  family.  Mrs. 
Mary  Bennett  died  September  11,  1880. 

Mr.  Bennett  was  a  second  time  married,  this  union 
being  with  Mrs.  Amanda  Wolford,  widow  of  Peter 
Wolford.  She  was  born  near  Knoxville.  Tenn., 
.lanuary  31,  1837,  and  is  a  daugliter  of  Absalom 
and  Frances  (Quails)  Hart,  the  former  a  natire  of 
North  Carolina,  the  latter  of  Tennessee.  They 
were  married  in  1834,  and  removed  to  Perrj' 
County,  Mo.,  in  1843.  The  daughter  was  there 
married  to  Mr.  Wolford  in  1852,  and  unto  them 
was  born  a  daughter,  PVances  Jane,  who  was  mar- 
ried April  19,  1881.  She  died  leaving  four  chil- 
dren. In  1861,  Mr.  Wolford  enlisted  in  the  late 
war  and  died  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  at  Cape 
Girardeau  of  congestive  chills. 

Mr.  Bennett  became  one  of  the  most  extensive 
farmers  and  wheat-growers  of  St.  Clair  County, 
cultivating  at  one  time  five  hundred  acres  of  land. 
In  1871,  he  sank  a  coal  shaft  upon  his  farm  whicli 
is  still  in  operation.  It  is  now  leased  to  B.  Yoch 
of  Belleville,  who  has  improved  it  to  the  extent  of 
$40,000.  This  mine  yields  the  finest  coal  in  the 
county.  Mr.  Bennett  has  been  prominently  identi- 
fied with  the  history  of  this  community  for  a  half- 
century.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  and  the 
first  president  of  the  vigilance  committee  for  the 
detection  and  punishment  of  horse  thieves  and 
other  law-breakers.  He  is  a  self-made  man,  who  by 
his  well-directed  efforts  and  perseverance  has  ac- 
quired a  handsome  property. 


/^^HARLES    D.    McCASLAND.     One  of    the 
ill  most  successful   business    men   of  this  city 

^^7  is  named  above.  He  is  probably  the  largest 
dealer  in  real  estate  in  East  St.  Louis,  and  under- 
stands the  business  so  thoroughly  that  he  is  re- 
garded as  an  authority.  His  business  is  carried  on 
here,  but  he  resides  in  St.  Louis.  The  father  of  our 
subject  was  James  H.  McCasland  (see  sketch  of  J. 
M.  McCasland). 

The  subject  of  our   sketch  was    born   June    20, 


1843,  at  Woodson,  Morgan  County,  111.  He  passed 
his  boyhood  tipon  the  farm  and  received  a  com- 
mon-school education,  wliich  was  included  in 
eighteen  montiis  of  attendance.  Wiien  the  call 
came  for  soldiers  to  rise  to  the  defense  of  tlie 
(Government,  young  McCasland  was  among  the 
first  to  respond,  and  enlisted  in  Sejitember,  1862, 
in  Company  H,  One  Hundred  and  Ninety-first 
Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  mustered  in  at  Jackson- 
ville and  was  sent  to  the  front  that  fall.  He  was 
with  the  regiment  at  Holly  Springs,  where  the 
greater  part  of  it  w.is  captured,  he,  with  a  few- 
others,  being  fortunate  enough  to  escape;  and  also 
at  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  where  the  rest  of  the  regi- 
ment was  put  on  the  gunboat  "Lafayette"  to  run 
the  blockade,  May  16,1863,  and  where  for  two 
hours  and  forty  minutes  tiiey  were  under  the 
range  of  two  hundred  and  forty  guns. 

Later,  our  subject  was  in  the  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland, and  then  was  made  Hospital  Steward  of 
the  Twentieth  Army  Corps,  and  as  such  he  re- 
mained until  the  close  of  his  service.  He  was  one 
of  the  brave  men,  who,  with  Sherman,  made  th.Tt 
historic  march  to  the  sea,  and  tiien  went  to  Rieii- 
mond  and  took  part  in  llic  triumphal  review  at 
the  close  of  the  long  struggle  in  AVashington  City. 
He  was  mustered  out  in  Springfield,  in  June,  1865, 
and  then  returned  to  the  peaceful  life  which  his 
valor  had  helped  make  possible  in  our  fair  land.  He 
literally  changed  his  sword  for  a  pruning  hook,  and 
remained  on  a  farm  for  three  years,  when,  fond 
of  the  life,  he  went  to  Missouri  and  bought  a  farm 
in  Livingston  County,  and  remained  there  until 
1875.  Desiring  a  more  stirring  life,  he  then  re- 
turned to  Morgan  County  and  engaged  in  the 
stock  business.  With  the  good  judgment  with 
wliich  he  has  been  endowed,  he  made  a  suc- 
cess of  it,  and  soon  was  shipping  moie  stock  than 
any  other  man   in  the  county. 

Wishing  then  to  deal  more  widely,  Mr.  McCas- 
land went  to  East  St.  Louis  in  1885,  and  carried 
on  an  extensive  stock  business  until  1889.  With 
the  wisdom  of  a  true  financier,  he  then  saw  that 
it  was  time  to  buy  land,  and  he  changed  his  occu- 
pation for  that  of  a  dealer  in  real  estate.  He  first 
bought  tracts  of  land  and  sold  them,  and  later 
purchased  sixty  acres  of  Dr.  Stnckler  and  laid  out 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


3-23 


wliat  i.s  known  as  North  Clearniont  and  the  addi- 
tion to  Xortii  Clearniont.  Since  then  he  has  taken 
the  lead  in  the  business  in  East  St.  Louis,  and  has 
made  more  money  than  any  other  dealer.  He  has 
large  possessions  here,  and  owns  both  residence  and 
business  property  on  Jlissouri  Avenue  and  Broad- 
way, and  is  still  improving  and  building. 

Mr.  Mct'asland  was  married  October  11,1867, 
to  ^liss  Elizabeth  Todd,  the  accomplished  and 
charming  daughter  of  Martin  Todd,  who  was  born 
in  Jlorgan  County.  One  bright  daughter  is  the 
result  of  the  marriage,  named  Arrettia.  Our  sub- 
ject is  a  genial,  companionable  man,  and  is  highly 
valued  in  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
lie  makes  no  excuse  for  his  Republican  principles, 
but  glories  in  the  future  he  see«  for  his  favorite 
party.  Mr.  JlcCasland  has  carved  out  his  own 
career  and,  as  a  self-made  man,  can  be  held  up  to 
the  present  generation  as  an  example  of  what  can 
be  accomplished  in  this  country  by  pluck  and 
honestx'. 


m^-^^<m^ 


IIRl.STIAN  ROHM,  Sr.     This  pleasant,  ac- 

ecommodaling  gentleman  is  one  of  the  old- 
est merchant*  in  the  city.  flis  place  of 
business  is  located  on  Collinsville  Avenue,  and  his 
residence  in  East  .St.  Louis  has  dated  from  1857, 
when  it  was  called  Illinois  Town.  He  was  born  in 
the  province  of  Nassau,  near  Ohl-ingen,  Gcrnianv, 
May  6,  1838.  He  was  the  son  of  Philip  Rohm, 
born  in  Hesse-Uarmstadt,  who  lived  the  life  of  a 
farmer  and  died  there  in  18;')!.  The  good  mother 
of  our  subject,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Dau.ster, 
a  farmer,  was  given  the  name  of  Sophia,  and 
was  born  in  Nassau,  Germany.  She  spent  her  last 
j-ears  in  America,  having  come  here  three  years 
after  her  son,  and  died  at  his  home  in  1883.  In 
her  death  the  Lutheran  Church  lost  a  conscien- 
tious member.  She  left  four  children:  Christiana 
Pfeiffer  lives  in  East  St.  Louis;  William  is  a 
coal  agent  in  East  St.  Louis;  AVilhelmie  is  Mrs. 
Steul,  of  this  place. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  was  reared  in 


Germany  until  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age,  and 
I  received  the  excellent  schooling  that  is  open  to  all 
classes  there.  His  first  business  training  was  obtained 
in  a  grocery  store  there.  Not  being  satisfied,  he 
concluded  to  try  his  fortune  across  the  sea.  Ac- 
cordingly, he  made  Hiis  way  to  Rotterdam  and 
from  there  to  Liverpool,  where  he  took  passage  on 
the  sailing-vessel  "Anrora"to  New  York  City,  arriv- 
ing there  after  a  voyage  of  twenty -eight  days.  He 
then  made  his  way  to  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and  served 
as  clerk  in  a  store  there  until  the  fall  of  1856,  when 
he  came  to  East  St.  Louis  and  learned  the  butcher- 
ing business,  and  on  April  1,  1857,  located  in 
Illinois  Town.  This  is  now  a  part  of  East  .St.  Louis, 
but  at  that  time  the  village  was  only  a  collection 
of  houses  for  the  accommodation  of  drovei-s  and 
farmers  on  their  waj-  to  the  mart  across  the 
great  Father  of  Watei-s,  which  they  reached  bv 
ferry.  He  engaged  as  clerk  for  two  3ears,  and  then 
started  in  the  grocery  business  on  Broadway, 
which  he  continued  until  1866,  with  the  exception 
of  some  time  spent  at  St,  Paul  in  the  same  line. 
He  started  his  meat  market  here  in  1866,  and  has 
been  very  successful  in  his  business,  as  he  was  the 
first  one  in  the  field.  He  has  been  an  extensive 
buyer  at  the  National  stock  yards,  and  kills  hogs 
bv  the  car-load,  having  every  modern  and  sani- 
tary convenience  in  his  slaughter  house  on  Rock 
Road,  one-half  mile  out  of  the  city.  He  has  a 
large  and  profitable  trade  and  takes  pride  in  hav- 
ing everything  of  the  best. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  I85;t,  in  East  St. 
Louis,  to  Miss  Anne  Newcomb,  who  was  born  in 
Switzerland,  of  German  descent.  .She  was  removed 
by  death  in  1873,  leaving  eight  children:  Sophia, 
married  and  living  in  East  St,  Louis;  William, 
in  business  with  his  father;  Anna,  at  home;  Caro- 
line, now  Mrs.  Hinze,  of  this  city;  Minnie,  who  is 
dead;  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Denes,  of  this  place;  Louisa, 
now  Mrs.  Conrad,  who  lives  here;  and  Christian, 
who  IS  with  his  father. 

Mr.  Rohm  believes  in  Protection,  and  hence  is  a 
member  of. the  Republican  i)arty,  and  has  been 
honored  by  it  in  various  ways.  He  w;is  an  Alder- 
man of  the  First  Waid  one  term  and  then  the 
same  time  in  the  Seventh  Ward.  He  has  .acted  on 
different  committees  where  the  interests  of  thecitv 


22-4 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


liave  been  at  stake,  and  was  on  tlie  first  reform 
council  of  the  city  that  passed  the  rule  for  high 
grades  and  viaducts  and  for  general  improvements. 
He  belongs  to  the  social  orders  of  the  Ancient  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons  and  Royal  Arch  Masons  of 
this  place,  and  Knights  Templar  of  lielleville. 
He  is  a  man  very  much  respected  and  is  one  well 
posted  in  the  interesting  past  of  the  city  he  has 
seen  make  snch  a  marvelous  orowth. 


\l^-^   E  N  R  Y    VOS.S.     Witli  the  rapid   and  im- 
jVi  mense  growth  of  East  St.   Louis,  and   the 

^  ever-increasing  demand  for  residences  and 
manufacturing  and  commercial  buildings, 
the  real-estate  interests  have  naturally  come  to  form 
one  of  the  chief  investments  for  capital  with  the 
well-to-do  and  thrifty  portion  of  the  populace. 
The  large  trade  now  done  in  realty  of  every  de- 
scription has  naturally  drawn  to  this  branch  of  en- 
terprise many  of  our  leading  capitalists  and  go- 
ahead  citizens,  and  among  this  number  is  Henry 
C.  Voss,  who  has  built  up  an  extensive  and  influ- 
ential connection  among  speculators,  investors, 
and  those  seeking  homes  for  themselves. 

Mr.  Voss  was  born  on  the  24th  of  June,  1863, 
at  the  old  Prairie  House,  on  the  St.  Clair  Turnpike, 
now  in  the  city  limits  of  East  St.  Louis,  this 
being  the  oldest  house  in  the  township.  His  father, 
Henry  Voss,  was  born  in  Prussia,  reared  on  a  farm 
there,  and  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  German  army. 
Later,  he  was  employed  as  clerk  in  a  bank,  and 
when  he  was  twentj'-six  years  of  age  came  to 
America,  landing  in  New  Orleans,  where  he  re- 
mained for  some  time.  He  served  all  through  the 
Mexican  War,  and  subsequently  went  to  St.  Paul, 
but,  not  liking  it  there,  returned  to  New  Orleans, 
where  he  drove  a  team,  transferring  cotton  bales. 
There  he  became  familiar  with  the  cattle  business, 
and  later  he  came  to  St.  Louis  and  engaged  as  a 
drover.  In  the  fall  of  1848,  he  came  to  East  St. 
Louis,  and,  with  only  a  capital  of  $300,  engaged  in 
buying  and  shipping  cattle  to  New  Orleans  by 
steamboat.     The  business  increased  in  a  wonderful 


way  and  he  employed  many  men,  thus  continuing 
until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  when  he  lost 
considerable. 

In  the  meantime,  the  father  of  our  subject  had 
purchased  twenty  acres  of  land  where  the  old 
Prairie  House  stands,  and  there  he  made  his  home, 
for  East  St.  Louis  was  his  marketing  place  for 
cattle  at  that  time.  He  added  to  the  original  tract 
of  land  he  had  purchased  until  he  owned  three 
hundred  and  fifty  acres  adjoining  the  city  limits, 
and  very  valuable  property.  Here  his  death  oc- 
curred in  1887,  when  nearly  seventy  years  of  age. 
He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  a  member  of 
the  Catholic  Chuich.  AVhen  thirty-three  years  of 
age,  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Conrade,  a  native 
of  Alsace,  France,  who  came  to  St.  Louis  with  her 
parents,  both  of  whom  died  of  cholera  in  this  city. 
Mrs.  Voss  died  in  1879.  Six  children,  two  sons 
and  four  daughters,  were  born  to  this  union,  and 
Henry  C.  was  third  in  order  of  birth. 

Our  subject  was  reared  on  the  farm,  and  supple- 
mented a  district-scliool  education  by  attending 
the  city  schools.  He  was  early  set  to  work,  and 
as  he  was  passionately  fond  of  horses,  he  became  a 
driver.  He  remained  under  the  parental  roof  un- 
til after  the  death  of  the  father,  and  two  years  af- 
terward superintended  the  estate.  After  this,  he 
took  possession  of  his  property  and  remained  at 
the  old  Prairie  House  for  some  time.  On  the  1st 
of  May,  1889,  he  married  Miss  Natalia  Gross,  a  na- 
tive of  P^ast  St.  Louis  and  the  daughter  of  I^ouis 
Gross  (see  sketch). 

Our  subject  continued  farming  until  1891,  and 
then  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Gross  and  Mr. 
Bennett,  under  the  firm  name  of  Gross,  Voss  AC o., 
which  continued  until  January  1,  1892,  when  he 
bought  Mr.  Bennett  out,  and  continued  the  busi- 
ness under  the  firm  title  of  Gross  &  Voss.  Mr. 
Voss  is  the  owner  of  twenty  acres  on  Arlington 
Place,  and  he  is  building  a  fine  residence  in  St. 
Clair  County  Turnpike  at  a  cost  of  from  $8,000  to 
$10,000.  He  is  erecting  houses  on  his  addition, 
which  is  in  one  of  the  most  beautiful  residence  por- 
tions of  the  city.  Later,  he  laid  out  the  Voss  Ad- 
dition of  forty  acres.  He  is  interested  in  the 
street  railway  between  East  St.  Louis  and  Belle- 
ville.     In    the    year  188fi,    when    not  more  than 


llBRAi^V 


iNOIS 


."^^ 


■^  h-      ^ 


ELIZABETH     BORNMAN 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


twciity-f'iui-  yoars  of  age,  he  was  elected  Village 
Tni^tfc  of  New  Brighton,  and  served  his  third 
tt'iiii.  when  it  was  annexed  to  East  St.  Louis.  He 
has  been  a  School  Director  of  his  district,  serving 
two  times  as  President  and  two  timesas Clerk.  Li 
1889,  he  was  elected  Commissioner  of  Highw.iys 
on  the  Democratic  ticket,  and  the  last  time  was 
elected  iij  one  hundred  votes  more  than  both  his 
opponents  together.  He  is  now  serving  his  sec- 
ond term.  He  has  two  or  three  teams  on  the 
road  in  his  division,  keeping  up  roads  and  bridges. 
Since  elected  to  the  office  of  Director,  he  has  built 
up  till'  Illinois  city  school,  one  of  the  finest  in  East 
St.  Louis,  at  a  cost  of  830,000.  He  was  one  of  the 
Commissioners  and  took  an  active  part. 

Our  sul)ject's  marriage  lias  been  blessed  by  the 
birUi  of  two  children,  Natalia  and  Louis  Henry.  He 
is  a  member  of  St.  Henry's  Church,  in  which  his 
father  was  one  of  the  prominent  members,  the  lat- 
ter being  one  of  four  to  build  the  first  church  in 
East  St.  Louis.  In  politics,  Mr.  Voss  is  Democratic 
in  national  affairs,  and  has  been  a  delegate  to 
county  conventions. 


— "^^^w^®^^- 


IhM,  KS-  ELIZABETH  BOKNMAN.  The  ven- 
erable lady  whose  honored  name  intro- 
duces this  sketch  is  one  of  whom  the  bi- 
ographer esteems  it  a  privilege  to  write. 
A  woman  who  has  trod  the  pathway  of  life  for 
ninety  years  with  the  bravery  of  true  courage  in 
the  face  of  trial,  tribulation  and  hardship,  and  who 
has  shown  the  devotion  to  riglit  and  the  beautiful 
traits  of  Christian  character  which  have  distin- 
guished Mrs.  Bornmau,  deserves  more  extended 
praise  than  the  feeble  pen  of  the  writer  can  indite. 
Elizabeth  Miller  was  born  June  12,  1802,  on 
what  is  known  as  the  Prim  farm  (now  owned  by 
George  Muskoff)  on  section  32,  St.  Clair  Township. 
Her  parents,  William  and  Mary  (Huffman)  Miller, 
were  natives  of  the  Old  Dominion,  born  in  Hardy 
County,  near  Harper's  Ferry.  They  were  of  Ger- 
man descent,  the  mother  having  been  educated  in 


German}'.  In  1797,  they  came  to  Illinois  and  first 
made  settlement  near  New  Design,  Monroe 
County,  where  they  lived  for  about  two  years. 
Thence  the\'  came  to  St.  Clair  County  and  settled 
on  the  aliove-mentioned  place,  where  our  subject 
was  born.  At  that  time  the  country  was  in  a  wild 
state,  and  Indians  and  wild  animals  made  life  haz- 
ardous, while  the  many  privations  of  i)ioneer  life 
caused  much  sickness  and  death.  The  children  who 
were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  were:  Solomon, 
wlu)  was  born  in  Virginia,  came  with  the  family  to 
Illinois,  and  died  in  1854.  He  served  in  the  Black 
Hawk  "War  in  1832,  and  was  Colonel  of  a  regi- 
ment. Kate  died  young.  Nancy  became  the  wife 
of  James  Smith,  and  died  January  4, 1884,  leaving 
three  sons  and  one  (laughter:  William,  who  is  a 
farmer  and  resides  in  Perry  County;  Benjamin, 
who  resides  in  Stookey  Township,  four  miles  south 
of  Belleville.     Mrs.  Jane  Gregg,  lives  in   Kansas. 

November  30,  1827,  our  subject  became  the  wife 
of  Conrad  Bornman,  and  the  house  in  which  she 
was  married  is  still  standing  across  the  road  a 
short  distance  from  the  present  residence.  Her 
husband  was  a  native  of  Germany,  from  wliich 
countrj'  he  had  come  in  1817  to  New  York,  and  in 
1819  to  St.  Clair  County.  He  was  a  blacksmith 
and  brickmason  by  trade,  and  not  only  made  brick, 
but  laid  the  walls  of  many  of  the  best  business 
blocks  and  residences  erected  in  this  section  during 
his  lifetime.  An  industrious, energetic  and  public- 
spirited  man,  he  was  very  prominent  in  his  town- 
ship. He  carried  on  an  ice  business  for  several 
years.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  he  was  President 
of  the  Nail  Mill  Company,  and  was  also  stock- 
holder in  the  People's  Bank.  He  was  one  of  the 
pure  politicians  who  could  be  ardent  in  the  in- 
terests of  a  party  without  desiring  office.  First  a 
Whig,  upon  the  formation  of  the  Republican  party 
he  became  identified  with  its  principles  and  in- 
terests. In  addition  to  brick-making,  he  succes.s- 
fully  carried  on  his  farm,  which,  being  underlaid 
with  a  rich  vein  of  coal,  paid  him  good  returns. 
After  a  laborious,  useful  and  successful  life,  he 
died,  November  4,  1875,  at  Hot  Springs,  Ark., 
whither  he  had  gone  in  the  hope  of  recovering  his 
health,  which  had  become  serioush'  impaired. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bornman  were  particularly  blessed 


228 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


in  their  family.  Tlic  i^ons  grew  up  brave  and  manly 
and  the  daughters  affectionate  and  home-loving. 
William  Henry  married  Mary  Eckert,  and  is  now  a 
resident  of  New  Design.  Martha  is  the  widow  of 
Lucien  Doussart  (see  her  sketch ) .  James  A.  served 
with  credit  through  the  last  year  of  the  war  in 
Company  F,  Thirtieth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was 
with  Sherman  in  the  march  to  the  sea.  Louis  en- 
listed at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  in  response 
to  President  Lincoln's  first  call  for  three-months 
men.  At  the  end  of  that  time,  he  enlisted  for 
three  years,  or  during  the  war,  in  Company  E, 
Ninth  Illinois  Regiment.  He  participated  in  the 
many  engagements  of  his  regiment,  and  was 
wounded  in  the  left  arm  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh. 
After  one  year  of  service,  he  was  promoted  to  be 
Second  Lieutenant,  and  served  in  the  army  three 
years  and  four  months.  Daniel  served  three 
months  under  the  first  call  in  Company  D,  Ninth 
Illinois  Regiment.  These  brothers  are  all  Repub- 
licans, and  are  intelligent,  genial  men,  of  whom 
any  mother  could  be  proud.  Her  grief  was  great 
to  see  them  go  out  from  their  peaceful  home  into 
the  danger  of  the  battleQeld,  but  they  were  all 
mercifully  spared  to  her.  Frances,  Adeline  and 
Mary  S.  reside  with  the  brothers  at  the  home  of 
the  aged  mother  and  vie  with  each  other  to  make 
her  comfortable.  They  watch  over  her  with  ten- 
der solicitude,  and  show  the  greatest  devotion  and 
affection.  All  of  the  children  had  the  advantages 
of  a  good  education,  and  Louis  attended  McKend- 
ree  College  at  Lebanon  for  three  years. 

The  homestead  comprises  about  one  hundred 
and  sixty-five  acres  of  land,  partly  within  the  cor- 
porate limits  of  the  city  of  Belleville.  The  resi- 
dence is  a  comfortable  brick  edifice,  and  the  sur- 
roundings are  very  attractive.  None  of  the  family 
are  connected  with  any  religious  denomination,  but 
their  preference  is  the  Presbyterian  faith,  and  they 
all  live  good  Ciiristian  lives. 

The  venerable  lady  of  whom  we  write  is  the  old- 
est living  person  in  St.  Clair  Township,  and  with 
the  exception  of  Col.  John  Thomas,  whose  sketch 
appears  elsewhere  in  these  pages,  is  the  oldest  per- 
son in  the  county.  Between  herself  and  Elijah 
Badgley,  whose  sketch  is  elsewhere  presented,  there 
is  a  difference  in  age  of  three  days,  he  being  that 


much  her  junior.  Notwithstanding  her  age, Mrs. 
Bornman  has  a  bright  memory,  and  can  give  ac- 
counts of  events  and  experiences  which  have  es- 
caped those  much  younger.  With  the  exception 
of  deafness,  she  is  still  in  possession  of  all  of  her 
faculties,  and  enjoys  life,  taking  an  interest  in  the 
welfare  of  those  around  her  as  if  she  were  but  be- 
ginning life  instead  of  having  climbed  almost  to 
the  summit.  So  universally  esteemed  is  she  and 
so  well  known  that  these  few  lines  will  find  many 
interested  readers. 


«^ 


RS.  :SIARTIIA  DOrSSARD.  The  intelli- 
gent lady  whose  name  heads  this  sketch 
is  the  widow  of  Lucien  Doussard,  and  since 
the  day  that  depriv^ed  her  of  her  natural 
support,  she  has  lived  on  the  farm  left  her  by  her 
devoted  husband,  which  her  son  operates  for  her. 
This  estimable  lady  is  the  daughter  of  Conrad  and 
F:iizabeth  (Miller)  Bornman.  (See  sketch  of  Eliza- 
beth Bornman.)  Mrs.  Doussard  was  born  on  the 
25th  of  January,  1831,  in  the  city  of  Belleville, 
being  one  of  seven  children. 

Our  subject  was  married  November  29,  18.i."), 
to  Lucien  Doussard,  a  native  of  St.  Louis,  in  the 
West  Indies,  who  was  born  September  21,  1825. 
His  parents,  Louis  and  Lucy  Doussard,  were  natives 
of  sunny  France,  who  removed  to  St.  Louis  be- 
fore the  birth  of  their  son  to  engage  in  the  busi- 
ness of  sugar-planting.  In  addition  to  the  latter 
employment  the  father  held  a  Government  office. 

When  still  a  young  man,  Mr.  Doussard  left  his 
native  island  and  went  to  North  Carolina,  settling 
in  Raleigh,  but  not  being  satisfied  there,  he  went 
north  to  Elizabethtown,  N.  J.,  where  he  remained 
one  year.  From  that  place,  he  emigrated  to  St. 
Louis.  Mo.,  but  remained  there  but  a  short  time. 
In  May,  1849,  he  removed  to  Belleville  and  re- 
mained in  that  city  for  six  months  and  then  bought 
a  farm  in  St.  Clair  Township,  where  he  remained  a 
year,  when,  his  marriage  occurring,  he  removed  to 
the  farm  that  his  wife  still  occupies.  In  early  life, 
Mr.   Doussard   eng.aged  in  clerking,  but  the  latter 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


2 -in 


liditiDii  of  his  (liiys  was  .spent  in  tilling  the  soil. 
In  politics,  lie  was  an  ardent  Repnlilican,  iipliold- 
ing  the  prinfiples  of  li is  party  whenever  necessary. 
He  lived  and  died  in  the  faith  of  the  Catholic 
Church,  of  which  his  family  are  also  members. 

Mr.  and  Mvs.  Doiissard  were  the  parents  of  .seven 
children,  :i.s  follows:  Joseph  Riifus,  a  re.sident  of 
Kast  St.  Louis.  111.,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the  liv- 
ery liusiiiess.  lie  married  Catherine  Schreck,  and 
they  have  three  children.  Mary  died  when  still 
young.  .lames  is  at  home,  as  is  also  Lucy.  Cor- 
rine  has  renounced  the  world  and  its  vain  iileasures 
and  is  a  sister  in  a  convent  at  Koxbury,  Mass. 
.lulian  M(jrris  is  living  at  home,  and  .-Xugusta  died 
when  onl}-  two  years  of  age. 

Mrs.  Donssard  resides  on  her  pleasant  farm  of 
sixty-seven  acres  with  her  son  and  daughter,  who 
endeavor  to  console  their  revered  mother  for  her 
great  loss.  Miss  Luc\-  Donssard  is  a  refined,  intel- 
ligent lady,  whose  sweet  manners  win  her  friends 
wherever  she  goes.  This  is  a  fainilj"  whose  name 
deserves  a  place  in  every  history  of  St.  Clair 
County,  for  it  is  such  men  and  women  as  belong 
to  this  household  that  make  societj^  better  and 
purer. 


eAPT.  ClIHIS  riAX  INCOLI).  There  is 
a  tradition  somewhere,  that  the  Mississippi 
River  steamers  can  blow  up  oftener  .and 
burn  down  quicker,  and  make  more  fuss  about 
their  demolition,  than  any  other  boats  on  the  face 
of  the  globe,  and  for  that  reason,  perhaps,  they 
have  a  fascination  for  the  youth  born  along  the 
banks  of  the  mighty  river. 

The  pleasant  and  entertaining  gentleman  of 
whom  this  notice  is  written  was  born  .\pril  11, 
18r)6,  on  the  corner  of  Boge  and  .Second  .Streets, 
Kast  St.  Louis,  when  that  part  of  the  now  pros- 
perous city  was  known  .as  Bloody  Island.  His  father 
w.as  .Jacob  Ingold,  who  came  from  his  native  town, 
Baden,  Germany,  to  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and,  after 
making  the  trip  to  St.  Louis,  engaged  as  a  laborer, 
and   then  went  as  a  (nivate  in  the  Mexican  War. 


.\fter  his  return,  he  came  to  E.ast  St.  Louis  and  en- 
gaged as  a  teamster  for  the  Wiggins  Ferry  Com- 
pany, lie  Continued  with  this  company  until 
1><<S2,  when  they  pensioned  him  and  he  now  lives 
retired.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  named 
Annie  M.  Fletcher,  and  was  born  in  Cerinany, 
and  died  May  C,  lHi)l. 

The  subject  of  this  writing  was  the  only  child  of 
his  parents,  and  was  reared  on  the  Island  and  edu- 
cated in  St.  Louis  at  the  Saxon  and  Douglass 
.Schools,  .attending  the  .Jones  Commercial  Col- 
lege at  night.  When  but  a  bo}',  he  began  to  work 
for  .1.  M.  Jordan,  of  St.  Louis,  and  remained  with 
him  until  in  1874,  when  he  went  into  the  employ 
of  the  Wiggins  Ferry  Company  .as  weighmaster 
and  as  (icck  hand.  lie  was  licensed  as  Captain 
and  I'ilol  ill  lissi.  and  took  charge  of  the  tug  "  H. 
C.  Crew  veliiig,"'  and  ran  it  about  three  years,  when 
he  took  the  tug"Clubb"  and  after  this  had  charge 
of  others.  He  has  been  either  Captain  or  Pilot  tin 
every  boat  since  that  has  done  iniuh  for  the 
opening  up  and  extension  of  development  along 
the  ^lississippi  River  in  the  last  twenty  years.  He 
w.as  Pilot  for  three  years  on  the  "  Napoleon  ^lulli- 
gan  "  under  Capt.  Wick.  In  1890,  he  became  Cap- 
tain of  the'-  John  Trundley  "  transfer-boat.  When 
the  water  is  low,  tliej'  make  a  run  of  fourteen  miles 
from  the  landing  here  to  Chain  of  Rocks,  at  the 
new  St.  Louis  AVater  AVorks. 

Capt.  Ingold  was  married  in  E.ist  St.  Louis,  in 
1886,  to  Miss  Caroline  Ilentze,  who  w.as  born  in 
P^ast  St.  Louis,  and'  one  charming  little  daughter 
has  come  to  gladden  the  good  Captain's  heart. 
Her  name  is  Ora  Evelyn.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  his 
politics,  and  has  served  as  Clerk  of  Elections  here. 
He  belongs  to  the  social  orders  of  Knights  of 
I'ythias  and  the  rniform  Rank  of  Knights  of 
Honor. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  handles  the  helm  with 
accuracy,  born  <  f  long  service  in  an  employment 
for  which  he  alw.ays  has  had  a  fondness,  and  he 
has  the  confidence  of  the  people  of  East  St.  Louis, 
for  they  know  that  he  is  thoroughly  acquainted 
with  every  harbor  and  rapid  and  unex[)ected  curve 
of  tlie  Father  of  Waters,  along  whose  shores  he 
has  passed  his  useful  life.  He  was  only  twenty- 
three  years  of  age   when    he    was    first   entrusted 


230 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


with  a  sleanier,  and  many  have  been  his  exper- 
iences since  then.  He  has  seen  the  wonderful 
growth  of  East.  St.  Louis  and  takes  great  pride  in 
showing  it  to  the  stranger. 


f)HOMAS  MAY,  Ju.  One  of  the  most  prom- 
inent citizens  of  East  St.  Louis,  who  has 
s^^'  held  here  many  oflicial  positions  of  trust 
and  responsibilitj'  and  is  at  present  the  most  effi- 
cient Clerk  of  tlie  City  Courts,  is  Thomas  May. 
Jr.,  who  was  elected  to  that  position  in  Septem- 
ber, 1886.  He  was  born  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  on  the 
12th  of  July,  1857,  and  inherits  from  his  Irish 
ancestors  the  quick  wit,  genialty  and  large-heart- 
edness  for  which  liis  countrymen  are  known.  His 
parents,  Thomas  and  Bridget  (McDermott)  May, 
were  natives  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  the  former  born 
in  County  Mayo,  and  a  successful  farmer  in  that 
countr}'.  When  a  single  mau,  the  father  decided 
that  America  was  the  land  of  promise  for  a  strug- 
gling young  man,  and,  after  reaching  this  country, 
settled  in  Maryland,  where  he  continued  his 
former  occupation.  About  1858,  he  came  to  Ran- 
dolph County,  111.,  and  settled  near  Waterloo, 
where  he  purchased  a  farm,  and  cultivated  it  until 
1869,  when  he  sold  out  and  located  in  East  St. 
Louis. 

Our  subject  was  first  in  the  employ  of  the  Wabash 
Railroad,  but  subsequently  was  employed  b}'  the 
Eads  Bridge  Company,  now  the  Terminal  Railroad 
Association,  with  which  he  has  remained  ever  since. 
In  politics,  he  shows  a  decided  preference  for  the 
Democratic  part}'  and  has  ever  upheld  its  princi- 
ples. He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church  and 
his  wife  also  held  membership  in  the  same.  She 
died  in  1861,  and  Mr.  May  was  married  the  second 
time,  six  children  resulting  from  the  last  union. 

Thomas  May,  Jr.,  the  only  child  living  of  the 
first  union,  remained  in  Randolph  County,  111., 
until  1869,  and,  unfortunately,  his  early  educa- 
tional advantages  were  limited,  as  the  nearest 
school  was  five  or  six  miles  away.      However,   lie 


came  to  East  St.  Louis  at  the  last-named  date  and 
made  up  for  lost  time  by  attending  the  public 
schools  until  eighteen  years  of  age.  After  this,  he 
was  employed  by  the  Wabash  Railroad  Company, 
first  as  water-carrier  and  later  as  foreman  in  the 
switch  yards.  He  was  also  employed  in  the  latter 
capacity  by  the  Chicago,  Alton  &  St.  Louis  Rail- 
road until  the  strike  of  1886,  when  he  left  and 
never  went  back. 

In  September,  1886,  he  was  elected  Clerk  of  the 
City  Courts  over  two  popular  opponents,  by  a  ma- 
jority of  four  hundred.  He  filled  that  position  in 
so  creditable  and  etticient  a  manner  that  he  was 
re-elected  in  the  fall  of  1890  with  no  opposition. 
Mr.  May  owns  considerable  real  estate  in  East  St. 
Louis,  and  is  amemberof  tlie  Mutual  Building  and 
Loan  Association  and  also  of  the  St.  Clair  Associa- 
tion, in  which  he  is  a  Director. 

On  the  28th  of  November,  1882,  he  was  wedded 
to  Miss  Rosa  O'Brien,  a  native  of  Memphis,  Tenn., 
but  who  was  reared  and  educated  in  East  St.  Louis. 
Her  parents,  Michael  and  Margaret  O'Brien,  were 
natives  of  the  green  isle  of  Erin,  and  the  father 
was  on  the  police  force  in  Memphis,  where  he  died 
during  the  cholera  scourge.  The  mother  finds  a 
comfortable  home  with  our  subject.  To  Mr.  and 
May  has  been  born  one  child,  Thomas  M.  Mr. 
May  is  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen  and  is  Master  Workman  of  East  St. 
Louis  Lodge  No.  294.  He  and  his  wife  are 
worthy  members  of  St.  Patrick's  Church, and  he  is 
a  stanch  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party. 


^^j  HARLES  L.  AVALRATH.  The  principal 
[if  requisite   in    the  success  of  the    real-estate 

^^^J  business,  the  safest  and  surest  form  of  in- 
vestment, is  to  have  reliable  agents  who  are  thor- 
oughly posted  on  their  city  and  locality.  Such  a 
one  has  East  St.  Louis  long  possessed  in  Charles  L. 
Walrath,  who  is  now  not  onl}'  a  prominent  and 
successful  real-estate  dealer,  but  is  also  interested 
in  the  insurance  business,   for    it    is   an  acknowl- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


231 


edged  fact  that  insurance  is  among  the  most  im- 
portant brandies  of  business  "in  any  community. 
He  is  a  native  of  the  Empire  State,  born  in  Cana- 
joharie,  Montgomery  County,  on  the  19th  of  De- 
cember, 1851,  and  conies  of  sturdy  Germ.in  ances- 
tors. The  first  inemliers  of  this  family  to  settle 
in  America  were  seven  brothers,  who  came  here 
at  a  period  antedating  the  Revolutionary  Wai', 
and  served  all  through  the  struggle  for  indepen- 
dence. 

The  great-grandfnllier  of  our  subject,  .latob 
Walrath,  was  born  in  TS'ew  York  State,  and,  after 
growing  up,  located  on  a  farm  in  Montgomery 
County,  where,  in  connection  with  farming,  he 
followed  the  carpenter's  trade.  His  son  (the  father 
of  our  subject),  .John  .J.  AValrath,  who  was  born  on 
this  farm  in  Montgomery'  County,  N.  Y.,  as  he 
grew  up  learned  the  carpenter's  and  joiner's  trade, 
and  became  a  contractor,  builder  and  finisher,  do- 
ing very  fine  work  in  wood.  Later,  he  took  up 
the  occupation  to  which  he  had  been  reared,  and 
tilled  the  soil  very  successfully  for  some  time. 
He  then  sold  out  and  removed  to  Hdlsdale,  Mich., 
where  he  was  engaged  in  carpentering  for  ten 
years.  Since  then  he  has  resided  with  his  chil- 
dren, and  although  seventy-nine  years  of  age,  holds 
his  years  well.  lie  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and 
a  Methodist  in  religion.  He  married  Miss  Mari- 
etta St.  .John,  a  native  of  Montgomery  County, 
N.  Y.,  and  the  daughter  of  Sylvanus  St.  .John, 
who  was  born  in  C'onnecticut,  and  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Montgomery  County.  Mr.  St. 
John  was  a  very  extensive  farmer  and  was  Captain 
of  a  State  militia  conii)any.  He  was  at  Lake  Erie 
during  the  War  of  1812.  Mrs.  Walrath  died  in 
1882,  leaving  four  children:  Rev.  J.  II.,  who  resides 
in  Chicago  and  isa  Congregational  minister;  Louis 
E.,  in  Texas  County,  Mo.;  Ciiarles  L.,  our  subject; 
and  Emma  E.,  wife  of  the  Rev.  O.  C.  McClure, 
of  Coopcrstowu.  N.  i);ik. 

The  original  of  this  notice  was  reared  in  New 
York  until  the  .'im'  of  twenty  years,  and  from 
early  IiovImkkI  deliglited  in  handling  tools.  He 
served  hi>  lime  at  tlie  carpenter's  trade  and  was 
educated  at  Ames  Academy,  of  national  reputa- 
tion. When  nineteen  years  of  age,  he  taught 
one  winter  term  of  school,  and    in  1871  went    to 


Hillsdale,  Mich.,  where  he  lived  for  ten  years, 
and  there  attended  college,  off  and  on,  for  six 
years.  During  this  time,  he  taught  school  for 
several  terms,  and  also  followed  contracting  and 
building.  About  1877,  he  embarked  in  merchan- 
dising in  Hillsdale,  and  continued  this  until  1880, 
when,  on  account  of  his  health,  he  sold  out. 

In  November  of  the  same  year,  our  siilijecl 
came  to  East  St.  Louis  and  assisted  in  settling  the 
St.  John  property,  left  b^'  his  great  aunt,  and  since 
then  has  been  engaged  in  the  re.al-estate  business 
building  up  and  developing  the  city  as  much  as 
any  other  one  man.  His  office  is  on  the  corner  of 
Third  Street  and  Broadway,  where,  in  connection 
with  the  real-estate  business,  he  is  engaged  in  the 
life,  fire  and  accident  insurance  business.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  American  Building  &  Loan  Asso- 
ciation, of  Chicago,  and  is  one  of  the  substantial 
and  popular  men  of  the  city.  He  owns  property 
all  over  the  city,  has  built  many  houses,  and  is 
building  right  along.  He  is  the  largest  renter  of 
houses  in  the  city,  and  is  doing  a  flourishiiig  busi- 
ness. 

Mr.  Walrath  w.as  married  in  St.  Louis,  in  De- 
cember, 1882,  to  Miss  Georgia  L.  Miller,  a  native 
of  St.  Louis  and  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Samuel  Miller, 
of  St.  Louis.  Two  children  have  blessed  this 
union:  Charles  Herbert  and  Jessie  A.  Mr.  Wal- 
rath is  a  Republican  in  politics,  but  does  not  as- 
pire to  (lolitical  positions.  Mr.  W:ilrath  w.as  made 
Notary  I'ublie  in  1887.  lie  is  a  niember  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  and  is  Trustee,  Secretar}- 
and  Treasurer  in  the  same.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Building  Committee  of  the  new  church,  one 
of  the  finest  in  the  city. 

6 APT.  HENRY  SACKMANN.     Among   the 
most  noted  and  representative  men  of  East 
.St.   Louis,  III.,  stands    the  name  of    Capt- 

Henry  Sackmann,  whose  high  reputation  and  ma- 
terial prosperity  came  as  the  rewards  of  unusual 
natural  abilities,  industriously  applied.  lh>  is  one 
of  the  old  settlers  of  ICast  St.  Louis,  coming  here 
in  184G,  when  the  city  wai  called  Illinois  Town  and 


232 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


when  there  was  but  one  house  on  the  Island.  From 
that  time  to  tlie  present,  he  has  so  identified  him- 
self witli  tiie  affairs  of  tlie  place  tliat  their  history 
cannot  be  recorded  without  according  bini  a  con- 
spicnous  and  lionorable  part.  He  has  assisted  ver^' 
materially  in  the  progress  and  development  of  this 
city,  and  is  entitled,  with  others,  to  feel  a  just  pride 
over  the  result  of  efforts  that  have  brouglit  forth 
the  flourishing  East  St.  Louis  of  to-daj'.  lie  is  at 
[iresent  the  veteran  employe  of  the  Wiggins  Ferry 
Company,  is  the  Superintendent  of  the  large  cor- 
poration, and  holds  a  very  responsible  position. 

Capt.  Sackmann  was  born  on  tlie  8th  of  April, 
1834,  at  Hanover,  Germany,  and  his  parents  were 
also  natives  of  that  country.  The  father  was  a 
carpenter  by  trade,  and  he  and  his  wife  passed 
their  entire  lives  in  the  land  of  their  birth.  Our 
subject  «as  the  third  youngest  of  the  children  born 
to  his  parents,  and  remained  in  Germany  until  ten 
years  of  age.  In  184o,  he  left  Bremen  for  America 
with  a  relative,  and  lauded  m  Now  Orleans  after 
an  ocean  voyage  of  sixty  days.  His  relative  be- 
came a  soldier  in  the  Mexican  War  after  landing, 
and  four  of  five  weeks  later,  or  on  the  3d  of  Jan- 
uary, 1846,  Capt.  Sackmann  came  to  St.  Louis. 
Some  strangers  bound  him  out  to  a  baker  in  that 
city  and  he  remained  with  him  three  years,  after 
wliich  he  became  connected  with  Illinois  Town, 
carrying  and  delivering  bread  on  that  side  of  the 
river.  He  became  a  practical  baker  and  at  the  ex- 
piration of  his  time  he  worked  one  month  for 
the  Wiggins  Feriy  Company. 

In  1849,  he  went  South,  and  was  a  lesident 
of  New  Orleans  for  two  years,  engaged  in  selling 
goods.  In  1852,  he  came  to  Illinois  Town,  where 
Capt.  John  Trendley  engaged  him  as  a  deck  hand, 
and,  although  he  began  in  that  humble  manner,  he 
had  any  amount  of  energy  and  push  and  soon  be- 
came pilot,  afterward  Captain  and,  11nall\',  Super- 
intendent. He  was  Captain  for  many  years.  In 
1871,  he  l)ecame  Assistant  Superintendent,  but 
virtually  Superintendent,  and  in  1884,  when  Capt. 
S.  C.  Clubb  died,  he  became  Superintendent.  He 
is  the  right  man  for  the  riglit  place  and  is  thor- 
oughly familiar  with  everything  connected  with  it. 
This  company  runs  tive  ferry  boats,  throe  ti;i)isfcr- 
boats  aud  one  lug, 


Capt.  Sackmann  is  the  first  man  who  ever  took 
a  boat  up  the  river  and  started  the  excursion  trade, 
about  thirty  years  ago.  During  the  war,  he  had 
to  work  in  the  Government  service.  He  is  the  old- 
est captain  on  the  river,  and  there  is  not  a  corpor- 
ation in  the  United  States  that  can  produce  a  set 
of  as  old  men  as  the  AViggins  Ferry  Compan3-.  This 
is  the  largest  ferry  on  the  Mississippi,  or  west  of 
New  York,  and  the  company  employs  in  the  river 
department  about  eighty  men.  The  Captain  has  a 
comfortable  home  at  No.  106  North  B  Street,  and 
is  surrounded  with  all  the  comforts  of  life.  He 
was  first  married  in  1858,  to  Jliss  Caroline  Whipel, 
a  native  of  St.  Louis,  and  one  child,  Mary,  was 
born  to  this  union.  She  now  makes  her  home  with 
our  subject.  Capt.  Sackmann 's  second  marriage 
occurred  in  East  St.  Louis,  in  1870,  to  Miss  Chris- 
tine Barnard,  a  native  of  St.  Louis  and  a  daughter 
of  John  Barnard,  who  was  one  of  the  old  ferrymen, 
and  died  here.  Six  children  were  born  to  our  sub- 
ject's second  union:  Charles,  a  machinist;  Amelia, 
Katie,  Henry,  Annie,  and  Robert  E.  Capt.  Sack- 
mann has  been  a  member  of  the  City  Council  as 
Alderman  from  the  First  Ward  ever  since  1876, 
with  the  exception  of  four  years.  He  is  the  oldest 
alderman  on  the  board  aud  has  been  President  pro 
tem.  He  is  at  present  Chairman  of  the  Public 
Building  and  Grounds  Commitee  and  a  meinlierof 
other  committees. 

A  boat  on  the  river,  built  in  1883,  was  named 
"Henry  Sackmann"  for  him, and  is  a  transfer, carry- 
ing fourteen  ears.  Another  boat,  the  -'George  A. 
Madill,"  a  large  transfer  boat  for  sixteen  cars,  was 
built  in  1891.  Since  the  new  admistration,  he  has 
been  Mayor  Stei)iiens'  right-hand  man  and  has 
taken  an  active  part  in  all  luiblic  enterprises  for 
the  prosperity  of  the  city,  lie  is  a  member  of  the 
School  Board  of  Township  No.  2,  N.  R.  10  W., 
and  has  held  tiiat  position  Un-  nine  years.  He  is 
now  the  President  of  the  Board. 

Although  he  has  had  but  limited  educatimial  ad- 
vantages, the  Captain  is  a  self-made  and  self-edu- 
cated man,  and,  being  a  man  of  observation  aud 
excellent  judgment,  is  well  posted  on  all  the  cur- 
rent topics  of  the  day.  He  was  Special  Collector 
for  tiie  improvement  of  Front  Street  when  it  was 
builland  collected  ^104,000,  Jlo  wfis  nn  orgauizerof 


rORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


233 


the  Mutual  Building  and  Loan  Association  in  East 
St.  Ix)uis,  and  has  been  Vice-president  since  1886. 
Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Helvetia  Lodge  No. 
480,  I.  ().  O.  F..  and  has  represented  his  lodge  in 
the  Grand  Lodge  twice.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
Illinois  Lodge  No.  268,  K  of  H.,  the  first  lodge  in 
the  State,  and  he  was  the  first  Past  Dictator  of  the 
State  of  Illinois.  He  is  a  member  of  Cheva- 
lier Comniandery  No.  38,  K.  of  H.,  of  the  Uniform 
Rank,  and  was  the  first  past  Commander  in  the 
State,  this  being  tlie  first  lodge  founded  here.  In 
politics,  he  has  always  been  a  Democrat,  and  has 
been  a  delegate  to  county  and  State  conventions. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  County  Demucr.itic  Com- 
mittee. 


ENRY  OEBIKE,  grocer,  brings  to  the  de- 
tails of  the  business  a  thorougli  experience, 
united  with  pride  in  the  quality  of  the 
goods  supplied  at  his  store, so  that  his  name 
has  become  a  synonym  for  excellence.  In  the  va- 
riety- of  the  goods  handled  by  him,  it  is  hard  to 
enumerate  anj'  special  feature,  for  all  that  enters 
into  the  line  of  staple  and  fancy  groceries  and 
food  supplies  are  comprised  in  it.  ^Ir.  Oebike  is 
the  oldest  grocer,  in  point  of  location,  in  the  city, 
for  lie  has  been  established  iiere  ^iince  1858.  He 
was  born  in  West|)halia,  Germany.  .July  23.  1836, 
in  which  country  his  worthy  parents,  Christof  and 
Anna  (Sniaudl)  Oebike,  were  also  born,  the  former 
of  whom  was  a  merchant  of  Warburg,  an<l  a  tiller 
of  his  own  land.  He  was  Alderman  of  his  town 
for  years,  and  died  the|e  in  1866,  when  over>ixty- 
five  veai-s  of  age,  after  a  useful  and  well-spent  life. 
His  father,  Edmond  Oebike,  was  a  rope  manufac- 
turer, and  the  muliier's  fatiier  w.a.s  a  tanner  by 
trade. 

llciiiy  ()cliike  is  the  only  sui-vi\  ing  nieiiiber  of 
five  children  liorn  to  his  parent*,  and  after  obtain- 
ing his  first  knowledge  of  books  in  the  common 
schools,  he  entered  Warburg  Seminary,  where  he 
took  tlie  classical  course  and  remained  six  years. 


At  the  age  of  seventeen  yeare,  he  left  school  and 
began  working  in  a  grocery  and  hardware  store  in 
Paderborn,  and  after  attaining  his  twenty-first 
year  he  was  made  managing  clerk.  In  18.58,  not 
fancying  a  military  life,  he  left  Bremen  on  the 
American  steamer  "Ariel,"  and,  after  a  voyage  of 
about  seventeen  days,  reached  New  York  City, 
after  which  he  at  once  came  to  East  St.  Louis  on 
the  Oliio  &  Mississippi  Railroad  to  join  his  l)rother 
William,  who  was  in  the  wholesale  grocery  busi- 
ness in  St.  Loui-i.  He  remained  in  that  city  until 
September,  1858,  when  he  opened  a  grocery  store 
in  East  St.  Louis,  buying  out  the  establishment  of 
.Mr.  Millendorf.  The  place,  which  w.as  then  some- 
times called  St.  Clair  City,  consisted  of  only  about 
one  hundred  inhabitants. 

In  1863,  Mr.  Oebike  bought  the  lilock  which  he 
was  occupying  for  $2,800.  but  in  1866  built  the  liist 
brick  building  on  Broadw.ay  and  moved  the  frame 
building,  in  which  he  foruierly  did  business,  to  the 
side  of  his  brick  estalilishment,  now  occupied  by  a 
shoe  store.  Up  to  1873,  Mr.  Oebike  was  associated 
with  a  partner  but  he  then  became  sole  proprietor 
and  continued  alone  until  18'.t0,  when  his  nephew, 
Henry  Strothman.  became  his  partner.  Their  es- 
tablishment, which  is  the  oldest  one  in  the  i)lace, 
is  located  at  the  corner  of  Broadwa^y  and  Collins- 
ville  -A. venue,  and  is  very  favorably  located  fur 
I  a  successful  trade.  The  store  is  36x50  feet,  two 
st<jries  in  height,  with  a  large  basement,  all  of 
which  is  in  use.  They  do  a  large  wliolesale  and 
retail  business  and  deal  in  all  articles  usually  kept 
in  .-i  first-cl.ass  groceiy.  Mr.  ( )ebike  now  owns  two 
buildings  adjoining,  one  frame  and  one  brick,  and 
also  the  building  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Broad- 
way, a  three-story  building  used  as  a  dry-goods 
store,  Ijeside  considerable  real  estate  (over  twenty 
lots)  throughout  the  city.  In  1873,  he  laid  out  some 
lots  known  as  Oebike  A-  Eases'  .\ddition,  opposite 
St.  Henry's  Church,  which  he  sold  at  a  satisfactory 
advance;  also  an  addition  on  SiuMt  Street, some  lots 
at  the  corner  of  Mis.souri  .\venue  and  Eleventh 
Street,  and  three  and  a  half  acres  within  the  city 
limits  on  the  Belleville  turnpike.  He  also  built  a 
residence  on  Missouri  .\\cnui'  now  owned  by  Di'. 
Strecker. 

In   1865,  he  made  a  trip  to  Europe,  but  at  the 


234 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


end  of  two  months  returned  to  his  adopted  home. 
He  was  an  organizer  of  the  East  St.  Louis  Bank, 
and  after  remaining  President  and  Director  of  tiie 
same  for  sixteen  years  lie  retired.  He  w.as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Town  Council  for  two  terms,  was  inter- 
ested in  the  incorporation  of  the  place  in  1865, 
and  for  ten  years  was  a  member  of  the  School 
Board,  and  for  seven  years  acted  in  the  capacity 
of  President.  He  is  a  Catholic  in  his  religious 
views  and  was  an  organizer  of  St.  Patrick's  con- 
gregation, but  later,  in  1866,  assisted  in  the  or- 
ganization of  St.  Henry's  Church.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  St.  Louis  in  I860  to  Miss  Lazetta  Schroe- 
der,  who  was  born  in  AVestphalia,  Germany,  and 
died  January  17,  1891,  having  borne  seven  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom  grew  to  maturity:  Christo- 
pher, who  was  in  business  with  his  father  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  at  the  age  of  twenty-four 
years;  Annie  (Mrs.  Eckert),  who  was  educated  in 
Belleville  Convent;  and  Mary,  who  is  at  home,  was 
educated  in  St.  Elizabeth's  Institute  in  St.  Louis. 
Mr.  Oebike  was  one  of  the  organizers  and  Direc- 
tors of  the  first  Street  Car  Company  in  the  city, 
and  was  also  an  organizer  and  Director  of  the  City 
Gas  Company-. 


^OHN  P.  METZEN  was  born  near  Bonn,  on 
the  Rhine  River,  in  Germany,  November 
,—,1  I  23,  1825,  but  for  some  time  past  has  been  a 
^f^/J  wealthy  retired  citizen  of  East  St.  Louis, 
111.  His  father,  .Tolin  P.  Metzen,  was  also  born 
there,  and  followed  the  calling  of  a  school  teacher 
\intil  his  death.  His  wife  was  Agnes  Bierther, 
whose  father  was  a  Captain  under  Nai)oleon  Bona- 
parte and  was  a  participant  in  the  famous  battle 
of  Waterloo.  He  afterward  became  Mayor  of  tlie 
community  in  which  he  lived. 

The  paternal  grandfather,  John  Metzen,  was 
an  agriculturist  by  calling,  but  was  also  a  soldier 
under  Bonaparte,  as  Captain  of  the  Reserve  Corps, 
and  made  the  march  to  Russia.  To  ,lohn  P.  and 
Agnes  (Bierther)  Metzen  eight  children  were  born, 
of  whom  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  only  o|ie 


in  America.  Like  all  German  youths,  he  was  given 
the  advantages  of  the  common  schools  until  he 
was  twelve  years  of  age,  after  which  he  entered 
the  gymnasium  in  Koln.  At  the  age  of  nine- 
teen, he  volunteered  in  the  German  armj-  and  re- 
mained in  the  service  for  tiiree  years,  and  in  1848 
was  called  to  Schleswig-Holstein  where  he  was 
wounded  in  the  leg  in  an  engagement. 

Mr.  Metzen  then  became  an  employe  of  the 
(iovernment  as  Superintendent  and  Overseer  of 
the  Public  Domain,  also  Superintendent  of  For- 
estr\',  which  positions  he  filled  until  1851,  when 
he  emigrated  to  America.  He  left  Antwerp  in 
the  f.all  of  that  year,  but  the  vessel  in  which  he 
sailed  became  unseaworthy  and  they  had  to  put 
into  Southampton,  England,  for  repairs,  which 
took  until  December.  He  eventually  landed  at 
New  York  City,  but  soon  after  went  to  Chicago, 
which  was  then  almost  nothing  but  a  bog,  and 
which  gave  but  little  promise  of  being  the  mag- 
nificent city  that  it  now  is.  He  was  employed  in 
a  grocery  there  until  1856,  when  he  went  to 
Kansas  and  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land  at  the  first  Indian  land  sales  at  Paola.  He 
settled  on  this  land  in  Franklin  Count}%  and  for 
a  long  time  lived  in  a  dug-out,  with  no  neigh- 
bors within  many  miles.  He  kept  this  land  until 
the  opening  of  the  Civil  War,  when  he  sold  it  and 
started  for  Lexington,  Mo.,  to  enlist  in  the  Union 
army,  wl.en  he  was  attacked  b}'  Gen.  Price,  and,  as 
his  men  were  totally  untrained  and  mau3'  of  them 
without  arms,  he  was  defeated.  He  was  taken 
prisoner  and  while  in  captivity  became  ill,  but 
upon  recovering  was  exchanged.  He  was  wounded 
at  Lexington  in  the  same  leg  in  which  he  had  been 
previously  wounded,  was  also  poisoned  by  ivy, 
and  was  so  long  in  convalescing  that  he  did  not 
again  join  his  regiment. 

Our  subject  returned  to  Chicago  in  1863,  and  a 
short  time  after  removed  to  St.  Louis.  Mo.,  in 
which  city  he  was  married  the  same  year  to  iMiss 
Caroline  Trick,  a  native  of  Germany,  who,  with 
her  parents,  became  a  resident  of  St.  Clair  County, 
111.,  in  1842.  In  1867,  Mr.  Metzen  located  in 
F^ast  St.  Louis  and  soon  afterward  purchased  land 
here,  which  lie  had  previously  leased  as  a  place 
for  holding  picnics.   He  nest  engageil  Ui  the  dairy 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


237 


business,  which  he  conducted  on  a  large  scale,  and 
owned  as  many  as  one  hundred  and  twenty  cows. 
He  sold  milk  ami  butter  and  found  this  business  a 
profitable  one.  He  became  the  owner  of  fifty 
acres  of  land,  as  well  as  several  blocks  in  the  city, 
and  in  1881)  made  his  first  large  real-estate  deal, 
selling  fifty  acres  to  a  St.  Louis  speculator,  lie 
built  and  owns  a  block  on  Missouri  Avenue  and 
Seventh  Street,  and  owns  tlie  I'.uck  Block  at  the 
corner  of  Broadway  and  Main  Streets.  Since  1888, 
he  has  been  retired  from  active  life  and  is  now 
enjoying  the  fruits  of  his  early  labors.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  (Irand  Army  of  the  Republic,  is  a. 
Republican  politically,  and  in  1 872  was  a  delegate 
to  the  State  convention  at  Springfield.  He  has 
one  son,  .lohn  1'.,  .Ir. 

^^  HARLKS  H.  FIETSA.M.  Tlic  name  at  the 
(ti  I-.  head  of  this  sketch  is  tiiat  of  the  practical 
^^^^  and  successful  farmer  wlio  resides  on  sec- 
tion '2,  New  Athens  Township.  The  father  of  our 
subject,  Henry  I'ietsam,  was  born  in  Nassau,  (;er- 
many,  November  8,  1791,  and  in  his  native  land 
was  reared,  and  there  married  .Tuditli  Monken.  He 
came  to  America  on  the  12th  of  .January.  18.T(t,  and 
first  located  near  .Shiloli.  111.,  where  he  lived  one 
year,  and  then  removed  to  the  vicinity  of  Belle- 
ville, where  he  remained  for  three  years.  His  next 
l)urcliase  was  the  place  where  our  subject  now  lives, 
which  he  bought  in  18.53.  There  lie  remained  until 
his  death  in  1872.  The  mother  of  our  subject  sur- 
vived until  187().  This  worthy  couple  left  twelve 
children,  all  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  and  five 
of  whom  are  still  living:  .losepli  makes  his  home 
in  Texas;  Henry  resides  in  St.  Cloud  County, 
Minn.;  George  lives  in  P'reeburg  Township,  this 
county;  and  August  lives  in  Williamson  County, 
this  State.  Those  who  have  passed  away  are:  Se- 
bastian, wliodied  in  Belleville.  III.;  William.  .Tohn 
.1.,  Michael  ami  Fritz,  all  four  iif  whom  died  ui 
Texas;  Klizabelli.  who  died  in  (ieiiiiMnv;  .iiid 
Adolpli.  who  died  on  the  home  phu'c. 

Our  subjei't    was  born    No  vein  be  r    lu,    I8;il.   in 
N:issau.  (iermany,  and  was  liftecn  years   old   when 


his  father  decided  to  remove  to  America.  He 
grew  to  manhood  in  this  country,  and  obtained 
but  little  schooling.  However,  his  natural  ability 
was  great,  and  he  has  in  a  measure  educated  him- 
self. 

riie  marriage  of  .Mr.  Fielsaiii.  in  IHtll.  united 
him  with  Elizabeth  I.oux,  who  died  two  years  after, 
leaving  one  daughter,  Ida.  now  the  wife  of  Frank 
Aberle,  of  Fayetteville.  In  18(54,  Mr.  Fietsam 
again  married,  his  wife  being  Mi.ss  Philomeua, 
daughter  of  Frank  Zoeller,  an  early  settler  in  this 
county.  Mrs.  Fietsam  was  born  in  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
and  is  a  lady  of  great  capability,  who  has  assisted 
her  husband  in  his  domestic  affairs  and  directed 
his  home  with  economy  and  comfort.  There  have 
been  ten  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fietsam, 
all  of  whom  are  yet  living:  Jlary  is  the  wife  of 
Henry  .lung,  and  they  live  in  this  township; 
Charles  is  a  fanner  in  New  .\thens  Township;  Jo- 
seph. Anna,  Adolph,  Edward,  Theresa,  Sophia, 
Heruhardt  and  Anthony  are  at  home. 

The  three  hundred  and  twenty-four  acres  of  fine 
land  which  belong  to  our  subject  are  in  a  fine  state 
of  cultivation,  and  he  has  made  the  most  of  the 
improvements  himself.  Mr.  Fietsam  belongs  to  the 
Catholic  Church.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of 
Catholic  Knights,  and  is  Finance  Receiver  of  Lodge 
No.  29.  Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  has 
held  the  office  of  Deputy  Assessor  of  St.  Clair 
Coiintv;  is  .lustice  of  the  Peace,  and  has  been 
County  Commissioner  for  three  years.  He  was  re- 
elected when  the  township  was  re-organized,  liut 
did  not  serve.  He  has  always  taken  an  active  part 
in  the  politics  of  his  county,  and  is  a  very  prom- 
inent man  there.  He  was  a  Director  in  the  Farm- 
ers" Life  Insuiance  Company  for  twenty  years, 
held  the  oflice  of  Financial  Secretary,  and  for 
seven  years  he  has  b(>eii  Treasurer  of  that  organ- 
ization. 


n.  .1. 


\\'I(;(;iNS.      The  eminent  East  St. 


Ill   Louis  i)liy>ician  and  surgeon   whose  name 
{^3^'    appears    at    the  head-  of  this  sketch   im- 
presses   even    those    who    meet  him   in  a 
wav   as  a  man  who  has   diiftecl  e.asil\-  an<l 


238 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


naturally  into  the  medical  profession,  who  realizes 
he  has  marie  no  mistake  in  the  clioice  of  his  voca- 
tion, and  who  feels  thoroughly  at  home  in  the  po- 
sition whicli  he  occupies.  This  first  impression 
deepens  with  a  more  intimate  acquaintance,  and 
familiarity  with  the  history  of  his  life  leads  to  the 
unbiased  and  impartial  view  that  the  splendid  suc- 
cess which  he  has  achieved  is  the  logical  sequence 
of  talent  rightly  used,  together  with  energy  and 
industry  never  misapplied. 

Born  in  St.  Lotiis,  Mo.,  in  1855,  he  is  a  son  of 
Louis  C.  and  Anna  (Edwards)  Wiggins,  the  father 
a  native  of  Cape  May,  N.  J.,  and  the  mother  of 
Philadelphia,  Pa.  The  father  was  a  printer,  and 
at  an  early  date  came  to  St.  Louis,  and  was  en- 
gaged on  the  Republwan,  which  is  still  printed 
in  St.  Louis.  In  1858,  he  located  near  O'Fallon, 
this  county,  and  opened  and  developed  a  farm. 
He  died  in  1878.  In  polities,  he  was  a  Republi- 
can, and  in  religion,  a  strict  Baptist,  being  Deacon 
in  his  church.  The  motlier  died  in  1863.  Five  of 
their  six  children  are  now  living. 

Dr.  J.  L.  Wiggins,  the  youngest  of  this  family, 
was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  and  received  his 
early  scholastic  training  in  tlie  district  schools.  In 
1864,  he  went  to  Natchez,  Miss.,  for  his  health;  re- 
maining there  two  years  he  attended  the  Normal 
Institute,  and  later  the  public  schools  of  St.  Louis. 
About  1874,  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  un- 
der Dr.  C.  R.  Oatmann,  at  Collinsville,  remained 
with  him  one  year,  and  in  the  fall  of  1874  entered 
St.  Louis  Medical  College,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  in  1877.  lie 
began  practicing  at  C'aseyville,  St.  Clair  County, 
111.,  was  verj'  successful,  and  continued  there  for 
seven  years.  In  1884,  he  came  to  East  St.  Louis, 
still  a  small  town,  and  lias  practiced  here  ever 
since.  In  1879,  he  took  a~post-gradnate  course  in 
St.  Louis  Medical  College,  and  has  since  been  en- 
gaged in  his  regular  practice. 

Dr.  Wiggins  selected  for  his  life  companion, 
ISIiss  Louisa  C.  INIoeller,  a  native  of  New  I'lin 
Minn.,  Init  who  was  reared  in  Si.  l,iiuis,  and  tiicir 
union  was  celebrated  in  1880.  In  the  \cai-  1K«,S, 
Dr.  Wiggins  was  elected  a  member  of  the  School 
Hoard,  held  that  pf)siti<>ii  tliree  ye:ir^,  and  dur- 
iim    this   time   tlic    Webster    Scliool    linililini;'    was 


erected,  also  the  Franklin  Building.  He  was 
Chairman  on  a  special  committee  that  selected 
the  site  and  approved  the  plans  of  these  build- 
ings. They  were  erected  at  a  cost  of  |i40,0()() 
each,  and  are  the  finest  in  the  country.  By  his 
resolution  on  the  1st  of  July,  1889,  the  American 
flag  was  placed  on  the  school  buildings  of  the  city 
each  national  holiday,  and  also  one  daj'  of  each 
week.  These  resolutions  were  passefd,  and  were 
the  first  passed  West  of  the  AUeghanys. 

Our  subject  has  been  an  agitator  for  the  estab- 
lishing of  Soldiers'  Homes  in  different  localities,  es- 
pecially in  the  South,  for  the  ex-soldier  who  cannot 
stand  the  vigorous  winters  of  the  North,  and  his 
suggestions  have  been  commended  by  all.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Mississippi  ^'alley  Medical  Society, 
also  St.  Clair  County  Medical  Society  as  Vice- 
President,  and  a  member  of  the  State  Medical  So- 
ciety. He  is  a  public-spirited  citizen,  is  interested 
ill  all  improvements,  and  is  one  of  the  city's  most 
influential  men.  In  politics,  he  is  a  stanch  advo- 
cate of  the  platform  of  the  Republican  partv. 


^^^^^#S=^= 


fl  ENRY  W.  HEMPE.  It  is  universally  con- 
ceded that  the  distribution  of  food  pro- 
ducts constitutes  the  most  important  factor 
ill  the  long  list  of  a  city's  industries,  and, 
such  being  the  case,  the  grocer  must  be  accorded 
the  palm  as  the  most  important  contributor  to  the 
development  of  this  fact,  his  wares  covering  al- 
most every  article  of  daily  consumption  known  to 
man.  This  branch  of  mercantile  activity  is  ad- 
mirably represented  in  East  St.  Louis  by  the  popu- 
lar and  well-ajipointed  establishment  of  Henry  W. 
Heiiipe.  who  is  not  onl\'  a  prominent  business  man 
of  the  city,  Imt  is  Alderman  from  the  Second 
Ward. 

Mr.  llempe  is  a  nati\e  of  (ierinany.  iiorn  in 
Westphalia,  Feliruary  5,  1837,  and  isa  son  of  Will- 
iam and  Willielmina  (Welman)  Hempe,  liotli  na- 
tives of  the  Old  Country.  The  grandfather,  Will- 
iam IIiMiipe,  Sr.,  was  a  farmer  in  (ierinany,  and  was 
a  soldier  in  Najioleon's  army.  IJe  c:|ine  of  a  proiii- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


239 


inent  German  family,  and  w;is  a  Lutheran  in  his  re- 
liffious  views.  William  Hempe.  .Ir.,  was  about  tiie 
age  of  King  Frederick  AVilliam.  having  been  born 
the  same  year;  he  served  in  the  same  regiment,  and 
knew  him  personally,  exchanging  letters  with  him 
in  later  yeai-s.  Like  his  father  before  him,  William, 
.Ir.,  followed  agricultural  pursuit;*,  and  was  engaged 
in  this  occupation  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1870.  when  he  w!i.*  seventy-one  years 
of  age.  lie  married  Miss  Wehnan,  the  daughter 
of  Henry  Welman,  who  was  a  fai'mer  by  pursuit, 
and  who  was  in  the  Germ.an  army.  After  the 
death  of  her  husband.  Mrs.  llerape  crossed  the 
ocean  to  America,  and  died  at  the  home  of  her  son, 
our  subject,  when  seventy-six  yeai-s  of  age.  Six 
children,  three  of  whom  are  living,  were  born  to 
this  worthy  couple,  llemy  W.  llemi)e  being  the 
eldest. 

The  original  of  this  notice  had  early  instilled 
into  his  youthful  mind  all  the  details  of  farm  life; 
he  attended  the  common  schools  regularly,  and  re- 
mained under  the  parental  roof  until  twenty  yeai-s 
of  age,  when  he  decided  that  a  better  chance  was 
given  a  struggling  young  man  in  the  United 
States.  After  reaching  this  country,  he  worked  in 
an  hotel  until  he  became  acquainted  with  some  of 
the  sea  captains,  and  in  18.57  he  hired  out  as  a  stew- 
ard on  the  vessel  -liluchart,"  sailing  from  Haiti- 
more  to  Bremen,  .\fter  this,  he  was  on  the  "Ed- 
ward," and  went  from  Kew  Orleans  to  the  West 
Indies,  always  in  the  capacity-  of  steward.  Later, 
he  was  on  the  steamer  -'New  York,"  and  made  seven 
trips,  crossing  the  Atlantic  Ocean  nineteen  times, 
in  storms  of  all  kinds.  From  18t;i  until  18().').  he 
clerked  in  a  grocery  store  in  New  York  City,  ami 
was  there  during  the  rioU«. 

In  1866.  Mr.  Hempe  came  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and 
was  in  the  employ  of  H.  W.  Kohs  until  1872.  when 
he  came  to  East  St.  Louis  and  built  his  present 
store.  He  has  continued  in  business  here  since, 
and  is  one  of  the  oldest  grocers  in  the  city.  He 
owns  ccmsiderable  real-estate  in  different  parts 
of  Ea.<t  St.  Louis,  and  has  a  line  residence  in  the 
city.  In  18S8.  ho  was  elected  Alderman  from  the 
Second  Ward.  ;\nd  has  tilled  that  position  since. 
He  has  l>ecm  un  tlifferont  committees,  and  was 
Clmirman  of  tlif  police  Comuiissioticrs,     Ue  was 


in  favor  of  the  late  reform  movement,  and  takes  a 
decided  interest  in  all  movements  for  the  upbuild- 
ing of  the  city.  He  is  a  member  and  Director  of 
the  Second  Building  and  Loan  Association  of  East 
St.  Louis,  and  socially  is  a  memberof  the  Indepen- 
dent Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Past  Noble  and  En- 
campment. He  was  on  the  Building  Committee 
that  erected  the  German  Presbyterian  Church  in 
]8'J1.  and  is  an  .active  member  c)f  that  church.  In 
politics,  he  adheres  to  the  Republican  party. 


■1^ 


(f^^^ARHY    ELLIOT,   .Ii;.,    ^■  ice-president   and 
|P^i  .Secretary    of    the   Elliot    Frog   &   Switch 
^^^'    Company,  of  East  St.  Louis,  111., is  a  native 
^S)     of  Cincinnati,  t)hio.  where    he    was   born 
.lune  28,  1851,  a  son  of  George  Elliot,  a  native  of 
the  land  of  thistles  and   oatmeal,  and  a  grandson 
of  Henry  Elliot.     The  father  learned   the  black- 
smith'.s   trade    in    "Bonnie   -Scotland,"    where   he 
worked  as  a  journeyman,  and  later  followed   that 
occupation  at  Newcastle,  in  the  North  of  England, 
holding  the  position  of  foreman  until  the  golden 
promises  of  America  drew   him   to  this  country. 
He  located  in   Cincinnati,  and,   like    the   famous 
Tubal  Cain,  he  became  a   noted    worker    in    iron. 
His   skill    in    this    direction    was    utilized  by   the 
United  States  Government  upon    the  opening  of 
the  Civil  War,  he   being  emplo^-ed  as  smithy  on 
board  a  number  of  (Jovernment   boats  plying   on 
the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Rivers.      Later,  he   was 
located  at  Cockrum.  near  .\urora,  but  in    1867  he 
removed  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  became  connected 
with  the  St.  Loviis  Railway  Supply  Companj-  and 
began    the    manufacture    of    his    patent   railroad 
switches,  which  he  had  perfected  while  at  Cockrum. 
They  erected  a  building  in  St.  Louis  on  Main  and 
Florida  Streets,  but  the  business   finally  changed 
hands  and  Mr.  Elliot's  contract  expired,  and   in 
187:5  he  and  lils  brother  Henry  located  in  East  St. 
Louis.  111.,  and  started  in   business  in  a  small  way, 
which  was  the  foundation  for  their  present  exten- 
sive works.     He  possessed  considerable  inventive 
j  genius  and  had  patented  several  other  of  his  in- 


240 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ventions,  among  which  was  a  raih-oad  car-spring 
of  great  merit.  He  died  in  St.  Louis  in  1875,  at 
the  age  of  forty -six  years. 

Miss  Agnes  Charters,  a  native  of  Scotland,  be- 
came his  wife,  and  is  now  residing  in  St.  Louis,  a 
worthy  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Cliurch.  She 
bore  lier  husband  four  children,  only  one  of  whom 
attained  mature  years,  Harry,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Aurora  until  fifteen  years  of  age,  at  wliich  time  he 
l)egan  working  at  the  machinist's  trade  in  St. 
Louis,  under  the  supervision  of  his  father;  but  in 
1870  lie  left  the  works  and  took  a  course  in  the 
jMound  City  Commercial  College,  of  St.  Louis.  He 
then  resumed  work  under  his  father,  and  when  the 
latter  and  his  brother  started  in  business  for  them- 
selves, he  took  charge  of  the  books.  The  business 
of  the  firm  increased  very  rapidlj^  and  at  the  death 
of  his  father,  Harry  became  the  partner,  and 
the  firm,  which  up  to  that  time  had  been  Elliot 
ife  Bro.,  now  became  H.  <fe  H.  Elliot.  This  contin- 
ued until  the  year  1878,  when  the  business  was 
incorporated  under  the  name  of  the  Elliot  Frog 
&  Switch  Company,  with  a  capital  stock  of 
i!lOO,000,  of  which  Mr.  Elliot  is  Vice-president  and 
Secretary.  This  is  one  of  the  oldest  manufac- 
turing establishments  in  its  line  in  the  United 
States  and  occupies  two  blocks  on  Fourth  Street, 
where  excellent  railroad  facilities  are  to  be  had. 
Employment  is  given  to  from  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  skilled 
mechanics,  and  their  pay  roll  is  over  |i8,000  per 
month.  Mr.  Elliot  superintends  the  work  himself, 
and  is  eminently  fitted  for  so  doing,  for  he  is 
thoroughly  familiar  with  every  branch  and  detail 
of  the  business,  and  is  careful  to  see  that  all  goods 
sent  out  are  in  first-class  condition,  and  will  reflect 
credit  upon  the  establishment.  They  have  a  fine 
lot  of  modern  machineiy,  which  is  propelled  by 
two  engines,  one  of  sixty-horse  and  the  other  of 
forty-horse  power. 

Mr.  Elliot  has  been  a  resident  of  St.  Louis  since 
-1870,  his  residence  being  No.  3871  Washington 
Avenue,  where  he  has  a  beautiful  home  in  one  of 
the  most  popular  residence  portions  of  the  cit}-.  He 
was  married  in  St.  Louis  in  1881,  to  Miss  Emma  C. 
Uriker,  a  native  of    that    city   ;inil    a    daughter    of 


Capt.  Baker,  an  old  settler  and  a  prominent  steam- 
boat captain.  Their  union  has  resulted  in  the 
birth  of  three  children.  Mr.  Elliot  is  a  member  of 
the  Legion  of  Honor,  and  politically  is  a  Kepub- 
licau.  He  is  naturally  of  a  very  social  disposition 
and  is  a  most  agreeable  gentleman  with  whom  to 
have  business  dealincrs. 


AVID  S.  BOOTH,  Sn.,  M.  D.,  died  Satur- 
jl  day,  September  10,  1892,  and  lies  buried 
'^Uf^  in  the  Caledonian  Cemetery  at  Sparta,  III., 
the  town  where  he  had  made  his  home  so 
long.  The  professional  reputation  of  Dr.  Booth 
was  an  en  viable  one,  and  his  knowledge  and  skill 
were  highly  valued  by  his  fellovv-eitizeus.  He  was 
one  of  the  oldest,  as  well  as  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent, of  the  physicians  of  this  part  of  Illinois,  and 
had  made  the  city  of  Belleville  his  home  for  the  past 
three  years,  his  residence  in  Illinois,  however,  dat- 
ing back  for  twenty-eight  years. 

The  Booths  were  among  the  first  settlers  of 
Philadelphia,  being  English  peoi)le  who  came  over 
with  Peiin.  Dr.  Booth  was  born  in  that  city  June 
30,  1828.  He  was  the  son  of  Dr.  John  J.  Booth,  of 
Philadelphia,  who  was  also  a  practitioner  of  the 
healing  art.  The  latter  married  Miss  Eliza  Stain- 
rook,  of  Philadelphia,  and  moved  to  Missouri 
some  fifteen  years  before  his  death. 

David  finished  his  education  at  the  High  School, 
and  began  studying  medicine  with  his  father 
after  he  had  clerked  for  four  years  in  a  drug 
store.  He  took  his  first  course  in  lectures  in  Jef- 
ferson College,  Philadelphia,  and  then  came  West, 
and  was  graduated  from  the  St.  Louis  Medical 
College  in  the  Class  of  '58.  He  then  returned  to 
Philadelphia,  and  went  to  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania. Afterward,  he  went  before  the  Naval 
Board  and  entered  the  United  States  navy  for 
two  years;  then,  resigning,  he  entered  the  regular 
army  in  1863.  He  took  charge  of  the  general  hos- 
pital in  Springfield,  Mo.,  and  was  made  surgeon 
of  all  the  hospitals  in  the  city,  and  there  he  re- 
niaincd  a   \ear.  when    he    resignecl,  having  fornie(l 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


•241 


many  valuable  acquaintaiic'es  and  orained  a  vast 
amount  of  experience.  He  later  settled  in  Sparta, 
111.,  and  liere  remained  a  quarter  of  a  centur\". 
Wishing:  to  made  his  work  more  localized,  and  re- 
alizing that  he  had  too  much  territory  to  cover,  he 
acceded  to  the  earnest  request  of  the  citizens  of 
Belleville  and  removed  to  this  pleasant  city.  His 
surgerj'  practice  was  very  ^reat  and  successful, 
and,  though  a  most  .skillful  operator,  he  was  always 
conservative  and  conscientious. 

Dr.  Bootii  was  a  member  of  the  American  Jledi- 
C!il  Association,  the  Mississippi  Valley  Medical  As- 
.sociation,  and  the  Illinois  State  Association,  of 
which  latter  he  had  been  President.  He  was  also 
a  member  of  the  Pennsylvania  State  Medical  As- 
sociation and  the  Missouri  State  Medical  Society, 
the  Academy  of  Medicine  of  St.  Louis,  the  .South- 
ern Illinois  ^Icdical .Society  (of  which  he  had  been 
President),  the  Belleville  ^Medical  Societv,  the 
Southeast  Missouri  Medical  .Society  and  the  .St. 
Clair  Medical  Society.  Of  the  last-named  society, 
he  had  served  .is  \'ice-president.  To  the  different 
societies,  he  had  contributed  a  great  many  valu- 
able papers,  and  was  the  father  of  the  Illinois  Prac- 
tice Act. 

Dr.  Booth  was  married,  in  18.51),  to  Miss  Cvuthia 
Grounds,  of  Kredericktown,  Mo.,  a  daughter  of 
Adam  (Grounds,  a  farmer  of  that  place,  and  to 
them  were  born  six  children.  Their  daughter 
Mary  married  .1.  B.  Jordan,  .ind  dying  left  an  in- 
fant son  to  her  father's  care.  .Sar.ah  became  the 
wife  of  Dr.  Jerome  Thompson,  of  Morrisonville, 
111.,  formerly  of  Helleville.  111.  Frank  is  the  wife 
of  William  J.  Burnett,  the  State  agent  for  the  Mc- 
Cormick  Reaper  at  Ottumwa,  Iowa.  Josephine  is 
the  wife  of  James  Sproul,  Jr.,a  merchant  at  Sparta. 
David  S.,  Jr.,  is  a  physician  of  St.  Louis,  a 
Professor  of  the  Barnes'  Medical  College  at  that 
place,  and  Consulting  Surgeon  of  the  Missouri  Pa- 
cific Railroad  Hospital.  He  is  also  assistant  editor 
with  Prof.  C.  H.  Hughes  of  the  Alienist  and  Neu- 
rologist. He  married  Miss  Basmath  Ariadne  West, 
of  Belleville.  .Inne  M).  lH!t2.  John  .(.  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

Our  subject  had  been  a  te.aclier  of  both  medi- 
cine and  pharmacy,  having  at  times  as  many  as  ten 
students,  of  whom    he    exacted   dailv  recitations. 


He  early  connected  himself  with  church  work, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Belleville,  111.,  to  which  he  was  a  liberal  contribu- 
tor at  the  time  of  his  death,  having  joined  by  let- 
ter from  the  same  denomination  at  .Sparta,  III. 
He  took  great  interest  in  educational  matters, 
and  frequently  delivered  popular  lectures  on  sci- 
entific subjects,  and  made  a  donation  of  a  large 
and  valuable  geological  collection  to  the  museum 
of  the  Sparta  High  School.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  higher  degrees  of  Masonry,  and  had  passed 
all  the  chairs  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows.  The  family  has  a  beautiful  home  on  .lack- 
son  and  Washington  Streets. 


lU  ACOB  MANN,  one  of  the  extensive  land- 
owners of  St.  Clair  County  and  an  enter- 
prising farmer  who  resides  on  section  32, 
Mascoutah  Township,  claims  Germany  as 
the  land  of  his  birth.  He  was  born  in  Bavaria  on 
the  I9th  of  November,  1834.  The  days  of  his  boy- 
hood and  youth  were  spent  in  his  native  land, .and 
his  education  was  acquired  in  its  public  schools. 
When  a  young  man  of  twenty-five  years,  he  de- 
termined to  seek  his  fortune  in  America,  of  whose 
advantages  and  opportunities  he  had  heard  so 
much,  and  so  in  the  spring  of  1849,  bidding  good- 
bye to  home  and  friends,  he  .sailed  for  the  New 
World,  locating  in  Baltimore,  where  he  remained 
for  two  \ears.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he 
came  West  to  St.  Clair  County,  111.,  working  for 
.about  three  years  on  a  farm.  He  then  bought  land 
in  Clinton  County,  and  there  engaged  in  farming 
for  himself  until  1871,  when  became  to  this  county. 
Mr.  Mann  wsis  married  in  18.53,  to  Miss  Eliza 
Kraus,  daughter  of  Phillip  P.  Kraus,  a  resident 
farmer  of  Clinton  County,  III.  After  a  short  mar- 
ried life  of  three  years,  the  lady  died,  and  IMr. 
Mann  was  again  married,  his  second  union  being 
with  Miss  Louisa  Hubsch,  who  resided  on  a  farm 
in  this  count}'.  One  child  was  born  by  the  first 
union  and  seven  bv   the   second   marriasj-e.     Thev 


U2 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


are  as  follows:  Mary,  now  the  wife  of  Albert 
Schielen,  a  resident  of  East  St.  Louis,  where  lie 
carries  on  carpentering;  Catherine,  wife  of  George 
Eberlein,  of  Maseoutali;  Philip,  who  is  engaged  in 
farming  on  section  36,  Mascoutah  Township;  John, 
who  resides  upon  his  father's  farm  in  Clinton 
County;  Henry,  wiio  is  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  in  Engleman  Township,  tliis  country; 
Fred,  who  is  living  on  tlie  old  liomestead  with  his 
father;  Jacob  and  Eliza,  who  are  also  still  at  home. 
Mr.  Mann  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Church,  and  served  as  one  of  its  Trustees 
for  seven  years.  lie  filled  the'oflfice  of  School  Di- 
rector for  six  years,  and  was  a  warm  fi'iend  of  the 
cause  of  education.  In  politics,  he  is  a  stalwart 
supporter  of  Republican  principles.  Ilis  landed 
possessions  aggregate  five  hundred  and  eighty-five 
acres,  one  hundred  of  wliicli  are  in  Clinton  County, 
the  remainder  being  located  in  this  county.  Witli 
the  exception  of  a  sixty-five-aere  timber  tract,  the 
land  is  all  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and 
well  improved.  He  is  engaged  principally  in  rais- 
ing grain.  His  well-tilled  fields  yield  to  him  a 
golden  tribute  in  return  for  his  care  and  labor,  and 
by  his  industrious  and  well-directed  efforts  he  has 
acquired  a  handsome  comi)etenc.y,  becoming  one 
of  the  substantial  citizens  as  well  as  one  of  the 
leading  farmers  of  the  community. 


|/j_^ON.  EDWARD  ABEND,  President  of  the 
Belleville  Savings  Bank,  is  a  Bavarian,  who 
was  born  on  the  30th  of  May,  1822,  a  son 
of  Henr^'jWho  was  an  officer  in  the  revenue 
service  of  his  country,  a  man  of  broad  and  liberal 
views,  and  very  finely  educated.  He  was  very 
much  in  favor  of  Republican  institutions,  and  his 
intimacy  with  leaders  of  Republicanism  led  him 
into  disfavor  with  his  Government  and  he  ten- 
dered his  resignation,  and  in  compan}'  with  other 
families  came  to  America  in  the  spring  of  1833. 
This  little  band  was  destined  for  INIissouri,  of  which 
section  glowing  accounts  had  been  heard,  but  upon 
their  arrival  in    St.  Louis  the  cholera  was  raging. 


and  two  of  Mr.  Abend's  children  unfortunately 
died  of  that  scourge,  as  well  as  hiuiself.  The  widow 
with  her  remaining  family  then  settled  at  Shiloh. 
St.  Clair  County,  HI.,  where  they  remained  several 
years,  then  removed  to  Belleville,  and  in  this  town 
Mrs.  Abend  was  called  from  life  in  1865,  her 
maiden  name  having  been  Margaret  Lavalle.  Out 
of  her  family  of  seven  cliildren,  only  four  survive, 
of  whom  Edward  is  the  eldest. 

Our  subject  attended  the  scliools  of  his  native 
land,  where  he  acquired  a  fair  knowledge  of  his  na- 
tive language,  and  after  coming  to  America  he  ac- 
quired a  practical  English  education  in  tlie  pio- 
neer schools  of  this  section,  his  first  teacher  being 
George  Bunsen.  Upon  locating  in  Belleville,  he 
attended  subsci'iption  schools  for  some  time,  after 
which  he  spent  one  term  at  ^McKendree  College, 
at  Lebanon,  and  left  that  institution  lietter  fitted 
than  the  average  bo}-  to  make  his  own  way  in  the 
world.  He  inherited  many  of  the  worthy  attri- 
butes that  his  father  possessed,  among  which  may 
be  mentioned  his  strict  integrity,  his  push  and 
business  ability.  For  two  years  after  leaving  col- 
lege he  served  an  apprenticeship  at  the  carpenter's 
trade,  but  gave  up  this  work  to  assume  the  man- 
agement of  a  farm  for  his  mother  in  the  vicinity  of 
Belleville.  About  this  time,  he  determined  to  enter 
upon  the  study  of  law,  and  for  that  purpose  en- 
tered the  law  office  of  Lyman  and  George  Trumbull, 
where  he  pursued  his  studies  with  such  unremit- 
ting ener  y  that  in  1842  he  was  admitted  to  the 
Bar.  He  at  once  opened  an  office,  and  his  mother 
having  acquired  considerable  property,  requested 
him  to  take  charge  of  it,  and  this  gradually  led 
him  into  more  .active  fields  of  business  life,  and 
about  1850  he  abandoned  the   practice  altogether. 

Having  always  been  a  thorough  Democrat,  he 
was  elected  by  his  party  to  the  State  Legislature 
in  184t),  and  served  during  tlie  session  of  1849-50, 
taking  part  in  the  famous  senatorial  battle  between 
(4en.  James  Shields  and  Judge  Breese.  In  1852, 
he  made  a  trip  to  his  native  land,  where  he  formed 
the  .acquaintance  of  a  number  of  heavy  capitalists, 
who  made  him  their  American  agent,  and  later 
sent  him  large  sums  of  money  to  invest  in  Amer- 
ican lands  and  securities.  This,  and  the  proper 
conduct  of  his  own    affairs,  made  him    a  (Mishing, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


243 


ac-tive  business  niau.  He  lias  been  identified  witli 
almost  every  interest  tendini>-  to  the  good  or  the 
material  advancement  of  his  section,  and  in  1851) 
he  became  one  of  the  Directors  of  the  l$elleville 
(ias  it  Coke  Company,  and  for  years  vv.is  its  Sec- 
retary- and  Treasurer.  In  18()0,  he  assisted  in  form- 
ing the  St.  Clair  Savings  and  Insurance  Company, 
which  was  changed  to  the  Belleville  Savings  Bank 
under  an  act  of  the  Legislature.  With  the  excep- 
tion of  a  short  European  tour,  he  has  been  Pres- 
ident of  this  institution  ever  since.  It  is  one  of 
the  substantial,  well-managed  institutions  of  the 
county,  and  during  periods  when  other  banks  were 
compelled  to  close,  this  bank  remained  intact,  and 
has  ever  pursued  a  course  of  honor  and  has  met 
every  demand  upon  it.  Its  managers  have  felt 
that  any  sacrifice  of  a  personal  kind  was  due  from 
them  if  it  was  found  necessary  to  preserve  the 
credit  of  the  bank  or  confidence  of  the  public,  and 
have  never  hesitated  to  make  such  sacrifice,  and  as 
a  result  their  bank  is  lihcrally  patronized  and  is 
firmly  established. 

In  1852,  Jlr.  Abend  was  married  in  Europe  to 
Miss  Caroline  Wetermann,  who  died  two  3-ears 
later,  and  on  the  2(5 th  of  October,  1856,  tie  took 
for  his  second  wife  Miss  Anna  IIilgard,a  daughter 
of  Theodore  Ililgard,  .Ir.,  and  a  native  of  St.  Cliir 
County,  111.  Altliough  a  firm  Democrat  at  the 
present  time,  he  became  a  Free-Soiler  in  1854,  over 
the  Kansas-Nebraska  troubles,  and  took  strong 
grounds  against  the  extension  of  slavery.  In  1860, 
he  voted  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  until  1872  re- 
mained a  Republican,  after  which  he  became  a 
Liberal,  and  later  returned  to  the  Democratic  fold. 
He  lias  held  the  position  of  Mayor  of  Belleville 
four  terms,  and  has  also  filled  oth«r  local  otlices 
•  with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  all 
concerned.  His  legislative  career  was  marked  by 
ability,  faithfulness  to  duty  and  activity-,  and  he 
has  the  confidence  and  respect  of  the  people  of  his 
vicinity  to  an  unusual  degree.  Although  unpre- 
tentious, he  is  a  lover  of  art  and  music,  and  his 
taste  in  both  is  exceptionally  fine  and  cultivated. 
He  is  one  whose  friendship  caii  not  be  too  liighlv 
prized,  for  he  is  of  an  exceptionally  faithful  and 
generous  disposition,  and  his  good  judgment  is 
un(iuestioned.  as  are  also  his  practical  sagacity  and 


integrity.  Past  seventy  years  of  age,  his  mind  is 
mature  and  ripe,  and  he  as  yet  shows  but  little 
the  ravages  of  time. 

The  Abend  and  other  families  of  that  niigia- 
tion  were  among  the  wealthy  class  in  (Germany, 
and  were  instrumental  in  bringing  man.>'  more 
verv  desiralile  settlers  to  the  Fnited  State*. 


i^+^i 


PR.  M.  R.  DOYLE  is  one  of  the  foremost  pio- 
fessional  men  of  the  county,  and  his  skill 
and  knowledge  of  his  calling  are  acknowl- 
edged not  only  b}-  those  who  have  employed  him, 
but  by  his  medical  brethren  .as  well.  He  was  born 
in  Shelby  County,  III.,  July  26,  1859,  a  son  of  E. 
M.  Doyle,  a  native  of  Russellville,  K^-.,  and  a  grand- 
son of  John  Doyle,  a  native  of  Virginia.  The 
great-grandfather  w.as  born  in  Scotland,  but  with 
two  brothers  came  to  America  jtrior  to  the  Revo- 
lutionarj-  War,  in  which  war  they  participated  as 
members  of  the  (,'olonial  army.  During  their 
service  they  were  separated  and  thus  lost  trace  of 
each  other.  The  great-grandfather  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  first  settled  in  Virginia,  but  later  be- 
came one  01  the  early  pioneers  of  Kentucky  and 
a  celebrated  Indian  fighter.  John  Doyle  became  a 
well-to-do  farmer  of  Logan  County,  Ky.,  and  died 
on  the  laud  he  had  tilled  for  so  many  years  at  the 
advanced  age  of  ninety  years.  E.  M.  Doyle,  the 
father,  was  reared  on  Blue  Crass  soil,  but  when  a 
young  man  removed  to  Vandalia,  111.,  which  was 
then  the  capitol  of  the  State,  and  drove  stage  be- 
tween Vandalia,  Springfield  and  St.  Louis.  Like 
most  Kentuckians,  he  was  a  noted  horseman,  and 
so  skillful  a  rider  did  he  become,  that  he  was  hired 
by  the  Government  to  break  horses.  Later,  he 
turned  his  attention  to  farming,  purch.ased  some 
land  and  nicely  improved  it.  He  first  lived  in 
I'Xvette  County,  then  Madison,  then  IMacoupin, 
and  finally  located  in  Shelby  County,  where  he  is 
the  owner  of  a  fine  farm,  and  is  extensively  en- 
gaged in  stock-raising,  although  he  has  reached  the 
advanced  age  of  four-score  years.  He  is  yet  a 
very  powerful   man    and    is    enjoying   a    hale  and 


244 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


heart\-  old  age.  His  magnificent  farm  comprises 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres,  and  for  many  years 
his  thorougli  acquaintance  witli  stoel<  led  him  to 
follow  the  calling  of  a  veterinary'  surgeon,  hut  he 
has  long  since  given  up  this  occupation. 

Our  subject's  father  married  Helen  Brewer,  a 
native  of  Alton,  111.,  and  a  daughter  of  William 
Brewer,  a  native  of  Penns3-lvania,  who  was  one  of 
the  pioneer  settlers  of  Alton  and  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation. He  was  one  of  the  famous  "forty-niners" 
who  went  to  California,  and  was  a  very  successful 
miner,  but  when  just  ready  to  start  for  home  with 
his  hard-earned  gold-dust,  he  was  murdered  and 
robbed.  He  was  of  German  descent.  Mrs.  Doyle 
is  about  sixty  years  of  age,  and,  like  her  husband, 
is  in  the  enjoyment  of  good  healtli.  Mv.  Doyle  is 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  P^piscopal  Cliurch,  and 
politically,  is  a  Republican.  He  has  been  married 
twice,  his  first  union  resulting  in  the  birth  of  nine 
children,  three  of  whom  served  in  the  Civil  War: 
Benjamin  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty- 
tlist  Infantry  in  1862,  served  until  the  close  of 
the  war  and  is  now  a  resident  of  De  Kalb  County; 
Harvey  joined  the  same  regiment  in  1862,  and 
now  resides  in  Macon  Count}',  and  John  joined  a 
Missouri  regiment  and  served  four  years  and  six 
months,  and  died  after  the  war.  Eight  children 
were  born  to  his  second  union,  three  of  whom  are 
living,  and  of  this  family  the  Doctor  was  third  in 
order  of  birth.  His  maternal  grandmother  was  Eliza 
Delaplaine,  a  Virginia  lady,  whose  father  was  a 
de  la  Plaine  from  France, and  an  own  cousin  of  the 
Marquis  de  La  Fayette.  He  came  to  America  during 
the  Revolutionary  War,  espoused  the  cause  of  the 
Americans,  and  Viecame  attached  to  the  country  to 
such  a  degree  that  he  afterward  located  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  later  came  to  Illinois  during  the 
early  days  of  the  State.  He  assisted  in  build- 
ing the  fort  at  Alton  and  was  a  successful  Indian 
fighter.  His  family  were  Protestants.  His  daugh- 
ter, our  subject's  grandmother, is  now  ninety  years 
of  age,  is  blind,  and  resides  in  Madison  County, 
111.,  with  a  daughter. 

Dr.  M.  R.  Doyle  early  learned  what  hard  work 
meant,  for  he  assisted  his  father  on  the  home  farm, 
but  he  attended  school  sufliciently  to  acquire  a 
u-ood  practical  edueiition,  which  he  finished  in  the 


Valparaiso  (Ind.)  Normal  College.  At  the  age  of 
twenty  he  began  the  study  of  medicine,  for  which 
he  seemed  to  have  a  natural  aptitude,  and  toward 
which  profession  he  has  alwa3's  had  a  decided  inclin- 
ation, and  in  1881  he  entered  the  Chicago  College 
of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  in  which  he  took  two 
full  courses.  During  this  time  he  practiced  with 
Dr.  Wayohn,  who  was  a  Professor  in  that  college. 
Ill  188.5,  Dr.  Doyle  entered  the  Kentucky  .School 
of  Medicine  at  Louisville,  from  which  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  June  of  the  same  year  with  the  degree  of 
M.  D.  He  took  a  special  course  in  chemistry.  He 
located  at  Pana,  Christian  County,  111.,  in  188.5, 
building  up  an  extensive  practice  during  the  four 
years  of  his  residence  there  in  Shelby  and  Mont- 
gomery Counties,  as  well  as  in  Christian  County. 
In  the  fall  of  1890,  our  subject  came  to  East  St. 
Louis,  where  he  is  one  of  the  foremost  practitioners 
and  has  gathered  about  him  a  wide-spread  patron- 
age. He  is  a  member  of  the  Central  Illinois  Med- 
ical .\ssociation  and  the  State  Medical  Association, 
and  in  various  other  ways  manifests  his  interest  in 
his  profession.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Odd  F'ellows,  and,  politically,  is  a 
Rei)ubliean,  the  principles  of  which  party  lie  at  all 
times  supports. 


i;  OHN  F.  MUELLER.  One  of  the  good  farm- 
ers of  the  fertile  township  of  Smithton  is 
the  subject  of  our  sketch,  and  he  lives  on 
sections  o  and  6,  where  his  farm  of  seventy- 
five  acres  shows  to  the  stranger  the  effect  of  good 
management  and  sensible  farming.  He  is  not  led 
away  by  any  foolish  notions,  but  keeps  right  on 
and  raises  crops  of  wheat'  and  corn  that  cannot 
fail  to  prove  that  he  understands  his  business.  He 
is  the  son  of  Joseph  D.  Mueller.  The  latter  was 
born  in  Germany,  and  came  to  this  country  wlien 
about  twenty-two  years  of  age,  and  worked  first 
in  Cincinnati.  He  then  thought  he  would  like  to 
see  the  country  farther  West,  and  came  to  Illinois 
and   located    in    St.   Clair    Township  in   St.  Clair 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


24  7 


Coiiuly.  Here  he  purchased  a  farm  and  lived 
until  a  ^lioit  time  before  his  death,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Hellevillc,  where  he  died.  He  liad  a 
family  of  six  childiei).  five  of  whom  are  still  liv- 
ing. The  livinsj  ones  heside  our  subject  are  .lohn. 
.Stephen,  Mary  .loseiihine.  .loseph  and  Anton. 
Mary  Helena  is  deceased.  Me  was  among  the  early 
settlers  of  .St.  Clair  Township,  and  was  a  faithful 
member  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  was  Mary  .Vnna  Fisher,  and 
she  too  lias  passed  away. 

Our  subject  was  born  on  the  old  lionieslead  in 
St.  Clair  Township  and  county,  September  7,  18.')8, 
and  w.as  educated  in  the  Catholic  schools.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Catherine  Louis,  the 
daughter  of  .Joseph  l>ouis,  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  the  township.  After  marriage,  he  removed  to 
the  place  where  he  now  lives,  and  here  his  family 
of  intere.-ting  children  has  been  born.  They  are 
.losepli  I).,  .Mary.  Helena,   Catherine  and  .lohnnie. 

"Sir.  Mueller  is  a  Democrat,  believing  in  the  su- 
periority of  principle  and  executive  power  as  ex- 
erted by  that  form  of  Government.  The  Roman 
Catholic  Church  is  the  religious  denomination  with 
which  Mr.  Mueller  linds  a  home.  This  is  one  of 
the  pleasant  representative  (Jerman  families  which 
make  St.  Clair  Countv  what  it  is. 


ellRISTlAN  F.  STRK(  KKH.  M.  1).  The  pro- 
,  fession  of  the  physician  is  perhaps  the  most 
__  trying  on  brain  and  body  of  any  in  the 
lield  of  science,  for  it  absorbs  the  attention  of  him 
who  practices  it  conscientiously  both  day  and 
night,  and  brings  into  play  the  most  versatile 
powers  of  his  being.  From  a  boy.  Dr.  Strccker 
desired  to  become  a  physician — his  kindly  nature 
turning  instinctively  to  that  broad  field  of  aid  to 
human  sulTering  for  his  life  work — and  since  de- 
voting his  attention  to  the  healing  art,  he  has 
received  a  portion  of  his  reward  in  this  world,  for 
he  has  the  confidence,  respect  and  esteem  of  his 
fellow  men,  and  the  consciousness  that  he  h.as 
driven  sorrow  and  despair  from  many  homes  by 
his  skill  as  a  physician. 


Our  subject  was  born  near  Ludwigsberg,  Wur- 
tomberg,  Germany,  October  20,  18.51,  to  C.  F.  and 
Anna  .Mariah  (Kitzenbergei)  Strccker.  who  were 
also  horn  in  Wurtemberg,  the  former  in  1817  and 
the  latter  in  1823.  The  father  was  an  excei)tion- 
ally  skilled  machinist,  and  while  a  member  of  the 
( ierman  army  w.as  a  cannoneer.  After  the  death  of 
his  wife,  he.  in  18()().  came  with  his  five  children 
to  America  on  the  steamer  "Saxony,"  taking  pass- 
age al  Hanover,  and  after  a  voyage  of  eight  days 
reached  Xew  York  City.  Soon  after  this  he  came 
to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  but  later  went  to  Warren  ton. 
Mo.,  in  the  vicinity  of  which  pl.ace  he  purchased 
some  land  and  improved  a  farm.  He  died  there  in 
.Tune,  1881,  when  just  on  the  eve  of  starting  to 
Kurope  to  make  his  home.  His  father,  David 
Strecker,  was  an  architect,  builder  and  real-estate 
owner  of  his  native  land,  and  erected  many  fine 
public  buildings.  He  died  in  Germany  in  1884,  at 
the  .age  of  ninety-two  years,  a  member  of  the  Lu- 
theran Cluireh.  Tiic  niothei's  people  were  lioncst 
tillers  of  the  soil. 

or  five  children  born  to  C.  F.  Strecker  and  his 
wife,  only  ffiur  are  now  living:  Louis,  a  business 
man  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.;  .\ugust,  a  farmer  of  Colo- 
rado; Pauline  (.Mr#.  Rieehers),  who  resides  in  Xe- 
br.aska;  and  Dr.  Christian  F.  The  latter  was 
reared  in  the  valley  of  the  Xeckar  River  and  oli- 
tained  a  good  education  in  the  town  of  I'oppen- 
weiler.  in  the  schools  of  which  he  remained  until 
fourteen  years  of  .age.  After  his  father  had  lo- 
cated at  Warren  ton,  JIo.,  he  assisted  him  on  the 
farm. but  later  entered  the  Central  Wesleyan  College, 
in  which  he  stayed  for  two  \ears,  graduating  from 
the  normal  department  in  1875.  He  paid  his  own 
way  tlirougli  school  with  money  he  earned  during 
v.acations,  and  in  1875  entered  the  American  .Medi- 
cal College  of  St.  Louis,  from  which  he  was  grad- 
uated three  years  later  with  the  degree  of  M.  I). 
He  located  in  Fast  St.  Louis  in  1877,  and  through 
honest  merit  has  built  up  a  very  extensive  practice 
in  the  city  and  country.  He  h.as  a  pleasant  ollice 
on  .Mi.*souri  Avenue, and  a  comfortable  and  home- 
like residence  at  No.  7115  Illinois  .\  venue. 

In  1884,  Dr.  Strecker  made  a  trip  to  the  "Father- 
Land,"  and.  during  the  four  months  he  remained 
.abroad,  he  visited   the   lios[)it.als  of  Herliii.  Munich, 


248 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Vienna,  and  made  atrip  through  Italy.  He  was 
married  in  East  St.  Louis  in  December,  1884,  to  Miss 
Louisa  Tlioma,  a  native  of  the  city,  and  a  daughter 
of  John  B.  Thoma,  a  mercliant  tailor  who  died  in 
1892.  Dr.  Strecker  filled  the  position  of  Alder- 
man from  1887  to  1890,  being  elected  on  the  Citi- 
zens' ticket,  and  was  Chairman  of  the  Police  Com- 
mittee, as  well  as  being  a  member  of  other  impor- 
tant committees.  He  gives  his  support  to  all 
movements  for  the  improvement  of  the  cit_y,  and 
was  one  who  generously  aided  in  properly  equip- 
ping the  police  force  of  the  city.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  is  a 
Knight  Templar  in  the  Masonic  order,  and  belongs 
to  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Modern  Woodmen 
and  the  Sons  of  Herman.  He  is  a  Republican 
politically.  In  his  religions  adherence,  he  lielongs 
to  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church. 


— J- 


i^-KSf^^^-;^ 


(.41  I^ILLIAM  BROWNLEE.  The  record  of  St. 
\rJ//  Clair  County  would  not  be  complete  with- 
^^'  out  a  mention  of  one  of  the  best-known 
and  most  highlj'  respected  men  of  Lebanon  Town- 
ship. On  one  of  the  quiet  streets  of  this  beautiful 
little  cit_v,  resides  the  subject  of  our  sketch,  sur- 
rounded by  all  the  comforts  of  life,  and  affection- 
ately wailed  upon  by  one  of  the  best  of  good 
wives. 

Our  subject's  father  was  Christopher  Brownlee, 
who  was  born  in  Ireland,  but  came  to  this  coun- 
try when  a  young  man,  and  settled  in  Gibson 
County,  Ind.,  where  he  was  married,  about  1831. 
He  was  a  railroad  contractor,  and  graded  seven 
miles  of  the  Evansville  &  Crawfordsville  Railroad, 
which  is  now  a  part  of  the  Evansville  &  Terre 
Haute.  He  lived  to  be  about  eighty-two  years  of 
age.  The  mother  of  our  subject,  Mary  Brownlee, 
was  also  a  native  of  Ireland.  She  passed  her  life 
in  Gibson  County,  and  only  survived  her  husband 
five  years. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  in  Provi- 
dence, R.  I.,  September  25,  1825.  When  twelve 
years  of  age,  he  work('(l  with  his  fathei-,  and    suc- 


ceeded him  in  his  business  of  railroad  contracting. 
He  had  few  educational  advantages,  and  the 
school  with  which  he  was  best  acquainted  was  the 
school  of  hard  work.  However,  he  did  not  permit 
this  to  make  him  ignorant,  but  bj'  keeping  his 
eyes  wide  open,  and  b3'  absorbing  all  the  informa- 
tion' that  came  within  his  reach,  he  is  now  one  of 
the  best-informed  men  of  his  time,  although  for 
years  he  has  had  to  contend  against  a  degree  of 
deafness. 

Our  snbject  came  to  Illinois  in  185.3,  and  settled 
in  Olney,  Richland  County.  He  began  business 
for  himself  as  a  contractor  on  the  Ohio  &  Missis- 
sippi Railroad.  He  graded  six  miles  of  the  road 
when  it  was  building,  and  became  a  section  fore- 
man, and  later  was  promoted  to  be  Road  master.  He 
then  was  a  freight  conductor  for  a  number  of  years. 
From  1861  to  1864,  he  was  Superintendent  of  the 
West  Division  of  the  Ohio  &  Mississippi  Railroad, 
and  from  1864  to  1870  he  was  conductor  on  a 
passenger  train.  Owing  to  his  increasing  deaf- 
ness he  gave  up  his  train.  It  was  during  this 
time  that  he  removed  to  Lebanon,  for  the  duties 
of  his  position  with  the  railroad  had  to  decide  his 
place  of  residence.  He  had  lived  for  eight  years 
in  St.  Louis.  He  discharged  the  duties  of  the 
West  Division  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  mana- 
gers of  the  road,  but  after  three  years  of  service  in 
the  place  he  resigned.  He  then  retired  from 
active  railroad  work,  but  is  kindly  remembered 
by  his  emi)loyersandthe  traveling  public,  many  of 
whom  he  changed  from  strangers  to  friends. 

All  railroad  men  marry  well,  and  our  subject  was 
no  exception  to  the  rule.  December  24,  1857,  he 
married  Miss  Sarah  L.  Notestine,  one  of  the  mai- 
dens of  Olney, III.,  but  born  in  Ohio.  Two  children 
have  blessed  this  marriage:  Walter  G.,  who  mar- 
ried May  Cunningham,  of  Lebanon,  and  is  now 
Train  Dispatcher  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railroad 
Company  in  St.  Louis.  He  has  one  child.  Tiie 
daughter  is  Bertha,  who  is  the  wife  of  Fred  C. 
Brooks,  a  merchant  in  St.  Louis.  She  has  one  child 
also. 

Mr.  Brownlee  and  his  estimable  wife  are  among 
the  best-known  and  most  respected  in  the  city  of 
Lebanon.  He  shows  on  his  face  the  kind  disposi- 
tion that  dwells  within,  and    still  enjoys  existence 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


■249 


liy  the  side  of  liis  clioorv  wife,  over  whom  the 
years  liave  glided  liiiidl}'.  He  does  not  botlier 
hims-elf  about  politics,  but  finds  plenty  in  his  silent 
life  to  entertain  and  anuise  him.  Mrs.  Hrownlee's 
father  and  mother  were  anions  the  first  settlers  of 
Olnev.  111. 


^_  RS.  GKACK  FEIJCIA  (LANDER)  MIEL- 
HEIM.     One  of  the  most  significant  signs 
of  the  overturning  of   public  opinion   in 
*  the  last  few  years   is  that,  in  these  days,  a 

woman  may  become  learned  and  wealthy,  may 
have  opinions  and  not  be  afraid  to  mention  them, 
may  be  successful  in  life,  and  may  be  sure  that  the 
male  sex  will  no  longer  try  to  suppress  her,  but 
will  bid  her  "God  sjieed."  The  original  of  the 
present  sketch  is  one  of  the  most  successful  busi- 
ness women  in  the  AVest.  She  conducts  a  large 
millinery  establishment  in  tliis  city,  and  her  name 
appears  on  quite  as  many  papers  for  improvements 
and  for  charities,  as  docs  any  man's  (jf  like  means 
in  East  St.  Louis. 

The  family  of  Mrs.  Muelheim  is  an  old  one, 
originally  from  Wales.  The  paternal  grandfather 
came  from  there  and  became  a  large  planter  near 
Lexington,  Ky.  The  father  of  our  subject  was 
born  in  Lexington,  and  also  was  a  large  planter 
and  stock-raiser  and  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers 
of  his  portion  of  that  State.  He  took  part  in  the 
War  of  1812.  and  grew  very  wealthy  and  promi- 
nent in  that  section;  In  185:5,  he  came  to  Wash- 
ington County,  111.,  leaving  his  beautiful  home  and 
the  social  honors  that  were  his,  because  he  could 
not  approve  of  slavery,  and  felt  that  he  must  get 
into  a  free  State.  He  was  an  old-line  Whig,  from 
which  class  have  come  giant*  of  intellectual  strength 
among  the  heroes  of  the  past.  Henry  Lander  was 
a  man  of  strong  convictions  of  right.  He  bought 
about  a  section  of  land  near  Nashville,  111.,  and 
there  passed  a  peaceful  life,  improving  his  estate 
until  his  death,  in  1863.  He  w.is  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  denf>niiiiation  and  departed  lamented  by 
all.     His  name  was  well  known  amona'  the  Aboli- 


tionists of  the  North.  The  mother  of  this  remark- 
able man  was  an  aunt  to  the  family  of  Breckeii- 
ridge,  and  her  father  was  a  large  planter  and  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  Christian  County,  Ky.  The 
Landers  were  always  [troud  of  their  descent,  as  it 
went  back  unbrpken  to  those  of  noble  birth  in 
Wales.  The  beloved  mother  of  our  subject  was 
Elizabeth  Purcell,  a  native  f>f  Ilopkinsville,  Ky., 
and  a  daughter  of  the  Pennsylvania  Piircells. 
She  lived  a  blameless  life,  doing  her  duty  as  the 
mother  of  a  large  family,  and  ended  her  d.ays  in 
Washington  County,  111.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Muel- 
heim was  twice  married,  five  children  resulting 
from  the  first  union  and  eiglit  from  the  .second. 

Our  subject  was  the  eldest  of  the  children  of  the 
second  marriage  of  her  father.  She  w.as  born  in 
Christian  County,  Ky.,  October  21,  1834,  and  tliat 
was  her  home  until  she  was  nineteen  3-ears  old. 
.She  was  educated  at  private  schools  until  her  mar- 
riage, which  occurred  in  Kentucky  in  1852,  to  O. 
E.  Davis,  a  Kentuckian,a  cousin  of  .lefferson  Davis, 
and  who  lived  but  six  months  after  marriage.  One 
child  was  the  result  of  this  union,  Harry  Davis, 
who  now  holds  the  position  of  Police  Magistrate 
in  East  St.  Louis.  In  1856,  Mrs.  Davis  was  mar- 
ried to  Charles  Muelheim,  a  native  of  Cologne, 
Germany,  who  had  come  with  his  family  to  Amer- 
ica in  1852,  and  located  in  Nashville,  111.,  and  eii- 
g.aged  in  the  drug  business.  He  then  went  into 
the  management  of  a  store  and  was  a  very  success- 
ful merchant  for  twenty  years.  During  her  life  in 
Nashville,  Mrs.  ISIuelheim  was  a  member  of  Hebekah 
Lodge,  and  was  a  .Sister  in  the  Masonic  lodge. 

In  1872,  our  subject  started  in  the  business 
which  her  abilitj-  has  made  so  prosperous.  .She 
located  in  East  St.  Louis  in  1882,  as  she  desired  to 
settle  her.  son.  Dr.  Robert  JI.  Muelheim,  in  his  pro- 
fession here.  Her  affairs  were  in  a  very  flourishing 
condition,  but  in  1890  she  suffered  from  a  fire,  and 
W.IS  burned  out.  She  was  not  dismayed,  but  went 
right  to  work  and  soon  had  her  present  building 
of  two  stories  and  with  a  frontage  of  twenty- 
five  feet  erected.  .She  has  the  finest  front  in  her 
building  of  any  in  the  city. 

Mrs.  Muelheim  has  two  daughters  remaining  of 
her  second  marri.age:  Carrie,  now  Mrs.  Charles  Fos- 
ter, who  resides  in  EIniira,  N.  Y.,  and  (irace,  now 


250 


PORTRAIT  AND  BlOGRAPmCAL  RECORD. 


the  wife  of  1..  C.  Doggett,  the  manager  of  the 
business  of  X.  K.  Fairbanks  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.  A 
great  grief  t-ame  to  Mrs.  Muelheim  in  1884,  when 
lier  talented  young  son,  Robert,  was  removed  b}- 
death.  He  was  a  brilliant  j^oung  man,  and  had 
graduated  with  honor  from  the  Jefferson  Medical 
College,  when  only  nineteen  \'ears  of  age.  He 
was  graduated  an  M.  D.  from  the  State  University, 
at  Champaign,  111.,  and  there  seemed  to  be  a  bright 
future  before  him,  but  these  hopes  were  blasted. 
Mrs.  Miielheini  is  a  devout  member  of  the  Baptist 
denomination,  as  were  also  her  ancestors,  and  has 
been  a  Democrat  in  her  political  opinions  since  the 
Presidency  of  Gen.  Grant.  She  is  a  very  pleasant 
lady  in  social  life,  and  is  one  who  can  hold  her 
own  and  command  respect  in  any  position. 


1 


|((»HN  C.  BEHRENS,  is  a  self-made  man  and 
prominent  fanner  of  O'Fallon  Township, 
who  was  born  in  Holstein,  Germany,  No- 
vember .3,  1833,  and  is  a  son  of  Christian 
and  Magdalena  (Kolsen)  Behrens,  both  of  whom 
were  also  natives  of  Holstein.  The  father  was  a 
farmer  and  fisherman,  who  fought  in  the  Danish 
army  in  the  war  with  Napoleon.  His  death  oc- 
curred in  1840,  and  his  wife  died  in  1838.  Their 
family  numbered  twelve  children,  six  sons  and  six 
daughters,  but  two  sons  and  two  daughters  died 
jirevious  to  the  birth  of  our  subject.  Catherina,  tlie 
eldest  child,  became  the  wife  of  John  Murthorst, 
and  died  in  Germany  in  1872,  leaving  three  chil- 
dren; Frederick,  who  was  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
came  to  America  in  18.54,  and  died  in  18.')8,  near 
Dutch  Hill,  St.  Clair  County.  He  was  married  and 
his  widow  is  still  living  in  Nebraska.  They  had 
five  children,  of  whom  a  son  and  two  daughters 
are  yet  living,  Lena,  Annie  and  Christian,  all  of 
whom  a;'e  married.  Magdalena  died  in  Germany 
in  1875,  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight  years.  She 
was  the  wife  of  Jurgin  Slange,  by  whom  she  had 
three  sons  and  four  daughters.  Claus  Detleff, 
who  was  born  in   1818,  came    to    America  in  1848, 


and  the  following  year  went  to  California.  He 
died  in  San  Francisco,  in  1879,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
one  years,  leaving  a  valuable  estate.  Annie,  born 
in  1822,  is  married  and  resides  in  Altoona.  She 
had  five  children.  .Turgen  came  to  America  with 
his  brother  Claus  in  1848,  and  died  in  St.  Louis 
in  1852,  leaving  a  handsome  property.  Margaret 
died  in  CTCrmany  in  1848,  at  the  age  of  twenty 
years. 

Mr.  Jiehrens,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  ac- 
quired his  education  in  tiie  common  schools  of 
his  native  land,  and  there  engaged  in  fanning 
until  1852,  when  he  sailed  for  America,  landing  in 
New  Orleans  June  1.  He  then  went  np  the  river 
to  St.  Louis,  and  thence  to  the  farm  of  Fred  Bogel, 
for  whom  he  worked  six  months  at  $6  per  month. 
He  then  worked  on  the  construction  of  the  Cairo 
ik  St.  Louis  Railroad  until  1855.  His  business 
was  to  superintend  ten  hundred  and  forty  acres 
of  land  and  furnish  railroad  ties.  In  February, 
1865,  he  bought  his  present  farm,  two  miles  east 
of  O'Fallon,  and  he  has  since  made  it  his  home. 

In  September,  1859,  Mr.  Behrens  was  united  in 
marriage  with  !Miss  Clarissa  Wakefield,  who  was 
born  September  3,  1843,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Matilda  Wakefield,  of  this  county. 
They  became  the  parents  of  eleven  children,  but 
lost  their  first-born,  a  daughter,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy.    Anna   Margaret,    who  was  born  March    2, 

1862,  is  now  married.  She  became  the  wife  of 
Stephen  Nicholas,  a  farmer  of  Lebanon  Township, 
June    6,    1892.     John   Henry,    born    October    10, 

1863,  is  a  railroad  emplo^'C;  Albert  Christian, 
born  November  14,  1865,  is  operating  the  home 
farm  on  shares;  Wilhelm  Amos,  born  December  6, 
1867.  Cora  Clarissa  April  2,  1871;  Minnie  Pearly, 
August  9,  1873;  Carl  Frederick,  September  22, 
1875;  George  Garfield,  October  5,  1877;  and 
Nellie,  January  25,  1880.  The  sixth  child,  a  son, 
born  in  March,  1869,  lived  onlj'  a  few  days. 

Mr.  Behrens  was  reared  in  the  Lutheran  faith, 
but  is  liberal  both  in  religious  views  and  in  i)oli- 
tics.  In  1852,  he  became  a  member  of  Germania 
Lodge  No.  878,  K.  H.,  of  O'Fallon.  In  1889,  he 
took  a  trip  to  California  to  settle  up  his  brother's 
estate,  but,  with  the  exception  of  this  period,  has 
resided    continuously    upon  his  present    farm    for 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


.ibout  twenty-seven  years.  He  has  led  a  busy  and 
useful  life  which  has  brought  him  a  comfortable 
competence.  He  came  to  this  country  eini)ty- 
handed,  but  by  his  enterprise  and  industry  he  has 
steadily  worked  his  way  upward  to  a  position  of 
wealth  and  allluence.  For  his  success  he  certainly 
deserves  great  credit.  He  is  an  intelligent  man 
of  studious  habits,  who  keeps  well  informed  on  all 
current  events  of  the  day.  He  is  thoroughly 
American  in  his  views,  and  loves  his  adopted 
country  and  its  institutions  better  than  the  Father- 
land. This  community  linds  in  him  a  valued  citi- 
zen, wlu)  well  deserves  re|)rosi'ntatioii  in  this 
voUinie. 


^(OHN  M.  Mrt'ASLANI).  The  original  of 
the  present  notice  is  a  resident  of  Jackson- 
ville, 111.,  hut  his  business  is  conducted  in 
East  St.  Louis,  where  he  has  been  located 
since  1889.  His  name  is  one  of  the  powders  in  the 
real-estate  market,  and  for  some  years  his  dealings 
in  realty  have  been  very  large  and  successful. 

William  McCasland  was  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  and  was  born  in  \'irginia,  where  he  carried 
on  agricultural  pursuits.  He  served  through  the 
Revolutionary  War  under  (len.  Washington,  and 
his  wife  received  a  pension  up  to  the  time  of  her 
death.  He  was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  and  mar- 
ried Ellen  McCullough,  a  native  of  Ireland.  She 
lived  to  the  age  of  ninety-three  years,  and  her  life 
ended  in  Sangamon  County.  111.  William  McCas- 
land brought  his  family  to  Indiana  and  located  in 
.lefferson  County,  where  he  followed  farming  un- 
til he  died.  The  respected  father  of  our  sul)jecl 
was  named  .lames  Harper  McCasland  ami  was  also 
a  \'irginian  by  birth.  By  occupation,  ho  was  a 
wood-turner  and  cabinet-maker  and  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  furniture  in  huliana 
until  1811.  when  he  came  to  Illinois.  lie  located 
in  (iallatin  County  the  first  year,  hut  this  seemed 
such  a  sickly  locality  that  he  moved  north  and 
settled  in  the  higher  lands  in  Mcjrgan  County,  and 
there  he  lived  a  few  years  and  engaged  in  farniiui; 


near  AYoodson.  .Some  j'ears  later,  he  removed  to 
Sangamon  County,  on  the  Morgan  County  line, 
and  located  at  the  middle  fork  of  Lick  Creek, 
where  he  farmed  until  he  died,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-three  years,  respected  by  all  who  knew 
him  and  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
He  had  been  a  Republican  but  never  a  seeker  after 
ollice. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  .Jane  Hood,  a 
Noith  Carolinian  b3-  birth, and  a  daughter  of  .lohn 
Hood,  of  that  Slate,  who  afterward  became  a  fai- 
mer  in  Indiana  and  died  at  La  Porte.  Our  snli- 
jcct's  nnjther  lived  until  1868,  and  left  seven  of 
her  eight  cluldren  to  mourn  her  death.  .Sarah  is 
now  Mrs.  Graves  and  resides  in  Si.  .losei>h.  Mo.;  .1. 
M.,  a  soldier  during  the  war,  is  now  in  the  real- 
estate  business  in  this  city;  W.  A.  was  a  member  of 
an  Illinois  volunteer  company  during  the  war 
and  now  is  in  the  realty  business  here;  .T.  T., 
w.as  a  soldier  also  and  is  now  a  farmer  in  Sangamon 
County,  this  State;  Elizabeth  is  Mrs.  E])liman  and 
lives  in  Wheeling,  W.  Va.;  Thomas  O.  was  another 
of  this  patriotic  family  who  entered  the  army,  but 
this  brave  man  never  returned,  being  killed  at 
Murfreesboro,  Tenn.;  C.  I).,  still  another  soldier, 
has  made  a  success  of  real-estate  deals  in  this  city. 
It  is  worthy  of  mention  that  all  these  men  rose  to 
distinction  in  the  army  and  have  records  of  which 
they  may  well  be  proud. 

Our  subject  was  lioin  in  Hanover,  .lefferson 
County.  I  ml..  .Inly  1,  183."}.  He  was  reared  in 
Indiana  until  nearly  eight  years  of  age,  at  which 
time  his  f.-itlicr  niove<l  the  family  to  (iallatin 
County,  111.  The  emigration  was  made  by  boat  to 
(iolconda  on  the  Ohio  River  and  then  by  team  lo 
their  destination  in  (iallatin  County.  Here  his 
father  raised  one  cro|)  of  tobacco,  in  1842,  hut  then 
ri'inoved  to  Morgan  County  as  recM)rded  above, 
and  in  IMIT  to  .Sangamon  County.  It  w.as  at  this 
plat  e  that  our  subject  was  niaiiud.  December  22, 
18.');!.  to  Fr.ances Collins,  who  w;\>  lioin  near  Frank- 
lin in  iMorgan  County.  Here  tli(  young  couple 
began  their  married  life  on  a  farm,  and  later  our 
subject  bought  a  farm  foi'  hiinsclf  of  ninety  acres, 
near  Murrayville,  ifi  Morgan  County,  He  was 
one  of  the  brave  men  who  left  the  plow  to  answer 
the  call  of  his  country,  and    in  .Inly.  18G2,  he   en- 


252 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


listed  in  Company  H,  One  Hundred  and  First  Illi- 
nois Infantry  and  was  mustered  into  the  service  at 
Camp  Duncan.  He  was  sent  South  to  Holly 
Springs,  where  a  part  of  the  regiment  was  cap- 
tured, but  the  company  of  which  Mr.  McCasland 
was  a  member  succeeded  in  escaping.  In  the 
spring  of  18C3,  he  was  sent  toMilliken'sBend  and 
detailed  on  a  gunboat,  the  "Lafayette,"  and  on 
the  night  of  April  16  ran  the  blockade  at  Vicksburg, 
later  was  in  the  fight  at  Grand  Gulf  and  went  up 
with  Gen.  Banks  to  the  Red  River  as  far  as  Alex- 
andria and  then  dropped  down  and  anchored  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Ked  River  and  theie  remained 
until  the  fall  of  Vicksburg.  Tlien  they  were 
ordered  to  Columbus,  Ky.,from  there  to  Union  City, 
Tenn.,  and  afterward  were  sent  to  reinforce  Rose- 
crans  at  Louisville,  Ky.;  they  then  went  to  Bridge- 
port, Ala.,  where  they  were  incorporated  with  the 
Twentieth  Corps  and  joined  Sherman's  army  for 
the  Georgia  campaign.  He  took  part  in  the  bat- 
tles from  Missionary  Ridge  to  the  fall  of  Atlanta 
and  then  the  brilliant  march  to  the  sea.  He  was 
through  the  Carolinas  to  Raleigh,  was  at  the  battle 
of  Beutonville,  and  in  all  the  activities  until  the 
'close  of  the  war.  He  then  took  part  in  that  mag- 
nificent display  at  Washington  and  was  mustered 
out  in  June,  1865,  and  came  home.  Thus  ended  a 
very  exciting  chapter  in  the  life  of  our  subject, 
and  while  the  bullets  of  the  enemy  did  him  no  in- 
jury he  suffered  from  the  hard  marching.  When 
he  entered  the  army,  his  health  was  in  a  precarious 
state  and  it  was  with  many  misgivings  that  his 
friends  parted  with  him,  but  he  stood  army  life 
better  than  some  who  had  appeared  robust  at  the 
outset. 

After  the  war,  iNIr.  McCasland  look  to  his  peace- 
ful plow  and  continued  farming  until  1881,  when 
his  home  was  broken  up  the  death  of  his  wife.  He 
then  removed  to  .Jacksonville  and  there  held  the 
office  of  Constable  until  in  February,  1889,  he  came 
to  St.  Louis  and  six  months  later  located  in  East 
St.  Louis.  He  entered  into  the  real-estate  business 
and  has  been  very  prosperous.  His  first  large  deal 
was  one  in  which  he  made  *3,.500,  and  since  then 
he  has  been  dealing  in  lots.  He  lijis  proiierty  in 
many  of  the  additions  to  the  city  and  in  .Tnckson- 
yille;  has  a   farm  ill  Franklin  County  of  seventv- 


three  acres  and  interests  all  over  the  city.  He  has 
had  a  family  of  twelve  children,  two  of  whom  died 
in  infancy,but  serious  illness  has  often  invaded  his 
home.  Those  of  his  living  children  are  as  follows: 
-T.  T.  bears  the  name  of  the  Real-estate  King  of  P]ast 
St.  Louis;  .lane  is  Mrs.  T.  B.  Flowers,  of  Lincoln, 
Neb.;  Clara  A.  is  Mrs.  Brooks,  of  this  place;  Charles 
0.  is  in  the  real-estate  business  in  this  city;  Laura 
is  at  home;  Arthur  A.  is  in  business  in  East  St. 
Louis;  Daniel  is  employed  in  this  city  by  his 
brother,  and  Fred  Elmer  is  in  .lacksonville.  Mary 
B.  was  Mrs.  Skinner  and  died  in  January,  1881,  in 
Elk  County,  Kan.,  and  Rosa  died  also  in  1881,  the 
same  month  as  her  mother.  Mr.  McCasland  mar- 
ried in  Jacksonville;  in  1885,  Miss  Mary  V.  Orton, 
a  native  of  Greene  County,  111.,  and  has  one  child 
by  this  union,  Guy  Roy.  His  handsome  home  is 
on  one  of  the  beautiful  streets  of  Jacksonville.  He 
belongs  to  a  family  that  is  very  prominent  in  the 
social  and  commercial  world  of  East  St.  Louis. 

Mr.  McCasland  is  a  member  of  the  Matt  Starr 
Post,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Jacksonville.  He  has  supported 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  he  has 
been  a  member  for  forty  yeare,  with  his  influence 
and  means.  He  was  a  Republican,  but  since  the 
formation  of  the  Prohibition  party  he  has  found 
that  the  exponent  of  his  views. 


j^    I    ^*^ 


FDWARD  R.  DAVIS,  attorney-at-law,  and 
ex-City  Attorney  of  East  St.  Louis.  111.,  has 
liii/  gained  an  enviable  reputation  for  his  legal 
ability,  sound  judgment  and  sterling  integrity. 
During  the  years  that  he  has  practiced  before  the 
Bar  of  Illinois,  he  has  become  eminent  as  a"  Coun- 
selor, often  in  cases  involving  interests  of  great 
magnitude,  and  has  acquired  more  than  a  local  re- 
niiwn.  on  account  of  his  scholarly  attainment*,  his 
thdniugli  knowledge  of  the  law,  and  his  devo- 
tion to  the  interests  of  his  clients.  He  was  born 
near  Hatavia,  X.  Y..  on  tlie  12th  of  March 
1839,  to  David  and  Harriet  (Wilder)  Davis,  the 
former  <if  whinii  was  born  near  Pitlsliurgh,  Pa., 
and  tiie  hitter  near  Boston,   Mass.,  jn    I.S(i2.     The 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


253 


father  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  and  after  his 
marriage,  wliich  took  iilaee  in  Massachusetts,  he 
removed  his  family  and  household  goods  to  Gen- 
esee County,  N.  \ ..  and  engaged  in  farming,  a 
calling  lie  followed  in  that  State  until  1843,  when, 
with  his  wife  .and  eight  cliildren,  he  removed  to 
Michig.an  City,  going  by  wagon  to  lUiffalo,  and 
then  by  schooner  to  Detroit.  He  settled  in  Lapeer 
County  among  tiie  woods,  and  after  following  his 
trade  for  a  number  of  years,  located  on  a  tr.act  of 
wild  land  ten  miles  north  of  the  town.  After 
clearing  and  improving  eighty  acres  of  land  there, 
he  removed  to  Tuscola  Count.y,  and  there  bought 
a  farm  of  one  liundred  and  sixty  acres,  which  lie 
improved.  Here  he  died  in  1880.  but  his  widow 
still  survives  him.  Tlie  maternal  grandfather  was 
a  native  of  England,  and  after  coming  to  Amer- 
ica settled  in  Mass.aciuisctts. 

To  David  and  Harriet  Davis  tlie  following  chil- 
dren were  born:  O.  W.,  a  prominent  lawyer  of 
East  Saginaw,  Mich.;  Dr.  William  II.,  a  physician 
of  Springfield,  III.;  Hiram,  who  liad  been  a  resi-, 
dent  of  California  since  184'J,  but  is  now  a  resi- 
dent of  El  Dorado  County;  and  Edw.ard  R.  The 
latter  was  a  resident  of  New  York  until  four  years 
of  age,  from  which  time  until  he  attained  his 
eighteenth  year  he  was  a  resident  of  Michigan. 
After  attending  school  until  eight  years  of  age,  at 
which  time  it  w.as  thought  that  a  strong,  active 
and  healthy  lad,  such  as  he  was,  could  make  better 
use  of  his  time  at  farm  wt)rk  than  at  scIhhiI 
his  opi)ortunities  for  accpiiring  an  education 
were  very  much  abridged.  .\fter  spending  two 
years  at  farm  labor,  he  began  learning  the  car- 
penter's trade  at  Almont,  at  wiiich  he  worked  un- 
til he  was  eighteen  years  old,  wiien  his  lirother  re- 
turned from  (  aiiforni.-i  and  started  to  take  him 
and  tlie  entire  family  li:ick  to  that  State  with  him: 
but  1  hey  got  only  as  f;ir  :i>  New  \nvk  (ily.  :iii(I 
there  decided  not  to  go  any  I'luiher.  Our  subject 
then  went  to  Corunna,  Midi.,  and,  in  addition  to 
jiraeticing  his  trade,  took  up  llic  study  of  law 
In  185!)  he  bcg.-in  devoting  his  attention  to  this 
in  the  oltice  of  L.  II.  Pai-.sons,  and  May  1.  Lsco, 
was  admitted  to  tlic  Bar.  Soon  after  liiis  he  opened 
an  ofticc  at  Nortli|iort.  but  in  tlio  fall  of  18(11  re- 
turned  to  (\>runna,     lie  w;is  niairicd  at  Oxford, 


Oakland  County.  Mich.,  in  1863,  to  Miss  Angio  A. 
Matice,  who  was  born  in  Onondaga  County,  N.  Y.,  a 
daughter  of  John  Matice,  who  was  an  early  settler 
of  New  York.  After  residing  successively  at  Good- 
rich and  Lapeer,  Mr.  Davis,  in  18(>5,  removed  to  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  where  he  w.as  admitted  to  the  St.  Louis 
Bar,  and  remained  there  two  years. 

In  1867,  he  removed  to  Springfield,  111.,  where 
he  took  a  contract  to  build  a  1100,000  convent, 
wiiich  was  completed  at  the  end  of  two  years,  lii 
1868,  he  came  to  East  St.  Louis,  111.,  and  h.as  since 
been  one  of  the  foremost  legal  practitioners  of  this 
section.  He  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  in 
1877  for  one  term,  .and  in  1887  was  elected  City 
Attorney  on  the  Citizens'  Ticket,  and  was  re- 
elected in  1889.  He  is  the  father  of  two  children: 
Carrie  (Mrs.  D.avid  Sage),  and  Inez.  He  has  been 
a  supporter  of  Republican  principles  all  his  life, 
and  socially,  belongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  and  the  Alethodist  Episcopal  Church. 
He  has  been  an  active  and  public-spirited  citizen 
of  the  town,  has  always  been  faithful  to  her  inter- 
ests, and  .as  an  attorney  has  not  his  superior  in 
East  St.  Louis. 


if[  OHN  FREDERICK  MCELLER.  The  gentle- 
man whose  honored  name  heads  this  sketch 
^~^\  is  a  resident  of  Mascoutah  Township.  St. 
^^}'  Clair  County,  III.  He  is  another  of  the 
representatives  that  the  great  nation  of  Germany 
has  .sent  to  our  shores,  and  like  so  many  others,  he 
has  found  the  land  of  his  adoption  ;i  very  pleas- 
ant and  fruitful  one. 

Mr.  ^Iiiellcr  was  born  in  Prussia,  (ierniaiiy.  Aug- 
ust 2  1,  1828,  wlicic  he  was  reared  and  educated, 
and  remained  until  184!),  when  he  crossed  the 
great  ocean,  and  made  his  way  to  Pittsburgh,  Pa., 
wliere  he  first  located  and  engaged  in  farming, 
remaining  there  until  the  following  year,  when  he 
decided  to  follow  the  course  of  the  sun  and  "go 
West."  His  choice  in  this  second  removal  was 
Helleville,    111.,  where    he   was  employed    for   two 


254 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


years  by  Mr.  Bunson  and  Mr.  Neuhoff.  At  the 
close  of  tliat  time  our  subject  decided  that  it  is 
not  good  for  man  to  be  alone,  so  he  won  and  mar- 
ried Miss  Henrietta  Mann,  the  daughter  of  Nicho- 
las Mann,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  place. 

After  the  marriage  of  this  happy  couple,  they 
settled  on  land  rented  of  Mr.  Neuhoff,  and 
here  they  lived  for  ten  j^ears,  when,  things  having 
piospcred,  our  subject  bought  the  nice  farm  he 
now  is  the  proud  owner  of.  The  happy  owners 
removed  to  theirown  property  with  glad  hearts, and 
here  they  have  lived  ever  since,  improving  the  land 
which  they  earned  by  the  sweat  of  their  brows. 
This  fine  farm  consists  of  two  hundred  and  three 
acres  of  as  choice  land  as  can  be  found  in  the 
county,  all  of  which  is  in  a  splendid  state  of  culti- 
vation, except  about  sixteen  acres  of  timber. 

On  this  farm,  in  which  our  subject  takes  so 
much  innocent  and  justifiable  pride,  are  neat  farm 
buildings  and  large  barns,  wiiich  with  the  fences 
are  in  good  repair.  All  of  the  improvements  to 
be  observed  on  the  place  have  been  made  by  this 
energetic  farmer,  who  is  resolved  to  make  his  farm 
one  of  the  best  in  liie  county,  and  if  he  continues 
to  improve  as  much  in  the  future  as  lie  has  done 
in  the  past,  there  is  no  doubt  but  that  he  will  suc- 
ceed. On  this  farm  Mr.  Mueller  raises  principally 
grain,  corn  being  his  choice. 

On  this  farm,  which  is  located  on  section  21,  ri:- 
side  Mr.  Mueller,  his  wife  and  two  children,  ^lag- 
gie  and  Annie,  the  former  of  whom  is  married  to 
.Tohn  Renth,  but  who  still  remains  at  the  old  home, 
her  parents  preferring  that  she  and  her  husband 
make  their  home  with  them.  Here,  in  contentment 
and  happiness  dwell  this  family,  of  whom  our  sub- 
ject is  the  honored  hend,  and  nowhere  will  the  vis- 
itor find  more  hospitality  than  at  the  home  of  Mr. 
Mueller.  When  he  came  to  America,  he  was  in  the 
condition  of  so  many  emigrants,  very  ))oor,  but 
his  honest  industry  and  perseverance  have  aided 
him  in  the  amassing  of  a  large  property,  although 
some  assistance  he  received,  from  German}-  after 
some  year's  residence  in  this  country,  was  of  much 
benefit  to  him.  Even  without  this  help  there  is 
no  doubt  that  he  would  have  succeeded,  for  he  has 
many  of  the  qualities  that  are  necessary  for  suc- 
cess,and  these,  coupled  with  Ihc  induslry  and  econ- 


omy of  his  faithful  wife,  made  success  a  sure  thing. 
In  politics,  our  subject  is  a  firm  adherent  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Republican  party, and  loyally  snppoi'ts 
its  platforms  and  measui-es,  firmly  u))holding  its  ac- 
tions in  all  places  and  upon  all  occasions,  and  on  ac- 
count of  this  firmness  of  political  conviction,  he  is 
a  man  of  stime  i)r^iniineiice  in  the  politics  of  the 
township. 


One 


■jf^KEinnCK    .MOKIILMANN,    Si 
ItWg);  the  most  extensive  of  the   manufacturing 
!l[  concerns  of  Belleville,  and  one  wliich  has 

largely  contributed  to  its  importance  as  a  center 
for  the  supply  of  machinery,  is  that  now  conducted 
by  Mr.  Fredrick  Moehlmann,  and  located  at  the 
corner  of  Illinois  and  Second  North  Streets,  or  as 
it  is  now  called  B  Street.  He  is  engineer  and 
proprietor  of  this  flourishing  shop,  and  is  a  gentle- 
man of  accurate  knowledge  of  the  business  and 
wide  acquaintance  in  the  trade.  Like  many  of  the 
enterprising  and  progressive  men  of  the  county, 
Mr.  Moehlmann  is  of  foreign  birth,  a  native  of 
Hanover,  Germany,  born  on  the  2r)th  of  December, 
1828,  and  his  parents,  Henry  and  Margaret  (Pieper) 
Moelilniann,  were  natives  of  the  Old  Country  also, 
the  father  being  a  cari)enter  by  trade. 

In  the  fall  of  1836,  the  family,  consisting  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Moehlmann  and  their  two  children,  our 
subject  and  Herman  (who  died  in  1837),  crossed 
the  deep  to  America,  and  settled  in  Illinois.  The 
father  followed  carpentering  in  connection  with 
trading  until  his  death  about  1870.  He  was  a 
hard-working,  industrious  citizen,  and  was  well 
known  and  universally  respected.  He  resided 
where  our  subject  now  lives  for  forty-six  years, 
and  took  an  active  interest  in  all  laudable  or  worthy 
onter|)i'ises. 

Fredrick  .Mochlinann  was  liut  eight  years  of 
age  when  he  crossed  the  ocean  to  .\merica,  and  his 
first  recollections  of  the  town  of  Belleville  were 
that  it  was  but  a  vill.age.  He  attended  the  sub- 
scription schoiils  llieii  in  vogue,  secured  .i  fair  ed- 
ucati(Mi,and  suliM'qufiitly  began   leaiiiiug  carpen- 


■ei»k»y 


Of  1"^„    .w.n'i 


'  raft        '  '!'' i'^'llS*   --, 


-^^-:2--2-<2<^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


257 


teriii^'  with  liis  father.  Later, he  learned  engineer- 
ing on  llie  river.  After  this  lie  became  a  millwright 
and  established  a  niat-hine  slioj)  in  1856.  By  in- 
dustry and  close  attention  to  business  he  became 
the  owner  of  two  lai-ge  lots  in  town,  and  on  these 
he  established  a  lai-ge  machine  sho)),  a  l)rick  build- 
ing, operated  b_v  a  thirty-horse  power  engine. 

Mr.  Moehlmann  is  thoroughly  familiar  with 
every  detail  of  his  business,  and  manufactured 
threshing-machines,  drills,  etc.,  until  after  the  war, 
when  he  leased  the  millwright  trade,  lie  is  one  of 
the  oldest  men  in  that  business  in  town.  He  has 
been  a  resident  of  this  county  for  many  years,  has 
held  a  number  of  local  positions,  and  in  every 
walk  of  life  his  career  has  Iteen  lioth  honorable  and 
upright. 

Our  subject  selected  his  life  conipaiilun  in  the 
person  of  Miss  Augusta  Doerre,  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, who  came  to  this  country  in  the  year  1848, 
and  their  nuptials  were  celebrated  on  the  3d  of 
July,  1852.  Three  children  have  been  the  fruits 
of  this  union,  and  are  named  .as  follows:  Louis, 
Edward  and  Fredrick,  Jr.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moehl- 
mann are  worthy  and  exemplary  mernhers  of  the 
Free  St.  Paul's  (liurch,  ;ind  contribute  lilierally  to 
its  support. 


^1  or  IS  ( ;  K(  )SS  wa>  the  lirst  citizen  of  K.a.-t  St. 
I  (f^  Louis  who  laid  out  an  addition  beyond  the 
l^^  corporate  limits  of  the  city.  For  nianj' 
years  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  field  of  realty 
operations  in  this  vicinity,  and  ha.>  attained  a  con- 
spicuous place  in  the  front  rank  of  property  owners. 
To  achieve  such  prominence  as  that  to  which  he 
has  attained,  is  an  evidence  of  tlie  possession  of 
personal  and  business  qualities  of  the  highest  order. 
Oiu- subject  was  born  in  the  Seventh  Waril  of 
the  city,  September  28,  181;!.  Ili>  futhcr.  (apt. 
Englehard  Ciross,  was  born  in  .Sirasburg,  .Msacc, 
France,  and  was  a  soldier  in  the  French  army  from 
the  time  he  was  si.x teen  years  of  age.  \\'hiK'  on 
the  way  to  Moscow.  Russia,  he  was  promoted  to  the 

Vi 


rank  of  Capt.'un.  He  w.as  instrumental  in  saving 
the  life  of  a  Russian  ofiicer  who,  as  a  token  of  grati- 
tude, gave  him  a  handsome  gold  watch  set  with  a 
diamond,  which  the  subject  of  this  sketch  now  has 
in  his  possession  and  which  he  values  very  highly 
MS  an  heirloom.  Capt.  (iross  was alw.ays  conspicu- 
ous for  his  bravery,  and  his  services  were  highly 
\alued  by  that  famous  commander,  Napoleon  Bona- 
pnrle.  In  183(5,  he  came  to  America  and  located 
m  C'ahokia  Township,  St.  Clair  County,  111.,  where 
the  (irst  work  he  did  was  for  old  Father  Cable,  a 
Catholic  [)riest,  in  wlio.se  service  he  remained  for 
some  time.  He  was  very  finely  educated  and  could 
speak  and  read  German,  French  and  Engli.sh,  his 
knowledge  having  been  acquired  principally  by 
self-application. 

In  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  Caiit.  (iross  organized  a 
conip.any,  which  he  drilled  in  French,  and  which 
became  a  part  of  the  State  militia.  After  leaving 
P^ither  Cable,  he  leased  forty  acres  of  land,  which 
is  now  within  the  city  limits,  and  from  that  time 
on  bought  and  traded  in  lands  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  on  the  Itli  of  November,  1855.  He 
was  pre-eminently  a  man  of  business,  and  in  the 
conduct  of  his  worldly  affairs  showed  judgment 
and  shrewdness.  He  became  very  prominent 
throughout  St.  Clair  County  and  was  highly  hon- 
ored by  all  who  had  the  pleasure  of  his  acquaint- 
ance. Politically,  he  was  a  Whig.  His  wife,  formerly 
Mademoiselle  Bridgette  Rotli,  was  born  in  Alsace, 
France,  and  died  in  East  St.  Louis  in  1846.  She 
bore  her  husband  six  children,  Init  only  two  grew 
to  mature  years.  The  elder,  Ferdinand,  was 
drowned  in  Indian  Lake  near  this  city  when  twenty- 
years  of  age,  and  Louis,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
is  the  only  survivor.  After  the  death  of  his  first 
wife  Capt.  (iross  married  again,  but  his  second  un- 
ion was  childless.  The  i)aternal  grandfather  was 
a  native  of  Germany  but  became  a  tradesman  of 
Strasluirg.  Alsace,  (Jermauy.  .\t  the  advanced  age 
of  eighty-two  years,  he  joined  his  son.  Capt.  Gross, 
in  F.ast  St.  Louis,  but  his  riwideiice  in  this  country- 
only  covereil  a  period  of  six  weeks,  his  death  oc- 
curring in  18  I'.t. 

When  twelve  years  ohl,  Louis  Gross  was  left 
iMtlierlos.  liut  even  at  that  early  age  hecould  drill 
aliiio>i  ;i>  well  as  his  accomplished  father,  who  hac] 


258 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


been  his  teacher.  He  was  thoroughly  educated  in 
English  and  German  in  the  Christian  Brothers' 
School  on  Seventh  Street  in  old  St.  Louis,  and 
uijon  leaving  that  institution  at  the  age  of  fifteen 
years,  he  began  clerking  in  a  general  store,  which 
business  occupied  his  attention  for  tliree  years.  He 
then  began  farming,  a  calling  with  which  lie  had 
liecome  familiar  prior  to  liis  twelfth  year,  and  un- 
til he  attained  his  twent3'-first  }'car  he  continued 
to  till  the  soil.  He  then  took  charge  of  the  forty 
acres  of  land  that  had  been  left  to  him,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1865  he  responded  to  the  draft,  but  his 
services  were  not  accepted.  He  then  returned  to 
his  farm,  which  he  continued  to  till  for  five  years, 
at  the  end  of  which  time  he  leased  Pittsburgh 
Lake  and  engaged  in  fisliing  for  five  years.  He 
found  this  a  profitable  business  and  supplied  the 
St.  Louis  market,  as  well  as  the  country  on  tliis  side 
of  the  river. 

In  1873,  our  subject  laid  out  the  Louis  Gross 
Subdivision  to  East  St.  Louis,  which  was  the  first 
outside  of  the  cit}'.  These  lots  found  a  read}'  sale 
and  laid  the  foundation  for  his  present  business. 
In  1864,  lie  built  and  started  a  hotel,  the  Hunters' 
Retreat,  which  he  conducted  in  a  very  successful 
and  praiseworthy  way  until  1874,  when  he  built 
the  New  Lake  House  on  Broadway,  of  which  he 
was  the  popular  and  prosperous  proprietor  until 
.January  1,  1891,  since  which  time  he  has  rented 
the  house.  Upon  retiring  from  the  business,  he 
soon  formed  a  partnership  with  Henry  Voss,  his 
son-in-law,  the  firm  being  known  as  Gross  &  Voss, 
and  these  gentlemen  liave  since  been  quite  exten- 
sively engaged  in  the  real-estate  business.  Since 
1873,  Mr.  Gross  has  laid  out  the  Gross  Subdivision 
to  East  St.  Louis,  the  Louis  Gross  Addition  of  lot 
33,  the  Arlington  Place  Addition  and  the 
Casper  Voss  Addition.  In  the  spring  of  1865,  lie 
opened  Gross  Park  on  Collinsville  Avenue,  now  the 
Seventh  Ward,  which  is  five  acres  in  extent  and  is 
nicely  shaded  by  l)eautiful  native  trees,  oak,  maple 
and  pecan.  It  is  neatly  arranged  with  scats  and 
is  supplied  witli  a  fountain,  platform  and  a  hall. 
Mr.  Gross  owns  four  or  five  good  farms,  besides 
other  valuable  real  estate,  and  is  considered  an 
autliority  on  values,  present  and  prospective.  He 
i-i  r  >iirleoi|s,  affabU'  ai|il  gonial,  and  it  is  noticeable 


that  all  his  patrons  are  his  friends,  owing  to  the 
fact  tliat  he  is  frank,  prompt  and  straiglitforward. 
Mr.  Gross  was  married  in  French  Village,'  De- 
cember 25,  1864,  to  Miss  Natalie  Weagand,  who 
was  born  in  Frankfort,  Ciermany,  and  who  died 
November  30, 1890,  leaving  three  children :  Natalie, 
wife  of  Henry  Voss;  Louisa  and  Emma.  Mr.  Gross 
was  a  School  Trustee  for  three  years,  and  is]  a  be- 
liever in  Republican  principles.  St.  Henry's  Cath- 
olic Church  counts  him  among  its  most  active 
members.  _His  home  is  a  very  pleasant  residence 
and  is  located  at  Gross  Park. 


!^-i^l=—- =§■ 


eASPER  VOSS,  dealer  in  lime,  cement, 
brick,  builders'  material  and  supplies,  is  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Voss  &  Haas,  of 
East  St.  Louis,  III.  The  enterprising  members  of 
this  firm  are  business  men  of  rare  capacity,  and  the 
eminent  success  of  their  undertaking  h.as  more 
than  justified  their  s.agacity  in  establisiiing  this 
most  important  branch  of  business.  Mr.  Voss  was 
born  in  what  is  now  East  St.  Louis,  in  the  Old 
Prairie  House,  December  14,  1868,  a  son  of  Henry 
Voss,  a  native  of  Germany  (see  sketch  elsewhere). 
He  attended  the  public  schools,  and  from  thirteen 
till  sixteen  years  of  age  his  attention  was  given  to 
the  monotonous  duties  of  farm  work.  He  then 
began  learning  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith  at  the 
Western  Forge  and  Rolling  Mills,  and  at  the  end 
of  four  years  was  a  practical  blacksmith. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Voss'  father,  he  and  his 
brother  Henry  operated  the  home  farm  for  two 
years,  but  in  1889  severed  their  connection,  and 
Casper  .J.  became  the  owner  of  forty  acres  of  land 
adjoining  the  city  limits.  He  continued  to  till 
this  laud  until  1891,  and  during  this  time  was  en- 
gaged in  contracting  on  roads,  but  on  the  1 1th  of 
April,  1892,  he  became  associated  in  business  with 
II.  T.  Ila.as,  a  pr.aetical  contractor,  who  now  has 
charge  of  that  department.  In  April,  1892,  Mr. 
Voss  purchased  his  warehouse  of  Thorn  &  Hun- 
kins,  dealers  in  lime,  cemeiit,  etc.,  of  St,  Louis,  and 
is  now  doing  a  very  extensive   retai]    business  on 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


259 


Belmont  Avenue.  Tbey  deal  in  river  sand,  in  the 
hauling  of  which  five  teams  are  employed.  Their 
warehouse  is  8.5x50  feet,  and,  as  they  keep  a  large 
and  excellent  class  of  goods,  they  have  a  corre- 
sponding patronage. 

Mr.  ^'oss  was  Road  Supervisor  for  three  years, 
and  is  still  frequently  called  to  superintend  road 
work,  his  superior  judgment,  long  experience  and 
consequently  thorough  knowledge  of  the  business 
being  in  demand.  His  land  has  been  laid  out  into 
lots,  and  is  known  as  Casper  Voss'  Addition  to 
Kast  St.  Louis.  He  has  made  himself  a  name  of 
enduring  value  in  the  city,  and  is  a  practical  and 
wide-awake  man  of  business.  He  was  married  in 
188!t,  on  the  5th  of  November,  to  Miss  Laura  Blue- 
myer,  a  native  of  St.  Louis,  and  tiieir  union  has 
resulted  in  the  birth  of  one  child,  Henry.  Our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife  attend  St.  Henry's  Church,  and 
he  has  always  been  in  sympathy  with  the  measures 
of  Democracy. 


kOUlS   F.    EI  DM  ANN.   the    subject    of    this 
j  sketch,    resides   on   section    18,  Engelman 
^  Township.    St.    Clair    County.    111.      The 

father  of  the  gentleman  of  whom  wo  write  was 
named  Bernhard  Eidmann,  and  was  iiorn  in  tlie 
town  of  I'mstadt,  in  the  Province  of  Darmstadt. 
Germany,  March  N.  1817.  He  was  the  son  of 
Martin  Eidmann.  who  carried  on  the  trade  of 
a  wagou-inaker  in  the  Old  Country,  and  was  there 
married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Haas.  He  came  to 
America  in  1H33  with  his  wife  and  seven  children, 
and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Erecburg  Town- 
ship, St.  Clair  County,  III.  He  lived  !iis  life  out 
in  that  place,  and  tiiere  his  family  was  reared. 

Bernhard  Eidmann,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Gcrm.any,  and  In- 
fore  coming  to  America  w\as  employed  as  a  clerk 
in  tiie  "Law  House-"'  of  the  province  where  he 
lived.  When  he  reached  his  home  in  Illinois,  he 
began  the  life  of  a  farmer  and  continued  it  suc- 
cessfully until  the  close  of  his  life.  He  married 
J-'rederica  GriielKil,  who  was  the  daughter  of  George 


Gruebel,  who  came  to  this  country  from  Germany 
and  was  a  brewer  on  Dutch  Hill,  in  Lenzburg 
Township,  this  county.  After  marriage,  he  moved 
to  the  farm  which  our  subject  now  owns  and  which 
he  had  purchased  previous  to  that  time.  The  wed- 
ding ceremony  took  place  November  10,  1842, 
and  as  soon  as  the  young  couple  were  married 
they  began  to  plan  for  the  future.  A  nice  house 
was  built  and  the  farm  was  improved  until  no  bet- 
ter could  be  found  in  the  neighborhood.  Three 
children  were  born  to  this  couple. 

Of  the  family  of  Mr.  Bernhard  Eidmann,  only 
two  remain,  and  these  are  our  subject  and  his  be- 
loved sister,  Lisetta.  who  is  the  wife  of  Charles 
Morlock,a  farmer  who  makes  his  home  near  Carlyle, 
111.  The  brother,  Edward,  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years.  Mr.  Eidmann  was  a  member  of  the 
Evangelical  Church,  and  took  an  interest  in  relig- 
ious matters  until  the  time  of  his  death,  October 
■51,  1869.  He  started  in  life  a  comparatively 
poor  man,  but  b\^  hard  work  gained  what  he  owned 
at  his  demise.  By  close  economy,  added  to  good 
management,  he  acquired  a  farm  of  two  hundred 
and  seventy  acres,  and  had  the  satisfaction  of  giv- 
ing his  two  children  a  good  start  in  life.  His 
widow  is  still  living  in  Engelman  Township. 

Our  subject  was  born  March  15,  1847,  on  the 
old  home  place  in  Engelman  Township.  He  was 
sent  to  the  public  .schools  and  there  obtained  his 
education.  The  farm  of  his  father  gave  him 
jjlenty  of  oceui)ation,  and  at  the  age  of  twent3'- 
tlirce,  Augn?t  2,  1870,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Catherine  Koob.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Philip 
H.  Koob,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Clinton  County, 
III.,  who  late  in  life  moved  to  New  Baden  and 
then  to  Mascoutah,  where  his  life  ended.  After 
the  lunriiage  of  our  subject,  he  lived  on  the  home 
place  until  1880,  when  he  built  the  substantial 
brick  residence  where  lie  now  resides.  When  he 
bought  his  present  place  there  were  no  improve- 
niciits  upon  it.  He  has  been  very  industrious  and 
all  the  iinprovemonts  have  been  the  result  of 
his  own  toil. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kidinanu  have  seven  children,  all 
of  whom  are  living.  Edward  C.,tlie  eldest  son,  was 
graduated  from  the  State  rniversity  atClmmpaign, 
HI,.  !uul    is   now  n  civil  engineer;   Hej'tha  A,   \Vi 


260 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


mains  at  home  with  her  parents;  Walter  Philip  is 
at  St.  Louis,  a  student  at  Beaumont  Medical  Col- 
lege; Alma  F.,  Louis  B.,  Hilda  L.  and  Gustav  H. 
are  at  home.  This  family  resides  on  the  fine  farm 
of  three  hundred  and  ten  acres  of  good  land  lo- 
cated in  this  townsiiip  owned  by  Mr.  Eidmann. 
In  Clinton  County,  111.,  he  also  owns  a  fine  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  which  is  in  a  good 
state  of  cultivation,  except  twenty  acres  which 
have  been  left  in  timber.  He  is  a  grain  farmer, 
wheat  being  his  most  profitable  crop. 

Both  Mr.  Eidmann  and  his  wife  are  valued 
members  of  the  Evangelical  Cliurch  at  Mascoutah, 
and  Mr.  Eidmann  is  also  connected  with  the 
Knights  of  Honor,  a  prominent  organization  of 
the  State.  Politically,  our  subject  is  a  Republican, 
one  who  takes  a  great  interest  in  the  issues  of 
the  day,  and  has  voted  the  ticket  of  his  party  ever 
since  he  obtained  the  right  of  suffrage.  He  has 
been  a  prominent  man  in  the  township,  and  was 
made  the  first  Collector  under  the  new  organiza- 
tion, wliich  office  he  lield  for  two  years.  At  pres- 
ent, liis  time  is  fully  employed,  as  he  is  serving  his 
fellow-citizens  as  School  Director.  He  has  served 
as  Trustee,  and  is  now  Supervisor  of  the  townSiiip 
and  Justice  of  the  Peace.  His  family  is  one  of 
the  oldest  and  best  known  in  the  township,  and  he 
is  a  man  who  enjoys  the  respect  and  esteem  of 
everyone  with  whom  he  is  brought  in  contact. 


'ill  OH  N  L.  APPEL,  Justice  of  the  Peace  of 
Illinois,  was  born  at  Highland,  Madison 
County,  111.,  August  14,  1858,  a  son  of 
Nv^/'  John  A.  and  Magdalena  (Schwartz)  Appel, 
both  of  whom  were  born  in  Germany.  In  1846, 
tiie  father  came  to  America  and  eventually  found 
himself  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  but  at  a  somewhat  later 
l)eriod  he  settled  in  Madison  County,  III.,  near 
Highland,  where  he  remained  until  18G0,  at  which 
date  he  became  one  of  tlie  substantial  residents  of 
SI.  ('\:uv  County. 

Ill  the  viciiiilv  "f  Suminerru-ld.   Mr.  Appel  pur- 
(■h:iH'd  a   coal  mine,  wiiicli  he  successfully  oper- 


ated for  about  three  years,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  opened  a  mercantile  establishment  in  the 
town,  which  he  conducted  until  his  death,  which 
occuned  on  the  26th  of  October,  1887.  His  widow 
survives  him  and  1ms  attained  to  the  age  of  six- 
ty-three years.  She  bore  her  husband  a  family  of 
nine  cliildren,  as  follows:  Lizzie,  who  died  in 
Summerfield  in  1883,  was  the  wife  of  Adam  Wei- 
nenth;  Frank;  John  L.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Amelia  became  the  wife  of  Michael  Frevelc,  a 
farmer  living  near  .Summerfield;  Louise  is  the  wife 
of  Piiilip  Biltz,  a  commission  merchant,  by  whom 
she  has  one  child;  Bertlia  married  Heiiiy  Miller,  a 
miller  by  trade  and  a  resident  of  .Summerfield,  by 
whom  she  has  one  child;  Jacob  is  a  wide-awake 
business  man  of  Summerfield;  Amalia,  and  Ida, 
who  is  at  home. 

John  L.  Appel  was  reared  in  the  vicinity  of 
.Summerfield  and,  like  the  majority  of  boys,  ob- 
tained a  common-school  education  in  the  vicinity 
of  his  home,  but  he  was  given  still  further  advan- 
tages, and  for  some  time  was  an  attendant  of  the 
city  schools  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  where  he  improved 
his  time  and  became  a  well-informed  young  man. 
Possessing  an  energetic  and  wide-awake  tempera- 
ment, it  was  not  his  nature  to  eat  the  bread  of 
idleness  for  any  length  of  time,  and,  being  ambi- 
tious to  become  independent  financially,  he  em- 
barked in  business,  which  he  conducted  in  a  satis- 
factory way.  In  October,  1881,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Christina  Ernst,  a  native  of  Kansas, 
whose  parents  are  both  dece.ased.  The  father  of 
our  subject  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Alder- 
men of  Summerfield  and,  socially,  belonged  to  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  in  which  order 
he  held  official  positions. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Appel  the  following  children 
have  been  born:  Malinda,  Edgar,  Alfred  and 
Walter,  all  of  whom  are  living.  Mr.  Appel  has 
held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  since  he 
was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  or  since  1879,  and  in 
1888  was  elected  Assessor  of  Lebanon  Township, 
and  is  now  serving  his  fourth  successive  term. 
He  has  been  School  Director  two  terms,  and  in 
1883  received  the  appointment  of  Town  Clerk  to 
fill  a  vacancy,  and  served  in  this  capacity  for  six 
numtlis,     rolificallv,  he  is  a  Democrat,  and    the 


J2;/P 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


263 


men  and  measures  of  that  party  always  find  in 
liim  a  standi  supporter.  Mr.  Appel  lias  many 
warm  friends  throughout  the  section  in  which  he 
resides,  and  in  every  rcspeet  deserves  the  high 
esteem  in  wliich  he  is  held. 


•^^ ^ 


!&=:=:■ 


\||OIIN  KLOE.SS.  The  life  of  tiiis  gentleman, 
I  of  which  we  give  a  brief  outline,  affords  an 
<^l|  illustration  of  the  power  of  courage  and  in- 
^^^  dustry  in  enabling  a  man  to  overcome 
early  ditticulties  of  no  ordinary  kind.  When  Mr. 
Kloess  came  to  Belleville  he  had  no  money  with 
which  to  embark  in  busine.ss,  but,  undaunted  by 
obstacles,  he  labored  untiringly,  displayed  good 
judgment  in  the  investment  of  his  earnings,  and 
now,  as  a  reward  of  his  efforts,  he  has  gained  pros- 
perity. He  owns  considerable  real  estate,  and  is 
numbered  among  the  most  prominent  business 
men  of  Belleville. 

Our  subject  wns  born  in  (iermany.  on  the  2()tli 
of  August,  1830,  the  son  of  Philip  and  Catherine 
Kloess.  He  received  a  common-school  education 
in  his  native  country,  where  he  learned  the  trade 
of  a  baker,  and  remained  until  1848.  His  mother 
died  in  (Germany,  and  his  father  departed  this  life 
iu  1864,  after  he  came  here,  aged  seventy-eight 
3'ears.  Upon  emigrating  to  America  in  1849,  our 
subject  remained  for  two  months  in  New  York,  and 
afterward  came  West  to  Belleville.  His  brother 
Nicholas  had  come  here  three  yeai-s  prior  to  his 
arrival  and  still  makes  this  city  his  home. 

After  working  at  his  trade  for  a  time,  Mr. 
Kloess  engaged  as  a  laborer  in  the  coal  mines  and 
later  embarked  in  business.  For  two  years  he  was 
in  partnership  with  Fritz  Kempf  on  Main  Street, 
after  which  he  bought  the  place  where  his  yard  is 
now  situated.  He  has  thirty-five  acres  in  a  lirick 
yard,  and  from  employing  ten  men  he  has  in- 
creased the  number  to  one  hundred.  He  has  added 
to  his  property  until  he  now  has  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres,  at  least  seventy  acres  of  which  are 
in  Belleville. 

Mr.  Kloess  began  brick-making  in  1863,  and  has 


constantly  increased  the  busine.«s  until  he  has  one 
of  the  largest  yards  in  the  city.  He  uses  the  Tri- 
umph Dry  Clay  machine,  with  a  capacity  of  thirty 
thousand;  also  the  Henry  .Martin  JIachine  for  soft 
mud,capacity  twenty  thousand;  and  the  Stiff  Mud 
Brick  Machine,  of  thirty  thousand.  Five  large 
kilns  are  in  operation,  the  brick  being  sold  to  both 
liome  and  foreign  markets.  Mr.  Kloess  has  built  a 
fine  brick  house  of  two  stories,  with  private  office 
on  the  east  side,  40x80  feet,  and  has  planted  beau- 
tiful shrubbery  and  flowers,  ihiity-eight  acres  being 
devoted  to  the  home  and  brickyard.  Mr.  Kloess 
is  a  Director  in  the  First  National  liank,  and  a 
stockholder  in  the  Belleville  Savings  Bank.  He 
was  a  partner  from  1870  to  1S7!I  in  the  Western 
Brcwer\'. 

March  14,  1855,  was  the  date  of  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Kloess  to  Catherine  Mueller,  who  was  born  in 
May,  1 832,  in  Germany,  near  our  subject's  old  home 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Rhine.  They  have  a 
family  of  six  children,  as  follows:  Louis,  who  mar- 
ried Mary  Gintz,  and  is  now  in  Pomona,  Cal.;  Eliz- 
abeth, who  is  the  wife  of  Julius  Kohl;  .Tohn,  who 
married  Anna  Hartman  and  is  engaged  with  his 
father  in  the  brick  business:  Emma,  who  married 
Henry  Shoettler;  and  Julius  and  \Villiam,  who  are 
in  business  with  their  father.  The  three  youngest 
sons  will  probably  succeed  to  the  management  of 
the  brickyard  when  Mr.  Kloess  retires  from  busi- 
ness. 


^^^  APT.  (iEOKGE  WASHINGTON  EWIN(i. 
(l(  _  The  prominent  gentleman  whose  well- 
^i^'  known  name  apj^cars  at  the  head  of  this 
sketch  is  the  eftieient  Superintendent  and  Manager 
of  the  East  St.  Louis  Gas  Works.  The  grand- 
father of  this  gentleman  was  a  distinguished  pro- 
fes.sor  in  A'irginia's  celebrated  college  of  William 
and  Mary,  and  was  a  native  of  Fairfax  County, 
that  State.  In  ITSIO,  he  removed  to  Adair  County, 
Ky.,  where  he  combined  farming  and  teaching  and 
was  a  success  at  both,  and  became  a  man  of  means. 
He  was  made  High    Sheriff    of    the  county,  which 


264 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


was  next  to  the  highest  office,  that  of  Judge  being   i 
given  by  heirship.     He  was  an  old-scliool  Presb}'-   i 
terian,  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  and    lived  until  he 
was  ninety-four  years   of  age.     He    was    one    of   { 
three  brothers  who  caine  from  Ireland   and  settled 
in  Virginia. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  the  Hon.  Matliew 
Ewing,  who  was  bora  in  Adair  County-,  Ky.,  in 
1795.  He  was  a  cousin  of  Hon.  Thomas  Ewing,  j 
who  was  known  as  a  very'proniinent  man  in  Ohio,  ; 
and  as  one  of  the  most  powerful  orators  of  the 
day;  he  also  was  a  cousin  of  the  celebrated  Lin- 
ens Pawing,  the  father  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church.  He  was  reared  in  Kentucky,  and 
when  only  seventeen  years  of  age  volunteered  in 
the  War  of  1812,  and  fought  through  the  West 
with  (tcu.  Harrison,  being  at  Tippecanoe,  and 
at  the  close  of  the  war  was  a  Lieutenant.  He  did  not 
return  to  Kentucky  after  the  close  of  the  war,  but 
located  in  Oxford,  Ohio,  under  the  following  cir- 
cumstances. He  went  to  Oxford  to  visit  his  friend 
and  messmate,  Henry  Hall,  and  there  met  his  fu- 
ture wife.  He  married  and  located  in  her  county 
and  engaged  in  farming  there.  He  owned  a  fine 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  the  Mi- 
ami Valley,  but  in  1836  he  sold  it  and  went  to 
Ripley  County,  Ind.,  and  bought  a  section  of 
land.  This  he  improved  and  continued  on  it 
until  his  death,  in  1876.  He  belonged  to  the 
church  of  his  family,  and  was  a  man  of  much 
prominence,  having  been  a  member  of  the  State 
Legislature  for  one  term.  In  his  younger  days  he 
was  what  was  then  called  a  Jackson  Democrat,  and 
then  belonged  to  the  branch  that  styled  themselves 
War  Democrats.  The  mother  of  our  subject,  who  so 
completely  captivated  the  young  Kentuckian  that 
he  was  willing  to  give  up  his  old  home  and  sur- 
roundings for  her  sake,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky 
herself.  Nancy  Hall  was  born  in  Bardstown,  Ky., 
a  daughter  of  Henry  Hall,  who  was  reared  in  Ken- 
tucky, but  who  removed  to  Ohio  and  became  an  ex- 
tensive farmer  there.  Mrs.  Ewing  lived  to  be  ninety 
years  of  age,  and  died  at  the  old  farm  in  1891. 
The  record  of  her  children  is  as  follows:  Peter 
H.,  who  was  Quartermaster  in  Louisville  during 
the  Civil  War,  died  in  Hopkins,  Mo.,  in  1876; 
Isaiah,  who  is  in  the  Home  G  uards,  resides  in  Mis- 


souri; James  was  a  private  in  the  Mexican  War, 
and  raised  a  company  in  Iowa  County  for  service  in 
the  Civil  AVar,  and  was  made  First  Lieutenant  of 
theP^ighth  Iowa  Cavalry;  he  was  then  promoted  to 
be  Major,  and  later,  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  regi- 
ment, and  now  resides  in  Hopkins,  Mo.;  Henry, 
who  was  First  Lieutenant  in  the  Eightj'-sixth  In- 
diana Infantry,  went  through  the  late  war  and  was 
killed  on  the  Ohio  (fe  Mississippi  Railroad  in  1885; 
Mary,  who  is  married,  lives  in  Osgood,  Ind.;  Sarah, 
who  is  Mrs.  IMeyers,  lives  in  Riplej'  County,  Ind.; 
Fannie,  who  is  Mrs.  Rutledge,  also  lives  in  Ripley 
County;  and  .lolni.  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
three. 

Our  subject  was  reared  in  Uhio  until  he  was  ten 
j'ears  of  age,  and  enjoyed  common-school  advan- 
tages. He  was  then  sent  to  Lawreneeburg,  Ind., 
where  he  learned  the  bricklayer's  trade,  and  then 
engaged  in  the  business  of  contracting  and  build- 
ing. In  1852,  he  removed  to  Jefferson  ville,  Ind., 
where  he  contracted  with  the  State  for  one  hun- 
dred convicts  to  engage  in  the  manufacture  of 
brick,  and  for  many  years  before  the  war  he  had 
the  largest  manufactory  of  brick  in  the  State.  He 
was  a  success  at  this  business.  In  1859,  he  built 
the  gas  works  there,  and  when  the  war  came  on  he 
had  sixteen  million  of  burned  brick  on  hand,  one- 
half  of  which  he  .sold  for  anything  he  could  get. 
In  1861,  he  contracted  witii  the  Government  to 
build  a  cracker  factory  at  Jeffersonville — a  b.nkery 
that  would  manufacture  four  hundred  barrels  of 
hard-tack.  He  built  it  and  put  it  into  successful 
operation  in  one  hundred  days.  In  1862,  he  ac- 
cepted a  commission  in  the  Forty-ninth  Indiana 
Infantry,  but  resigned  in  two  weeks,  as  he  found 
there  was  too  much  bribery  going  on  for  an  honest 
man.  He  then  contracted  to  furnish  the  division 
with  soft  bread.  He  was  all  through  the  war  a 
successful  contractor,  and  at  its  close  returned  to 
Jeffersonville.  His  next  big  undertaking  was  to 
build  the  gas  works  at  Lawreneeburg,  Ind.  At 
this  time  he  was  admitted  to  practice  law  at 
Charlestown,  and  in  1868  he  became  connected 
with  the  Ohio  &  Mississippi  Railroad.  He  pro- 
cured the  right  of  way  from  North  Vernon  to 
Louisville,  and  had  the  general  superintend- 
ence   of    the    building  of  the  road,    but    this  po- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPmCAL  RECORD. 


265 


silion  lie  resigned,  and  in  1872,  he  located  in 
St.  Louis.  He  there  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  brick  by  machinery,  with  J.  L.  Griswold.  but 
this  was  not  a  success,  as  the  machinery  failed  and 
the  result  w.is  a  loss  for  all.  He  then  returned  to 
the  Ohio  it  Mississippi  Railroad  and  became  As- 
sistant (general  Solicitor  and  Claim  Agent  until 
1881,  when  he  resigned  that  position  to  take  his 
present  one  with  the  Gas  Com  pan}-.  W.  D.  Gris- 
wold is  sole  owner  of  the  plant,  and  Mr.  Ewing 
has  been  sole  manager  since  1881.  He  has  en- 
larged and  improved  the  works  greatly,  and  is 
now  prepared  to  furnish  one  hundred  and  lift}' 
thousand  cubic  feet  of  gas  in  twenty-four  hours, 
in  place  of  six  thousand  cubic  feet  as  formerly. 
He  carefully  superintends  all  the  buildings,  and 
has  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  whole  business. 
During  the  flood  of  1892,  he  continued  to  manu- 
facture and  furnish  the  city  with  gas,  to  the  aston- 
isliment  and  gratification  of  all.  Mr.  Ewing  has  not 
been  left  behind  on  real  estate.  He  owns  a  line 
residence  on  Eighth  Street  and  Summit  Avenue, 
which  he  built  at  a  cost  of  about  #10,000.  He 
owns  other  proi)erty,  and  is  a  stockholder  in  tlie 
First  Mutual  Land  Association  and  the  St.  Clair 
Building  and  Loan  Association,  and  is  President 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  of  which  he  is  an  Elder  and  a  very  active 
member,  and  is  Chairman  of  the  building  commit- 
tee of  the  new  Presbyterian  Church.  He  is  an  ex- 
Mason  and  formerly  a  member  of  the  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Odd  P'ellows. 

Mr.  Ewing  married  Miss  Ann  Allen,  a  native  of 
Connecticut.  She  died  one  year  after  iier  mar- 
riage. He  was  married  a  second  time  in  ^ladison, 
Ind.,  to  Miss  Abbisenia  Runyon,  who  was  born  in 
Cincinnati,  Ohio.  She  died  in  1856,  leaving  four 
children,  two  of  whom  are  yet  living:  Charles 
W..  who  is  a  railroad  engineer;  and  J.  Frank,  who 
is  General  Freight  Agent  of  the  New  York  &  New 
England  Railroad,  and  resides  in  Boston.  Mr. 
Ewing's  third  marriage  took  place  in  Jcflferson- 
ville,  Ind.,  in  1862,  with  Miss  Eliza  B.  Dryden, 
who  was  born  in  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  of  this  union 
tliere  are  four  living  children:  James  K.,  who  is 
a  .salesman  for  the  Micliigan  Salt  Companj-,  of 
East  St.  Louis;  Ida,  who    is   Mrs.  Tlir.mas  .1.  Zook, 


resides  in  Sioux  City,  Iowa;  George  W.,  Jr.,  is  a 
clerk  with  the  J.acksonville  it  Southeastern  Rail- 
road: and  Leltic,  wiio  is  a  book-kccjier  for  lier 
father. 

Our  subject  and'lhe  President  of  the  United 
States  were  reared  boys  together,  and  Mr.  Ewing 
is  a  strong  supporter  of  the  party  to  which  Mr. 
Harrison  owes  his  election.  Mr.  Ewing  is  one  of 
the  men  who  has  built  up  East  St.  Louis  by  taking 
part  in  every  reform  and  .assisting  by  presence, 
purse  and  influence  all  the  iminovemcnts  for  the 
benefit  of  the  citv. 


eASIMIR  ANDEL.  The  pleasant  and  oblig- 
ing Cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Belleville  is  the  gentleman  whose  life  it  is 
our  pleasure  to  call  attention  to  in  this  brief 
sketch.  Mr.  Andel  is  a  native  of  historic  Bingen 
on  the  Rhine,  celebrated  in  song  and  poetry,  hav- 
ing been  born  there  in  November,  1810.  When 
he  was  eighteen  years  old,  he  made  the  journey 
across  the  ocean,  coming  direct  to  Illinois,  where 
he  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  until  the  out- 
break of  the  great  Civil  War,  when  he,  like  so 
many  of  our  German-American  citizens,  enlisted, 
and  served  his  country  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  first  served  in  Company  A,  Ninth  Illinois  In- 
fantry, and  remained  at  Cairo  during  his  three 
months'  enlistment;  but  at  the  expiration  of  that 
period  he  re-enlisted  iu  Comjiany  B,  Twelfth  Mis- 
souri Infantry,  enlisting  as  First  Sergeant,  but 
being  promoted  through  the  ranks  of  Second  and 
First  Lieutenant  to  be  Captain,  serving  as  .\id-de- 
Camp  to  Gen.  Peter  Joseph  Osterhaus  until  No- 
vember, 186-1.  During  this  time,  lie  was  wounded 
twice,  but  was  always  noted  for  his  bravery  in  the 
charge  of  battle.  After  his  term  of  service  was 
over,  he  returned  to  St.  Louis,  and  served  iu  the 
ortices  of  the  Assessor  and  Collector.  In  1866,  he 
came  to  this  city  and  engaged  in  the  wholesale 
liquor  business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Andel  iVr 
Weber,  for  eight  years. 

When  the  First  National    Bank  of  Hclleville  w,as 


266 


K)RTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


organized,  in  July,  1874,  with  a  capital  of  $100,- 
000,  Dr.  Jnlius  Kohl  served  as  the  first  President, 
and  ^'an  L.  Runyan  as  first  Cashier,  the  last- 
named  gentleman  serving  only  two  months,  when 
he  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Andel,  who  has  contin- 
ued in  that  important  position  ever  since,  giving 
entire  satisfaction  to  all  parties  concerned.  This 
bank  is  the  leading  one  in  Belleville,  having  the 
capital  stock  mentioned  above  and  a  surplus  of 
$95,000. 

In  1870,  Mr.  Andel  was  united  in  marriage  to 
the  lady  of  his  choice,  Miss  Louise  Kircher, 
daughter  of  Joseph  Kircher.  These  two  arc  the 
happy  parents  of  five  children,  who  have  proved 
themselves  worthy  of  the  father  whose  name  they 
bear.  The}'  are  Josepha  Johanna,  Gisela  Sophia, 
George  K.,  William  C.  and  Coleman  E. 

In  the  strike  of  1874,  Mr.  Andel  was  chosen 
Captain  of  Company  A,  Belleville  fiuards,  and  on 
account  of  the  military  skill  he  exhibited  he  was 
made  Colonel  of  the  Eleventh  Regiment  Illinois 
National  Guards  during  the  railroad  strike  of 
1877. 


^  ENRY  F.  BADER.  The  subject  of  this 
\)  sketch  is  the  representative  of  an  old  and 
prominent  family  of  East  St.  Louis,  and  is 
the  efficient  Vice-president  of  the  East  St. 
Louis  Electric  Street  Railroad.  He  is  one  of  the 
most  reliable  pharmacists  of  the  city,  and  is  lo- 
cated on  the  corner  of  Broadway  and  Main 
Street. 

Mr.  Bader  is  the  son  of  John  G.  Hader,  who 
was  born  in  Baden,  German}',  where  he  car- 
ried on  the  business  of  cabinet-making.  John  had 
been  apprenticed  for  seven  years  to  that  trade, 
and  had  become  a  fine  workman.  In  1841,  he 
came  to  America  and  began  business  in  St.  Louis. 
He  married  in  this  city  in  1844,  and  after  this 
went  into  contracting  and  building.  He  contin- 
ued in  active  business  until  his  death,  in  1876, 
when  about  fifty-six  years  of  age.  He  had  al- 
ways been  a  Republican  in  his  political  opinions. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  wa.-5  Margaret  Hartmann, 


who  came  from  the  banks  of  the  storied  Rhine. 
Her  father  came  to  America  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  St.  Louis  County.  Mrs.  Bader  now  lives 
in  East  St.  Louis. 

Our  subject  is  one  of  ten  children,  but  now  he 
and  his  oldest  brother,  Louis,  a  merchant  of  this 
place,  are  the  only  survivors.  He  grew  up  here 
and  was  educated  in  tlie  public  schools  of  this 
city,  and  when  fourteen  years  old  he  engaged  as 
clerk  for  James  L.  Brackett,  a  druggist  on  Broad- 
way, remaining  with  him  for  three  years.  In 
1875,  he  went  to  Memphis  and  was  there  engaged 
as  a  druggist,  but  in  about  eight  months  he  re- 
turned to  the  store  of  Mr.  Brackett,  which  was 
now  conducted  by  C.  E.  Neubert.  In  INIarch, 
1881,  he  bought  Mr.  Neubert  out  and  then  located 
(m  Broadway,  where  he  continued  until  1883, 
when  he  came  to  his  present  excellent  location. 
He  devotes  himself  strictly  to  pharmacy,  and 
makes  a  specialty  of  prescriptions.  In  1890,  he 
thought  he  saw  an  opportunit}'  and  opened  a 
branch  store  on  Collinsville  Avenue,  but  there 
were  so  many  inconveniences  that  he  sold  it. 

Our  subject  is  the  owner  of  considerable  real 
estate  in  this  city,  and  is  a  stockholder  and  Di- 
rector in  the  AYorkingmen's  Bank,  and  a  stock- 
holder in  the  First  Mutual  Building  and  Loan 
Association.  He  was  an  organizer,  and  is  Vice-pres- 
ident of  the  East  St.  Louis  Electric  Railroad.  He  is 
also  a  stockholder  in  the  American  (Jalvanized  Iron 
Car  Roofing  Company,  and  a  stockholder  in  the 
Landsburg  Air-Brake  Company,  of  St.  Louis.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  State  Pharmacist  Association, 
and  is  an  honored  member  of  the  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  the  Royal  Arch  Masons,  of  the  Knights 
Templar,  of  Tancred  Lodge  No.  50,  of  Belleville, 
and  of  the  Consistory  at  Chicago.  He  has  been 
much  interested  in  school  matters,  and  was  School 
Trustee  from  1889  to  1892,  and  has  been  President 
of  the  Board.  He  has  been  a  Knight  of  Pythias 
since  1879. 

Our  subject  selected  as  a  life  companion  the 
daughter  of  Nicholas  Spannagel,  who  was  a 
native  of  Alsace,  Franco,  and  came  to  this  coun- 
try with  his  parents  when  quite  young.  lie  was 
the  founder  of  the  Heim  Brewery,  whicli  he  sold, 
and  then  engaged  in  the    manufacture    f(f  mineral 


^,«»x 


i«s^^^ 


,^.OH0^^ 


,^n^i^i^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


269 


water.  He  was  veiy  successful  in  this  enterprise, 
.and  made  a  fortune  before  liis  death,  in  February, 
1H!)2.  His  wife  was  .Tohanna  .laiins,  who  was  l)orn 
in  Germany,  and  died  in  188.3.  Of  their  seven 
children,  Louisa,  Mrs.  Bader  is  the  eldest.  Her 
marriage  to  Mr.  Hader  took  place  in  1881,  and 
four  lovely  cliildrcn  are  the  jewels  of  their  homo: 
Kdna,  Walter,  Henrietta  and  Louisa. 

Mr.  B.ader  is  a  conspicuous  memlier  of  the  Re- 
publican ranks,  and  has  served  his  fellow-citizens 
in  the  various  c<mventions.  He  is  of  sucii  a  pleas- 
ant, genial  nature  that  his  friends  who  wisli  liim 
well  are  not  to  be  counted. 


OX.  LOUIS  PERROTTET.  wh..  owns  a 
splendid  farm  on  section  27,  and  also  a 
finely  improved  estate  on  section  23,8hiloli 
^  Valley  Township,  was  born  in  a  Frencli 
Province  of  .Switzerland  in  184.S.  His  parents, 
John  and  Mary  (Pantillon)  Perrottet.  were  both 
bf>rn  in  the  sjime  province  as  tlieir  son.  The 
father's  birth  occurred  in  1809,  while  the  mother 
was  born  two  years  later.  The  former  was  reared 
in  the  village,  where  he  received  his  education  and 
remained  until  reaching  mature  years.  When 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  he  enlisted  in  the  .Swiss 
arin3'and  was  a  faithful  soldier  during  a  service  of 
seven  years. 

On  leaving  the  armj-,  then  being  twenty-eight 
yeai-s  of  age,  Joiin  Perrottet  married  and  started 
in  tlie  occupation  of  farming,  wliidi  he  continued 
during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  In  18.55,  with 
his  family  he  set  sail  for  America,  coming  directly 
to  .St.  Clair  County,  111.  As  his  means  were  limited, 
he  rented  property  for  twelve  years,  whicli  he  op- 
crated.  He  then  removed  to  Macoupin  County, 
where  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land.  There  he  lived  engaged  in  the  duties  of 
farm  life  until  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1888.  His  wife  had  died  four  years 
previous.  They  reared  a  family  of  five  children: 
Mary,  the  wife  of  Adam  Rover;  .John.  August; 
Sophia,    wife    of    .lolin     McGee;     and     Louis,    the 


youngest  of  the  family.  In  religion,  Mr.  Perrot^ 
tetwas  a  Lutheran.  Politicalh",  he  was  a  supporter 
of  Republican  principles.  The  grandfather  of 
our  subject.  .John  Perrottet,  and  hLs  wife,  whose 
family  name  was  Derron.  were  natives  of  Switzer- 
land. 

Louis  Perrottet,  the  subject  of  this  .sketch,  re- 
mained with  his  parents  until  twenty-five  years  of 
age.  At  that  time  occurred  his  marriage  to  Mary 
Knobeloch,  who  is  a  daughter  of  .John  and  Eliza- 
Ijeth  (Hardy)  Knobeloch.  Mrs.  Perrottet  was  born 
in  St.  Clair  County,  where  her  parents  were  num- 
bered among  the  very  early  pioneers.  Mr.  and 
Mi-s.  Perrottet  are  the  parent-s  of  eight  children: 
Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  ]\Iichael  Plab;  Emma,  the 
wife  of  Fred  Clark;  Sophia,  Charles,  Alvona,  Ida, 
Hilda,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 

In  186;5,  responding  to  the  call  of  his  adopted 
country,  our  subject  enlisted  as  a  member  of  the 
Forty-third  Illinois  Infantry  under  Gen.  Steele. 
He  was  stationed  at  Little  Rock  and  never  took 
part  in  any  eng.agement.  After  his  marriage.  Mr. 
Perrottet  came  to  his  present  farm,  where  he  has 
since  lived.  He  now  owns  a  tract  of  three  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  on  section  27,  all  under  a 
good  state  of  cultivation  and  which  returns  to  him 
a  golden  tribute  for  his  man;-  years  of  industry 
and  labor.  Now  fields  of  grain  meet  the  eye  on 
ever;-  hand,  and  everything  about  the  place  be- 
tokens the  care  and  cultivation  of  a  careful  mana- 
ger. He  is  also  the  owner  of  two  hundred  ami 
forty  acres  on  section  2.3,  this  township. 

Mr.  Perrottet  has  occupied  many  official  positions 
and  has  always  discharged  the  duties  incident  to 
them  in  such  a  trustworthy  and  efficient  manner 
that  he  has  won  the  approval  of  even  his  political 
opponents.  He  was  County  Supervisor  for  a  term 
of  five  years  and  was  Tax  Collector  for  a  period  of 
two  years.  Educational  measures  have  alw.ays  re- 
ceived his  earnest  co-operation  and  hearty  support, 
and  for  sixteen  years  he  has  been  one  of  the 
School  Directoi-s.  His  ballot  is  always  cast  in  favor 
of  the  Republican  party,  of  whose  principles  he  is 
a  strong  advocate.  In  1890.  he  was  elected  .as  a 
Representative  to  the -State  IjCgislature  on  the 
Republican  ticket.  In  his  capacity  .as  Legislator, 
he   took  a  very  prominent  pari  in  trying  to  liave 


270 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  present  school  law  of  Illinois  repealed.  He  was 
also  a  member  of  the  Finance  Committee  and 
served  on  the  Committee  of  Agriculture.  In  his 
olHcial  position,  he  has  alwa3's  kept  the  welfare  of 
the  people  in  view  and  has  done  all  in  his  power 
to  forward  the  best  interests  of  his  county  and 
State.  The  cause  of  right  and  truth  always  finds 
in  him  a  friend,  and  to  those  causes  he  devotes  his 
heartiest  sympathy  and  aid.  He  is  a  member  of 
tlie  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  at  Belleville.  As 
a  soldier,  he  was  always  found  at  his  post  of  duty 
and  was  ever  to  be  depended  upon  as  a  man  of 
fidelity  to  his  trust. 


^^^JCHOLAS  J.  BIEBEL.  The  prosperous  and 
I  jj  intelligent  farmer  whose  name  opens  this 
liSMi  article  possesses  one  of  the  finest  farms  in 
the  county.  He  was  born  near  Sargemunde,  Lor- 
raine, France,  October  18,  1836.  His  parents  came 
to  America  in  1843,  and  landed  in  New  York  and 
tlie  same  year  settled  in  St.  Clair  Countj'.  The3' 
bought  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land  three 
miles  due  south  of  Millstadt,  and  made  that  their 
home  for  about  twenty-five  years.  Mr.  Biebel 
then  disposed  of  that  place  and  bouglit  anotlier 
near  Mascoutali,  where  this  worthy  couple  lived 
for  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  The  birth  of  the 
father  took  place  April  3,  1805,  and  he  died  Feb- 
ruary 9,  1875.  The  mother  was  born  in  1811,  and 
was  removed  by  death  November  4,  1864. 

In  the  sunny  land  of  his  birth,  Mr.  Biebel,  Sr., 
was  a  farmer,  and  when  he  came  to  this  country 
he  continued  to  till  the  soil.  He  was  a  Demo- 
crat in  politics,  but  he  never  wanted  office.  A 
brother  of  his  was  a  soldier  in  the  French  army 
under  Napoleon  I.  The  children  of  this  couple 
were:  Agnes,  who  was  born  May  30, 1833,  and  died 
May  15,  1875.  She  married  Charles  Schneider,  also 
now  deceased,  and  lived  on  the  home  place  near 
Mascoutali.  She  left  three  boys  and  two  girls,  all 
of  whom  are  living.  Maggie  was  born  March  5, 
1835,  and  died  December  26,  1886,  leaving  a  large 
family.     She    married  John  Gruiidlach,  a  farmer 


residing  in  this  township.  Christian  lives  two 
and  one-half  miles  from  Mascoutah  and  was 
born  September  26,  1838.  He  married  Josephine 
Moll  and  has  four  children.  Mary  Magdalena  was 
born  August  8,  1846,  and  married  Nicholas  Staub, 
who  resides  one  and  one-half  miles  southwest  of 
Mascoutah. 

Our  subject  was  reared  on  the  old  home  place 
and  attended  the  common  school  in  his  boyhood 
and  the  Christian  Brothers'  School  in  St.  Louis 
in  1855,  acquiiing  a  good  English  and  German 
education.  He  was  married  in  September,  1860, 
in  Belleville,  to  Magdalena  Miller,  and  they  have 
been  blessed  with  a  family  of  nine  children,  as 
follows:  Rosamond  Magdalena,  Edward  Oliver, 
Julius  Artliur,  Ida  Isabella,  Emma  Matilda,  Albert 
Allen,  Elinor,  Walter  Nicholas,  Richard  Roy  and 
Julius.  The  children  have  all  received  an  English 
education  and  are  living  in  this  county,  being 
much  thought  of  in  their  neighborhood. 

Mr.  Biebel  has  been  Highwaj^  Commissioner  for 
three  years,  and  is  a  Democrat  of  no  uncer- 
tain tone.  He  has  lived  on  his  present  farm  since 
the  fall  of  1862,  where  he  now  has  three  hundred 
and  fifty-five  acres.  He  carries  on  a  system  of 
mixed  farming  and  raises  stock.  He  has  a  very 
fine  farm,  and  is  a  man  of  education  and  well  in- 
formed on  all  questions  of  the  day.  His  manner 
is  genial  and  friendly,  and  he  is  regarded  as  being 
very  liberal. 


^AUL  W.  ABT,  President  of  tlic  First  Na- 
1/  tional  Bank  of  East  St.  Louis,  is  of  foreign 
birth,  having  been  born  in  Wurteniberg, 
Germany,  near  Stuttgart,  April  25,  1845, 
and  his  father,  AVilliam  Abt,  was  also  born  near 
Stuttgart,  German 3^  Our  subject  stayed  in  school 
until  fourteen  years  old,  and  was  then  apprenticed 
to  learn  the  mercantile  business,  continuing  in  this 
for  four  years.  In  the  summer  of  1864,  he  came 
to  America,  sailing  from  Bremen  to  New  York, 
and  first  located  in  Cincinnati.  Later,  he  was  in  Chi- 
cago for  a  short  time,  also  in  Omaha  and  St.  Louis. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


271 


In  1873,  he  cunie  to  East  St.  Louii-,  wliere  lie  \v;is 
engaged  in  the  wholesale  liquor  business  for  alxnit 
fifteen  yejirs,  and  met  with  substantial  results. 

In  1887,  Mr.  Abt  became  Cashier  of  the  old 
Kast  St.  Louis  Bank,  which  in  1890  was  con- 
verted into  the  First  National  IJank,  he  becoming 
President.  The  bank  has  a  capital  of  ?;100,000, 
and  bows  to  none  either  in  enteri>rige  or  solidity. 
Mr.  Abt  laid  out  the  Paul  W.  Abt  First,  Second  and 
Third  .Additions  to  Fast  St.  Louis  during  the  la>t 
five  or  six  years. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  East  St.  Louis  to  Jliss 
O.  I.  Buettner,  a  native  of  (Jermanj-,  and  the 
daughter  of  Dr.  Buettner,  of  St.  Louis,  Mo. 
Six  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Abt. 
Mr.  Abt  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  is  a  Knight 
Templar  in  the  Mas(mic  fraternity.  He  holds- 
membership  in  the  German  Evangelical  Church, 
and  in  politics,  advocates  the  principles  t)f  the 
Democratic  party,  being  a  delegate  to  county  and 
State  conventions. 


^  SAAO  EYMAN.  The  homestead  owned  and 
|l  occupied  by  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  one 
il\  of  the  most  desirable  and  attractive  within  the 
limits  of  Stookey  Township.  It  is  pleasantly  lo- 
cated on  section  3.5,  and  embellished  with  fine  resi- 
dence and  farm  buildings  of  ample  proportions. 
The  place  indicates  in  a  marked  manner  the  hand 
of  thrift  and  industry,  and  portrays  to  even  the 
casual  observer  the  fact  that  it  is  the  abode  of  those 
who  belong  to  an  old  and  distinguished  family. 

Long  before  Illinois  was  added  to  the  number  of 
States  in  the  Union,  .\brahain  Evman,  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  settled  in  what  was  then  a  wild 
and  desert-like  portion  of  Illinois,  now  known  as  St. 
Clair  Count}'.  He  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in 
the  3'ear  1767,  his  father  being  Abraham  Eyman, 
who  emigrated  from  (lerman}'  to  America  when 
fourteen  years  of  age  and  became  identified  with 
the  pioneer   history  of    Pennsylvania.      Abraham 


Fynian,  grandfather  of  our  subject,  removed  from 
Pennsylvania  to  Virginia,  where  he  married  Miss 
.Susannah  Whetstone,  a  native  of  Hardy  County, 
Va.  In  1796,  this  sturdy  forefather  of  the  Eyman 
family  came  to  what  is  now  Monroe  County,  HI., 
selected  a  portion  of  land,  and.  after  planting  a 
crop,  returned  home  for  his  family,  which  then 
consisted  of  his  wife  and  two  sons.  The  year  fol- 
liiwing,  he  placed  all  his  earthly  effects  on  a  flat- 
lioal,  and  with  his  small  family  started  down  the 
Ohio  River  to  his  new  home.  The  spot  on  which 
he  had  chosen  to  locate  was  a  veritable  wilderness, 
it>  native  population  consisting  of  Indians  and 
wild  beasts,  the  hostile  nature  of  the  former  and 
the  abundance  of  the  latter  offering  no  very  great 
possibilities  for  a  quiet,  uneventful  life  to  him  who 
sought  to  make  a  home  in  their  midst.  He  pur- 
sued Ins  journey  toward  his  new  home  until  reach- 
ing a  point  on  the  Ohio  River  where  he  encoun- 
tered a  caravan  of  whites,  who  were  traveling  in 
the  same  direction,  and,  concluding  that  his  wife 
and  children  would  be  more  comfortable  for  the 
rest  of  the  way  on  horseback,  he  took  the  boat  and 
supplies  up  the  river  alone,  expecting  that  on 
reaching  his  destination  the  party  on  horseback 
would  have  arrived  there  before  him.  His  sur- 
prise at  not  finding  them  there  soon  gave  way  to 
anxiet}',  and  he  started  back  across  the  country  to 
look  for  his  lost  ones,  who,  after  many  days'  search, 
he  found  on  the  open  prairie,  where  they  had  been 
abandoned  to  make  their  way  as  best  they  could. 

In  1800,  Abraham  Eyman  moved  from  his  first 
home  in  Illinois  to  the  farm  in  .St.  Clair  County 
which  is  now  owned  by  his  grandson.  At  that 
time,  the  nearest  neighbor  except  one  was  twenty 
miles  away.  The  discomforts,  inconveniencies 
and  limited  resources  of  a  wild,  unsettled  coun- 
try seem  to  have  had  no  appalling  effect  on 
the  man  whose  history  we  are  writing.  His  in- 
domitable will  and  never-failing  energy  mark  his 
career  as  one  of  the  most  marvelous  of  his  time. 
He  w.as  a  man  of  wonderful  ability,  and  one  gifted 
with  a  genius  which  made  all  things  that  he  de- 
sired to  accomplish  not  only  possible,  but  certain 
of  the  most  satisfactory  achievement. 

In  his  early  days,  firandfather  Eyman  learned 
the  trade    of    blacksmith,    wliich    craft    lie    never 


272 


PeKTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


allowed  himself  to  forget,  always  having  a  shop 
on  his  farm.  Nature  endowed  liim  with  the  attri- 
butes of  a  general  mechanic,  in  addition  to  which 
he  added  the  trades  of  cabinet-maker,  shoemaker 
and  weaver.  Some  of  the  chairs  and  furniture 
made  by  his  hands  are  in  use  at  tiie  home  of  his 
grandson  today.  lie  built  the  first  wool-carding 
machine  produced  in  St.  Clair  County.  He  served 
in  the  War  of  1812.  When  Illinois  was  admitted 
to  the  Union,  he  was  chosen  by  the  Whig  party  to 
I'epresent  his  district  in  the  first  State  Legislature 
of  Illinois.  In  religion,  he  and  his  wife  were  Dun- 
kards.  Their  family  originally  consisted  of  twelve 
children,  three  of  whom  died  in  early  infancy,  nine 
growing  to  mature  years,  as  follows:  Jacob,  Daniel, 
Abraham,  John;  Isaac,  the  father  of  our  subject; 
Nancy,  Mrs.  McClintock;  Catherine,  wife  of  Jacob 
Stout;  Susannah,  wife  of  James  McClintock;  and 
Mary,  wife  of  Benjamin  McCuire.  Abraham  Ej'- 
man  departed  this  life  June  8,  1831,  his  wife  sur- 
viving him  until  the  10th  of  August,  18.'J2,  she 
tlien  being  eighty-two  years  old. 

Isaac  Eynian,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  the 
youngest  of  Abraham's  family,  and  was  born  De- 
cember 14,  1812.  His  education  was  received  in 
the  common  schools  of  the  county  where  he 
lived.  The  death  of  his  father,  which  occurred 
when  he  was  yet  a  boy,  threw  him  on  his  own 
responsibilities.  He  and  another  brother,  how- 
ever, remained  with  their  mother,  farmed  the 
place  and  operated  the  wool-carding  machine, 
which  was  the  product  of  his  father's  genius,  but 
which  he  had  only  lived  long  enough  to  see  com- 
pleted. In  the  year  1841,  Isaac  Eyman  married 
Miss  Evelina  Lacey,  who  was  born  in  St.  Clair 
County,  September  11,  1820,  daughter  of  Stephen 
and  Elizabeth  (Primm)  Lacey.  Stephen  Lacey  was 
born  about  1793,  his  wife  also  being  born  in  May 
of  that  year.  He  was  drowned  March  15,  1821. 
His  wife  survived  him.  was  again  married,  and 
died  November  28,  1880.  Seven  children  were 
born  to  Isaac  and  Evaline  Eyman,  two  of  whom 
died  in  chiidliood,  the  rest  being  Nancy;  Minerva, 
wife  of  Abraham  Gooding;  Theodore;  Walter;  and 
Isaac,  with  whom  this  biography  more  particu- 
larly deals.  Isaac,  Sr.,  lived  tlie  life  of  a  farmer  in 
its  strictest  sense.     Ills  sympathies  were  with  the 


old  Whig  party,  but  lie  never  took  an  active  part 
in  politics.  He  departed  this  life  January  24, 
1858,  and  his  wife  died  June  20,  1863. 

Isaac  Eyman,  the  subject  of  this  sketcii,  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Belleville, 
and  afterward  attended  the  University  of  Cham- 
paign, 111.  He  was  married  November  12, 1884,  to 
Miss  Josia  Stookey,  daughter  of  John  D.  and  Mary 
(Carr)  Stooke^',  and  to  them  have  been  born  three 
children:  Jerome,  A.  Irene  and  Warren.  Politi- 
cally, our  subject  is  a  Republican  and  has  served 
his  township  three  times  as  Collector. 

There  are  but  few  families  in  any  community 
who  can  trace  their  lineage  back  so  far,  and  enjoy 
the  proud  consciousness  of  belonging  to  such  a 
distinguished  ancestor.  The  sturdy  manhood 
and  strong  principles  of  the  grandfather,  Abra- 
ham Eyman,  have  descended  from  the  second  to 
the  third  generation,  and  his  .achievements  in  all 
branches  of  industry,  and  his  reg.ard  for  the  welfare 
of  his  country  and  the  community  in  which  he 
resided,  are  matters  of  more  than  local  history. 
His  mantle  has  fallen  on  the  survivors  of  his 
house,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  his  family  will 
alw.iys  have  a  representative  in  the  community  so 
freighted  with  reminiscences  of  this  grand  pioneer 
character. 


-S)^5* 


i^^  IMON  BAl'M.  This  gentleman  is  the  gen- 
^^^  iai  proprietor  of  the  Repulilican  House, 
(iL/JJ!  on  the  corner  of  Illinois  and  Second 
"^  Streets,  where  he  has  a  large  brick  hotel, 
with  eighteen  sleeping  apartments  in  addition  to 
the  other  rooms  of  a  hotel.  The  hotel  has  a  fine 
bar  and  office,  and  the  building  is  two  stories 
high.  He  has  had  charge  of  the  Republican 
House  since  1885.  At  that  time  he  furnished  and 
fitted  it  up  with  all  the  modern  improvements, 
and  he  has  since  conducted  a  good  business  here. 
He  is  one  of  the  most  enterprising  of  landlords, 
and  h.as  been  very  successful  in  his  business,  ns  he 
gives  it  his  undivided  attention. 

Mr.  Banm  was  liorn  in    Wiirtemberg.    (Jeriiiany, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIIICAL   RECORD. 


273 


March  2,  1856,  being  the  son  of  Patritze  and 
Mary  liaum.  Wlien  he  was  five  years  old  he  came 
with  his  mother  to  1-ebanon,  111.,  where  lie  sjrew  U< 
manhood,  and  was  educated  there  in  tiic  pulilic 
schools..  In  thnt  town  he  learned  tlie  trade  of 
a  blacksmith,  going  llirough  an  apprenticeship. 
He  then  engaged  in  tiie  saloon  business  at  Leb- 
anon, engaging  in  tiiat  business  for  six  years.  From 
there  lie  went  to  Kinmundy  and  engaged  in  tlie 
same  business  for  one  year,  and  tlien  removed  to 
Helleville.  111.,  wiiere  he  operated  a  saloon  from 
187!)  to  188.i,  on  tlie  corner  of  Main  and  Jackson 
Streets. 

Mr.  Haum  was  married  to  Miss  .h>lianna  Spies, 
of  this  city.  Her  father  had  been  the  proprietor 
of  the  Republican  House,  she  being  born  in  it,  and 
has  lived  lierc  since  her  birth.  The  marriage  took 
place  November  10,  1885.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren, Carl  and  Cecelia. 

Mr.  liaum  is  a  member  of  St.  I'eter's  Cathedral, 
also  of  the  Turnverein,  and  of  the  Krontheler  Phil- 
harmonic society,  and  is  a  prominent  man  in  all 
musical  circles.  He  has  educated  all  his  children  in 
music,  as  he  has  always  regretted  that  he  had  no 
such  opportunities  himself.  Mr.  liaum 's  aged 
mother  still  lives  at  lycbanoii,  well  known  and 
highly  respected. 


-^^' 


LEXANDEH  RIEMMLEH.     As  awcithy 
representative  of  the  intelligence,   the  iii- 
///  ii'    tegrity,  and  the  moral  worth  of  the  people 
_  of  Darmstadt,    St.  Clair  County,  the    sub- 

ject of  this  sketcii  occupies  no  ordinary  position. 
He  is  widely  and  favorably  known  in  his  native 
county,  and  the  fact  that  he  is  well  s|)oki'ii  of  by 
high  and  low  and  rich  and  poor  is  suflicioiil  indi- 
cation of  his  cliaracter.  Mr.  Uuemmler  should  de- 
rive much  satisfaction  from  tlie  contemplation  of 
the  part  which  he  has  played  in  life,  building  u|i  a 
record  which  his  descendants  may  look  upon  with 
pride,  liv  a  course  of  industry,  prudence  and  good 
managemont,  he  has  becf)me  well-to-do  financially, 
!UuI  his  line  residence    and  thriving  business  indi- 


cate in  a  marked  degree  to  what  good  purpose 
the  owner  has  labored  and  expended  at  h^asta  [lor- 
tidii  of  his  capital. 

Alexander  Riienimler  is  oin'  of  a  family  of  eiglit 
children  born  to  .Vdamand  .iiilia(Heist)  Huemmler, 
both  natives  of  Germany.  Adam  Hueinmler  was 
born  in  (lermany,  April  3,  1800.  He  was  a  shoe- 
maker by  trade.  His  wife,  Julia  (Heist)  Kucminler, 
was  born  in  (iermany  in  the  year  1802,  and  died 
in  (iermany  in  1846.  Soon  after  the  death  of  his 
wife,  Adam  Kuemmler  joined  his  son  Alexander, 
who  had  preceded  him  to  America,  and  who  at 
that  time  was  living  in  St.  I^ouis,  j\Io.  Adam 
Kuemmler  followed  his  trade  of  shoemaker  in  this 
country  until  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occmred 
in  1869.  He  was  reared  in,  and  always  clung  to, 
the  Lutheran  belief.  His  father  was  John  Peter 
Kuemmler,  born  in  1760,  and  a  respected  citizen  of 
the  community'  in  which  he  lived  in  Germany. 
To  the  parents  of  our  subject  were  born  eight 
children,  four  of  whom  are  3'et  living. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  remained  with  his 
parents  until  he  was  fourteen  ^-ears  of  age.  He  had 
received  the  advantages  of  a  good  common-school 
education,  and  choosing  to  follow  in  the  footsteps 
of  his  father,  sought  the  trade  of  shoemaker,  as 
the  vocation  he  should  pursue  through  life.  He 
left  his  parents  and  Fatherland  in  1848,  making 
the  voyage  across  the  Atlantic  ocean  in  a  sailing- 
vessel.  He  landed  at  New  Orleans,  and  proceeded 
from  that  point  up  the  river  by  boat  to  St.  iyouis. 
Xo  man  understands  more  thoroughly  than  he 
the  liardships  endured  by  a  stranger  in  a  strange 
i(niiiti\'.  who,  with  limited  means,  has  the  [iluck 
and  energy  to  start  for  himself.  After  reaching 
St.  Louis,  he  sought  occupation  at  his  trade,  and 
his  lirst  work  brought  him  the  munificent  sal- 
ary of  ?i4  per  niontli:  Iml  llirifty  (Jerman  iii- 
dii>lry  is  very  >tidngly  cxciniilified  in  his  char- 
acter, and  in  the  year  1><.")I  wi-  lind  him.  .'it  tlie 
age  of  twenty-six  years,  owner  of  lii>  own  shop 
and  assuming  the  car.es  of  a  luisjiicss  lifi;    for  him- 

.sclf. 

'l"lu'  same  year  which  lieieaved  him  of  his  father 
finds  him  a  new  settler  in  Darmstadt,  St.  Clair 
County,  his  present  home.  In  186!)  he  invested 
his  savings  in  property  here,  and  started  the  biisl« 


274 


PORTEAIT  AND  BIOGRArfflCAL  RECORD. 


ness  which  he  has  so  successfully  manipulated, 
and  founded  the  home  which  Is  to-day  a  monu- 
ment to  liis  energy  and  ability. 

The  29th  of  June,  1852,  was  made  an  inleiest- 
ing  day  in  the  life  of  our  subject  by  his  marriage 
with  Miss  Dora  Stroh,  a  daughter  of  Adam  and 
Dorah  Stroh,  all  natives  of  Germany.  To  this 
union  were  born  three  children,  namely:  Christian 
L.,  Henry  F.  and  Mrs.  Miller.  After  tlie  deatli  of 
the  estimable  mother  of  these  children,  Mr.  Kuemm- 
ler  married  Miss  Mary  May  Miller,  and  to  them 
have  been  born  six  children:  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
Mr.  George  Schlesinger;  Alexander,  Mary,  Julia, 
Charles  (deceased)  and  Leonard. 

At  the  outbreak  of  our  late  National  unpleasant- 
ness. Mr. Rneramler  enlisted  in  the  Fourth  Regiment 
of  the  Fourth  Corps  of  Missouri,  and  went  to  the 
front  with  his  comrades.  He,  however,  returned 
to  his  family  before  the  close  of  the  war. 

A  man  of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence,  he 
is  looked  up  to  in  his  community  as  a  self-made 
man  and  a  broad  thinker.  Beginning  life  dependent 
upon  iiis  own  resources,  he  has  achieved  his  pres- 
ent position  solely  by  hard  work  and  good  man- 
agement, 

His  religious  belief  is  founded  on  the  tenets  of 
the  Lutheran  Church,  of  which  body  he  is  an  active 
member.  In  politics,  he  is  a  Republican,  and  a 
strong  believer  in,  and  exponent  of,  the  course 
adopted  by  his  party. 


Jf  LBERT  MOOTZ.  No  special  department 
(@fl-]\\  of  commerce  is  of  more  importance  to  a 
i\  community  tlian  that  of  a  pharmacist,  and 
in  such  connection  attention  is  called  to 
the  popular  and  prosperous  pharmaceutical  estab- 
lishment of  Mr.  Mootz,  located  on  Missouri  Ave- 
nue. In  all  ages  of  the  world,  the  art  of  prepar- 
ing compounds  for  the  alleviation  of  pain  and  the 
healing  of  the  sick  has  been  regarded  as  among 
the  highest  of  human  functions,  and  it  is  for  this 
reason  that  so  nuH'li  attention  is  paid  to  the  call- 
ing of  the  druggist,  jii  our  own  da^-.     Mr,  Mootz 


was  born  in  Hoheneggelsen,  Province  of  Hanover, 
Germany,  December  20,  1844,  a  son  of  August 
Mootz,  a  native  of  Brunswick,  and  an  apothecary 
by  calling,  which  occupation  he  first  followed  in 
the  cit}^  of  Hanover,  and  later  in  Salsderhelden, 
Hanover,  where  he  died  in  the  year  1872.  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  Church.  He  was  married  to 
Miss  Doiothea  Peine,  who  was  born  in  the  city  of 
Celle,  Hanover,  and  died  in  the  year  1877, 
after  having  become  the  mother  of  five  children, 
three  of  whom  survive  her.  The  paternal  grnnd- 
father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  vvas  a  court 
official  in  Brunswick. 

A.  Mootz,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  was 
reared  in  Germany,  and,  when  eleven  years  of  age, 
entered  the  gymnasium  at  Eisenach,  where  he 
studied  the  classics  until  sixteen  years  of  age,  or 
until  1860,  when  he  began  serving  an  apprentice- 
ship at  the  apothecar3''s  trade  at  Holzminden, 
Brunswick,  where  he  remained  four  years,  after- 
ward clerking  for  three  years.  In  that  time  he  had 
to  pass  several  examinations,  but  did  so  successf  ull3-. 
In  1870-71,  he  was  an  apothecary  during  the 
Franco-German  War  in  the  place  of  the  regiment 
apothecary  at  Dingelstadt,  Saxony,  but  after 
some  time  he  returned  home,  and  worked  at 
his  profession  until  1874,  when  he  decided  that 
America  offered  a  better  field  for  a  man  of  energy 
and  brains,  and  he  accordingly  took  passage  on  a 
steamer  at  Bremen,  and,  after  a  stormy  voyage, 
landed  at  New  York  City.  After  five  weeks'  resi- 
dence in  that  city,  he  removed  to  Greenville, 
Miss.,  where  he  for  some  time  conducted  a  store  in 
connection  with  his  brother.  After  a  short  time, 
his  brother  cnme  to  East  St.  Louis,  but  our  subject 
continued  there  one  year  longer  in  partnership 
with  a  physician.  In  October,  187(),  he  also  came 
to  East  St.  Louis,  and,  after  being  in  business  with 
his  brother  for  about  a  year,  he,  in  October,  1877, 
started  in  business  for  himself  on  Missouri  Avenue. 

In  1881,  he  erected  his  present  tine  business 
block,  a  brick  building  with  a  frontage  of  forty- 
three  feet.  His  store  is  very  handsomelv  and  con- 
veniently fitted  up,  and  he  carries  a  large  line  of 
everything  connected  with  his  line  of  business. 
He  has  a  large  and  influential  patronage  from  the 
best  classes  of  society,  popular  prices  pj'evail,  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


275 


polite  and  attentive  assistants  serve  his  customers 
intelligently  and  promptly.  Mr.  Mootz  was  first 
niiuried  in  East  St.  Louis  to  IMiss  Theresa  Wel- 
ters, who  was  born  and  spent  her  life  in  this  town. 
After  her  death,  he  took  for  his  second  wife  Miss 
Anna  .Tackiesch,  who  w.is  also  born  in  this  city, 
.and  by  her  has  two  children,  Dorothea  and  Else. 
Mr.  Mootz  and  his  family  are  Luther.ins  in  reli- 
gion, and,  politically,  he  is  a  pronounced  Republi- 
can. He  belongs  to  the  State  I'harniaceutical  As- 
sociation, and  is  one  of  the  leading  pharm.acists  of 
East  St.  Louis. 


E^^- 


^p^OTTFKIKI)  NUETZEL,a  prosperous  farmer 
((( c—  <^"  section  6,  Casey ville  Township,  is  a 
^^jJ[(  native  of  Bavaria,  Germany,  his  birth 
occurring  December  8,  1832.  He  is  a  son  of 
John  and  Margaret  (Boush)  Nuetzel.  Both  of 
the  parents  were  likewise  born  in  Bavaria,  the 
father  in  1803,  and  the  mother  on  the  1st  of 
December  of  the  same  year.  The  father  was 
leared  on  a  farm  and  in  the  neighboring  village, 
wiiere  he  received  a  good  education.  He  made 
farming  his  chief  occupation  through  life,  and  for 
many  years  occupied  the  responsible  position  of 
Land  Appraiser  of  the  locality  in  which  he  lived. 
He  never  removed  to  the  United  States,  but  in 
1869  made  an  extended  visit  to  this  country, 
returning  in  the  following  year  to  Germany. 
When  he  reached  manhood,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Boush,  in  the  year  1827.  They  reared  a 
family  of  four  children:  .John,  now  deceased; 
Andrew;  Gottfried,  the  subject  of  this  sketch-;  and 
John  George,  who  still  resides  in  his  native  land. 
Two  other  children  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Nuetzel 
w.as  reared  in  the  Lutheran  faith,  and  was  a  mem- 
ber of  lliat  church. 

Until  twenty-two  years  of  age,  (;<>ttfiic(I  Nuet- 
zel remained  under  the  parental  roof.  In  lf<."i-l, 
believing  that  the  Western  World  uffercd  grcalci- 
opportunities  for  .acquiring  a  fortune,  he  left  his 
home  and  friends  and  came  to  the  United  .States. 
lie  \h>\  located  in  St,  Louis,  where  he  worked  in 


a  finishing  shop  of  the  iron  works  for  nearly  three 
years.  He  next  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  111., 
and  decided  to  make  agricultural  pursuits  his  life 
work.  Accordiugl}-,  he  rented  land  for  a  few 
years  near  C.aseyville,  which  he  operated  quite 
successfully.  Encour.aged  by  this  success,  he  then 
rented  a  large  farm  in  Madison  County,  which  he 
tilled  for  eleven  years.  He  then  returned  to  this 
county,  in  1871,  and  purchased  the  farm  on  which 
he  is  now  located.  In  addition  to  his  farm  of 
ninety  acres,  he  carried  on  a  bar  room. 

Oursubject  was  first  married  in  18G0  to  Catherine 
Christ,  and  to  them  was  born  a  family  of  four 
children,  who  are  now  all  deceased.  The  mother 
passed  away  in  1871.  IMr.  Nuetzel  was  again  mar- 
ried, his  bride  being  Anna  M.  Soellner,  daughter 
of  John  M.  and  Anna  B.  (Siengeiiberger)  Soellner. 
This  worthy  couple  have  become  tlie  parents  of 
five  children:  John  (J.,  Gottfried  F.,  Anna  M., 
Caroline  L.  and  (Jeorge  L. 

Believing  in  the  ability  and  trustworthiness  of 
Mr.  Nuetzel,  his  fellow-citizens  have  a  number  of 
times  called  upon  him  to  fill  local  positions  of 
more  or  less  responsibility-  and  honor.  The  duties 
of  these  positions  he  has  discharged  with  zeal  and 
to  the  satisfaction  of  all.  In  respect  to  politics,  he 
is  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Republican  party. 
He  was  reared  in  the  faith  .jf  the  Lutheran  Church, 
and  with  tliat  denomination  holds  membership. 
For  a  period  of  nearly  fort}'  years,  Mr.  Nuetzel 
h.as  been  a  resident  and  valued  citizen  of  this 
State  and  county  and  is  an  example  of  the  worthy 
men  whom  Germany  has  so  often  furnished  to 
America  and  who  are  esteemed  among  her  best 
friends  and  citizens. 


F^^UOyiAS  BURKK,  i)ropriet.ir  of  the  Dublin 
House  of  E.ast  St.  Louis,  111.,  is  an  able  and 
ellicicnt  manager,  and  lias  made  his  hotel  a 
veritable  symbol  of  all  that  constitutes  the  com- 
fort and  pleasure  of  guests.  Mr.  Burke  was  born 
in    County    Uoscouuuon,  Ireland,  in   18-12,  a  sow 


276 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  Thomas,  and  grandson  of  John,  Burke,  both 
of  whom  were  born  in  the  same  county,  and  there 
followed  the  occupation  of  farming.  The  father 
was  called  from  the  scenes  of  his  earthly  labors  in 
1882,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years,  his  widow, 
whose  maiden  name  w.as  Mary  Shauney,  surviving 
him  until  1888.  when  her  death  occurred  at  tlie 
age  of  eighty-seven  years.  Four  of  their  six 
children  are  living,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  be- 
ing the  only  one  in  America. 

Thomas  Burke  was  reared  on  the  liome  farm  in 
the  Emerald  Isle,  and  his  education  was  such  as 
could  be  obtained  in  the  common  schools.  He  re- 
mained at  home  until  eighteen  years  of  age,  then 
joined  the  civil  service,  and  for  six  years  was  a 
member  of  the  Royal  Irish  Constabulary.  Suc- 
ceeding this,  he  attended  a  training  school  for  two 
years  in  Dublin,  after  which  he  again  entered  the 
civil  service,  and  was  stationed  at  different  times 
at  Belf.ast,  Antrim,  Durham  and  Tyrone.  He  was 
in  the  riots  of  1864  in  Belfast,  when  it  took  ten 
thousand  men  eighteen  days  to  keep  the  peace. 
He  remained  on  duty  until  Jul}',  1865,  when  he 
tendered  his  resignation,  which  was  accepted,  and 
he  at  once  came  to  America,  taking  a  steamer  from 
Belfast  to  Liverpool,  and  there  the  steamship 
"Baltimore"  for  the  New  World,  which  he  reached 
at  the  end  of  eleven  daj'S.  He  remained  in  New 
York  City  one  month,  then  went  to  Galena,  HI., 
where  he  was  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  with 
his  uncle,  and  in  the  fall  of  1867  went  to  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  remaining  there  and  in  East  St.  Louis 
off  and  on  for  some  time. 

About  1870, he  removed  to  Belleville,  111.,  where 
he  engaged  in  mining,  and  made  considerable 
money,  which  he  later  invested  in  a  grocery  and 
liquor  establishment  at  Ogle  Station,  removing  to 
Belleville  at  the  end  of  two  years.  He  conducted 
the  Farmers'  House  of  that  place  for  three  years, 
but  in  the  spring  of  1881  ho  came'  to  East  St. 
Louis  and  bought  the  site  of  his  present  business 
house,  which  was  then  improved  with  a  commo- 
dious frame  Iniilding.  He  opened  his  hotel,  but 
in  1883  put  u[)  his  present  brick  building,  which 
is  three  stories  and  a  basement  in  height,  has  a 
frontage  of  lifty  feet  and  is  seventy-two  feet  deeii. 
This    iiouse   js   furnished  in   a   tasteful    maiuiei', 


suited  to  the  demands  of  his  patrons,  and  his  ta- 
bles are  always  spread  with  the  delicacies  of  the 
season.  His  rates  are  yery  reasonable,  and  he  is 
an  attentive  and  courteous  host.  He  is  interested  to 
some  extent  in  real  estate,  owns  a  small  improved 
farm  in  Effingham  Countj',  and  is  a  stockholder 
and  Director  of  St.  Patrick's  Building  and  Loan 
Association,  as  well  as  the  owner  of  his  present 
popular  hotel.  He  was  a  member  of  the  School 
Board  for  three  years,  was  Assistant  Supervisor 
for  one  ^ear  of  the  Fourth  Ward,  and  i)olitiealiy 
has  alwa3'S  been  a  Democrat. 

His  marriage,  which  occurred  in  St.  Louis  Janu- 
ary 2,  1869,  was  to  Miss  Sarah  J.  IMcDonald,  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania,  who  became  an  early  settler 
of  Belleville.  He  and  his  wife  have  five  children: 
Thomas,  Charles,  Mary  E.,  Julia  and  Annie.  Mr. 
Burke  and  his  family  worship  in  St.  Patrick's 
Catholic  Church,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Catho- 
lic Knights  of  America. 


J-IILir  MOESER,  M.  1).  This  gentleman 
is  a  popular  physician  and  surgeon  of  the 
little  village  of  New  Athens,  wliere  he  has 
made  his  home  since  1882.  He  is  the  son 
of  Henry  Moeser,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  St. 
Clair  County.  (See  sketch  elsewhere  in  this  book). 
The  Doctor  is  a  native  of  this  State  and  count}-, 
having  been  born  on  the  home  place  in  Sinitlittui 
Township,  where  he  continued  to  live  until  he 
was  ten  years  old.  when  he  left  home  to  reside 
with  his  sister,  Mrs.  Philip  Skaer.  wilii  whom 
he  remained  until  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age. 
He  secured  his  primary  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  the  count}-  and  afterward  took  a  course 
at  Bryant  and  Stratton's  Business  College  at  St. 
Lonis,  finishing  his  literaiy  education  at  McKend- 
ree  College,  Lebanon,  111.  After  this  he  began  the 
study  of  medicine  willi  Dr.  Cunningham,  at  Leb- 
anon, 111.,  and  later  pursued  his  studies  under  the 
supervision  of  Dr.  ISarnnm.  at  Freedom,  1 II.  He 
graduated  from  the  American  College,  ;it  Si.  Louis, 
in  1882,  and    iiiuiietliatcly    began    tlie    practice  of 


\H«^'^T 


\\^^      ..lA*'^ 


.=».1-w*-'  ^^^ 


^  ^^^ ,  ^ 


4*  -i,  ^-^t-^s-flife^ 


/ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


279 


his  |)rofessi(>ii  in  New  Athens,  where  he  has  contin- 
ued to  make  his  home  ever  since,  buihling  up  a 
large  and  successful  practice,  excelling  any  other 
physician  of  New  Athens  in  the  number  of  his 
patients.  In  his  practice  Dr.  Moeser  makes  a  speci- 
alty of  throat  and  lung  diseases,  applying  what 
is  known  as  the  inhalation  of  oxygen  treatment, 
in  which  lie  has  been  exceedingly  successful. 

Our  sul)ject  w.is  married  to  Miss  Betty  Fries,  the 
accomplished  daugiiter  of  (ieorge  Fries,  of  New 
Athens.  She  bore  her  husband  one  child,  (Teorge, 
but  the  bright,  promising  little  flower  was  cut  down 
liy  deatii.  wlien  only  five  years  of  age,  July  4,  1889, 
.ind  this  national  holid.ay  will  ever  be  a  day  of 
sadness  to  his  afflicted  parents. 

Politically,  our  subject  adheres  to  the  principles 
of  the  Democratic  party  and  is  a  stanch  member 
of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  P'ellows,in  which 
order  he  has  filled  all  the  chairs.  He  is  one 
of  the  leading  men  of  tlie  village  and  promises 
to  make  himself  heard,  both  in  the  professional 
and  political  world. 


\1|AMKS  AFFl.KCK.  The  subject  of  this 
notice  has  lived  longer  in  the  city  of  Belle- 
ville than  any  other  resident,  for  he  came 
here  in  1820  and  has  made  it  his  home  ever 
sirce.  His  birth  occurred  either  in  North  Carolina 
or  Tennessee,  and  his  parent*  were  David  and  Ann 
(Gillespie)  Affleck,  who  were  born  and  reared  in 
.Scotland.  Soon  after  their  marriage  tiiey  came  to 
America  and  settled  in  Wilmington.  X.  C,  but  af- 
ter a  short  sojourn  there  they  removed  into  Ten- 
nessee. The  fatlier  taught  school  on  Stone  River, 
not  far  from  where  Rfurfreesboro  now  stands. 
When  the  Illinois  "boom"  started,  they  came  to 
St.  Clair  Countj-.  where  he  bought  land  and  resided 
until  his  death,  in  18 lit.  The  mother's  death  oc- 
curred one  year  earlier.  Tiiey  were  the  best  <if 
people  and  showed  to  thi'  worhl  how  the  Scotcii- 
Presbyferian  faith  c:ni  cany  believers  thr(>iiL.'li  a<l- 
vei-sity. 

C)ur  subject  was  born  August  15,  I^IS,  and  was 

13 


left  an  orphan  in  a  new  country  before  he  was  six 
\'ears  of  age.  with  one  relative,  Robert  Gillespie 
Affleck,  now  of  Bolivar,  5Io.  In  those  days  the 
houses  of  the  pioneers  were  small,  but  their  hearts 
were  large,  and  no  matter  how  overflowing  the 
hearthstone  might  be,  there  was  always  some  hom- 
iny and  a  corner  for  the  orphan  or  stranger.  In 
1820,  our  subject  came  to  Belleville  with  a  kind 
Tennessee  family,  and  in  this  city  he  grew  to  man- 
hood, meanwhile  learning  the  trade  of  cabinet  and 
furniture  making.  After  reaching  maturity  he 
earned  money  enough  to  pay  his  board,  and  then 
entered  school,  where  he  applied  himself  so  closely 
that  he  obtained  a  fair  education.  Thus  equipped, 
he  commenced  to  work  at  cabinet-making  and  soon 
had  a  shop  of  his  own,  in  which  he  continued  until 
he  thought  he  could  make  more  b}'  farming.  For 
a  short  time  he  followed  agricultural  pusuits,  and 
later  engaged  in  business  as  a  contractor  and  builder. 
The  offer  of  a  position  as  foreman  in  the  Harrison 
Machine  .Shop  seemed  too  good  to  refuse  and,  being 
accepted,  was  filled  by  him  for  some  eighteen 
j'ears.  That  his  services  were  valued  is  sufficiently 
proved  bj-  the  fact  that  they  were  retained  for  so 
long  a  period.  In  public  affairs,  he  is  always  inter- 
ested and  does  his  part  toward  promoting  the  wel- 
fare of  the  citj-.  For  years  he  h.as  been  Alderman 
from  the  Fourth  Ward,  and  has  served  in  other 
places  of  trust. 

November  12,  18.35,  Mr.  .\ffleck  married  Hester 
Ann,  a  daughter  of  Weslej-  Coleman,  and  to  them 
have  been  born  five  children,  namely:  Charles  D.; 
Mary,  wife  of  Edwin  Park,  an  attorney  of  Decatur; 
.lason.  deceased;  Amanda,  the  wife  of  Judge  Wil- 
derman;  and  James  H.  After  the  death  of  his  first 
wife,  Mr.  Affleck  married  Miss  Ann  E.  Richardson, 
a  native  of  Oliio.  Their  family  is  as  follows:  Cora, 
the  wife  of  Frank  I,.  .Stewart,  of  Carmi,  III.;  Es- 
telle,  who  «as  married  to  John  A.  Logan,  a  second 
cousin  of  the  lamented  John  A.  Logan,  and  lives  at 
Carmi;  Hen  F.  is  now  a  Cairo  Short  lane  officer  at  St. 
Louis;  Edward  ('<.  is  in  the  Ilarri.son  ^lachine  Shop; 
ami  Susie  R.  is  attending  the  N<jrnial  School. 

Mr.  Affleck  is  a  member  of  the  church  of  his 
(•iiiintrvmcn,  in  wliieli  he  has  served  as  Deacon. 
Ili-Ncin  Edward  Imlds  llie  positions  of  Elder  and 
Trustee  in  that  church.     Although  Mr.  Affleck  is  a 


280 


PORTEAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


thorough  American  and  proud  of  the  progress  made 
liy  the  city  of  his  clioice,  he  Lakes  great  interest  in 
all  Scotch-Irisli  affairs,  and  has  just  returned  from 
Atlanta,  Oa.,   wliere  there  was  a  meeting  of   the 

clans. 


„  ,(  DAjNI  funk.  Tlie  subject  of  this  sketch 
iS^OI     is    the   largest  land-owner  in  this  section 

|llii  of  the  county.  He  resides  on  section  14, 
Freeburg  Towushii),  and  owns  nine  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  of  land  in  one  place,  and  has 
a  two-thirds  inteiest  in  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
in  another  part. 

Onr  subject  was  the  son  of  George  Funk,  who 
was  born  and  reared,  and  also  married,  in  Germany, 
his  wife  being  Catherine  Routh;  he  came  to  America 
in  1833,  and  first  settled  where  our  subject  now  lives 
and  where  he  entered  land  of  the  Government. 
At  first  a  log  cabin  was  erected  in  the  wilderness, 
and  there  the  family  lived  until  1861,  when  Mr. 
Funk  erected  the  brick  residence  which  is  now 
standing.  Tlien  the  land  was  wild,  and  deer  and 
wild  turkeys  abounded,  and  the  family  went 
through  the  hard  experiences  of  pioneer  life  in  a 
new  and  unknown  country.  Of  the  five  children 
l)orn  to  Mr.  F\ink,  four  are  yet  living.  Catherine 
is  the  wife  of  Henrj'  Friess:  Philip  lives  in  this 
county;  Margaret  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Routh.  The 
son  who  died  was  George.  The  father  of  our  sub- 
ject owned  over  se\cn  hundred  acres  of  land  here 
before  his.  death. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  was  born  Oc- 
tober 11,  1830,  in  Germany,  and  was  three  years 
old  when  he  came  to  America.  He  was  reared  on 
the  place  where  he  now  lives  and  never  had  the 
advantage  of  any  schooling.  Our  subject  was 
married  in  1858  to  Catlieiine  Routh,  who  was  the 
daughter  of  Adam  Koutli  and  was  born  and  reared 
in  (ierniany  and  came  here  in  18/)4.  After  his 
marriage,  he  brought  his  wife  to  this  place,  where 
lie  has  remained  ever  since.  His  wife  died  after 
fourteen  years  of  married  life,  and  his  second 
companion  was  Christina  Schnure,  who  also  was 
h();ii   ill  (iernianv.     V']\c  children  were  liorn  dur- 


ing the  life  of  his  first  wife.  They  are  George  and 
Adam,  twins,  who  now  are  farmers  in  this  town- 
ship; Henry  also  lives  in  this  township;  Mary  is 
the  wife  of  John  Dickhaut,  and  Cliarles  lives  at 
home.  Eight  children  have  been  born  during  his 
present  marriage:  Willie,  Philip,  Anna,  Battle, 
Emma,  Katie,  Louisa  and  August. 

Mr.  Funk  is  general  farmer  and  stock-raiser, 
giving  particular  attention  to  hogs,  as  he  finds 
them  more  remunerative  than  any  other  kind  of 
stock.  He  has  seen  great  changes  in  his  long  life 
in  this  county  and  loves  to  tell  of  the  times  when 
it  was  all  a  wilderness.  He  remembers  when  the 
land  was  still  forest,  for  he  helped  his  father  clear 
it.  This  large  and  respected  family  is  well  known 
in  the  neighljorhood  and  has  many  friends. 


^.-  .=^^^^^.^^g 


]  llD(iE  BENJAMIN  BONEAU.  Judge  Bon- 
eau's  father,  Joseph  Boneau,  whose  name 
indicates  his  Fiench  extraction,  came  from 
'^^^  Logansport,  Ind.,  in  the  early  part  of  the 
present  centurj',  and  settled  in  French  Village, 
where,  in  connection  with  farming,  he  followed 
the  occupation  of  a  coal  miner  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  October,  1834,  he  having  been 
crushed  and  instantly  killed  by  falling  slate  while 
inspecting  his  own  mine.  He  settled  in  the  above- 
mentioned  village  in  1806  or  1807,  and  was  indeed 
the  pioneer  in  the  coal  business  in  this  section,  for 
he  was  the  first  man  who  ever  mined  and  sold  a 
load  of  coal  in  St.  Louis.  He  opened  and  operated 
the  first  coal  mine  in  Illinois,  and  at  the  time  of 
his  death  was  doing  a  large  and  lucrative  coal 
business  in  the  St.  Louis  market.  He  was  a  man 
of  wealth,  owning  six  or  seven  hundred  acres  of 
land,  and  a  drift  mine  in  the  bluff  near  F'rench 
Village.  He  sold  coal  to  the  Wiggins  Feriy  Com- 
pany, and  got  out  two  or  three  loads  per  day  for 
St.  Louis  and  the  other  market  demands.  He 
was  about  thirty-six  years  of  age  at  the  time  of 
his  death. 

Judge    Boncau's   mother    was    born     in     Prairie 
du    Kocher.     Raii(k)lph     Count\-.    Ill,,    about     the 


PORTRAIT  AND   KIOGRArillCAL   RPX'URD. 


281 


year  1796.  Her  maiden  name  was  Felicite  Gal- 
liot, and  slie  was  descended  from  a  lonj?  line 
of  Fn-neli  ancestors-,  some  of  whom  came  to  Kas- 
kaskiii.  III.,  and  St.  (Tenevieve.^Io.,  early  in  tiie  last 
icntuiy.  She  died  in  the  montli  of  January,  18.iO. 
Her  son.  Judge  Benjamin  IJoneau,  is  one  of  the 
county's  representative  men,  and  is  in  every  way 
(lualified  for  the  honorable  position  he  is  now  hold- 
ing;. In  the  year  18.52,  he  was  graduated  at  St. 
Xavier's  .lesuit  College,  Cincinnati,  and  inuni'- 
dialely  afterward  entered  the  Cincinnati  Law 
School,  from  which  he  received  his  diploma  in 
18,55,  having  in  the  meantime  been  a  student  in 
the  law  office  of  King  A-  Anderson,  two  of  the 
most  prominent  attorneys  in  the  State  of  Ohio. 

In  1856,  our  subject  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in 
Belleville,  when  Judge  Breese  was  on  the  Bench, 
and  al.«o  the  St.  Louis  Bar,  during  .ludge  Hamil- 
ton's incumbency  as  Circuit  Jiulge  in  that  city. 
This  was  also  in  1850.  He  practiced  law  for  one 
year  in  Chicago,  and  for  ten  or  fifteen  years  in 
Belleville,  meeting  with  unusual  success  in  his  pro- 
fession while  engaged  in  it;  but  finding  the  prac- 
tice of  law  too  sedentary  and  confining,  he  in 
course  of  time  sought  otliiT  anil  more  active  i)ur- 
snits,  belter  suited  to  his  taste  and  more  beneficial 
to  his  health.  In  the  meantime,  however,  he  al- 
ways kept  ui)  his  stock  of  reading  and  his  study  of 
law,  and  is  regarded  by  the  members  of  the  Bar  as 
])Osscssing  a  clear  and  analytical  legal  mind,  which 
eminently  (pialifies  him  to  fill  accei)tably  the  otHce 
of  County  Judge,  to  which  the  people  of  this 
county  elected  him  in  1h;I(i,  with  a  majority  of 
five  hundred  over  Frank  Berriii,  who  was  Presi- 
dent of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  the  county. 

Judge  Boneau's  elo(inence  is  natural,  fluent  and 
persuasive.  His  veneration  for  tlie  law,  and  his 
high  sense  of  moral  responsibility,  invest  his 
manner  with  peculiar  gi.ace,  and  this,  combined 
with  his  accuracy  of  legal  knowledge,  lucidity 
of  statement,  felicitv  of  illustration,  and  (•opi(>ii>- 
ness  of  vocabulary,  renders  him  one  of  the  popular 
orators  of  the  Illinois  Bar.  The  Judge  has  ever 
been  an  earnest  supporter  of  Democratic  principles, 
and  takes  an  active  interest  in  all  political  cam- 
paigns. He  was  married  on  the  12th  of  January, 
1858,  to  Miss  Helen  A.  Lacroix.  a  lad}'  reared    in 


Belleville,  and  the  daughter  of  R.  M.  and  Mary 
Ann  (Hopkins)  Lacroix,  the  father  an  old  mer- 
chant, and  a  prominent  man  of  Belleville.  To 
Judge  and  Mrs.  Boneau  have  been  born  five  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  lienjamin  C,  of  the  electric  light 
plant  of  Minneaiiolis,  Minn.;  Mary  A.,  at  home; 
Charles  W.,  in  the  railroad  department  of  the  Chi- 
cago i)ost-oftice,  being  the  only  Democrat  left  in  the 
office:  William  C.,  at  home,  clerking  in  St.  Louis; 
and  Leo  Ogle,  now  attending  school.  This  family 
holds  membership  in  the  Catholic  Church. 


DOLPII  ANDEL.  the  genial  host  of  the 
popular  National  Hotel,  of  which  he  is 
the  proprietor  and  owner,  has  been  in- 
terested in  operating  this  same  house 
since  1880,  and  has  owned  it  since  1881.  This 
hotel  IS  favorably  situated  on  the  corner  of  Main 
Street  and  I'ublie  Square,  and  is  a  brick  building 
fif  four  stories.  60x80  feet,  with  a  two-story  addi- 
tion, giving  thirty-six  good  rooms,  with  office  on 
the  main  floor.  Here  Mr.  Andel  conducts  a  flour- 
ishing business,  being  patronized  by  the  best 
people  of  Belleville. 

Mr.  Andel  is  a  ( ierman  by  biitli.  having  been 
born  in  Hesse-Darmstadt  May  3,  1843,  and  is  a 
son  of  Johan  and  Catherine  (JIaus)  Andel,  natives 
of  the  same  place.  Mr.  Andel  was  reared  and  re- 
ceived a  thorough  (Jernian  education  in  his  native 
))rovince,  but,  being  dissatisfied  with  the  Old 
World,  he  resolved  to  seek  employment  in  the 
New,  .-o  in  1X60  he  came  to  the  I'nitcd  States,  set- 
tling in  St.  .loe.  Mo.,  where  he  remained  for  fif- 
teen years  engaged  as  a  book-keeper  in  a  hardware 
st<jre.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time,  he  cam.e  to 
lielleville  and  engaged  as  a  book-keeper  with  the 
linn  of  C.  W.  Andel  A-  Co.,  wholesale  liquor  dealers, 
remaining  with  them  until  1880,  when  he  leased 
the  National  Hotel  for  one  year  and  began  oper- 
ating it.  At  the  end  of  the  year,  he  was  able  to 
pun.-h.ase  it,  and  since  then  h.as  been  the  sole  |)ro- 
pi  iitor  of  this  flourishing  hostelry. 

.Ml-.  Andel  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pvthias, 


282 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  the  Liederkranz,  and  of  the  Tuinverein  Ger- 
man societies.  In  botli  of  these  societies  he  is 
an  honored  and  respected  member.  It  was  in 
Missouri  that  Mr.  Andel  won  and  married  his 
cliarming  wife,  Lizzie  Klippel,  she  being  a  native 
of  that  State,  and  tlie  ceremony  occurred  in  St. 
Joe  .June  24,  1869.  Two  bright,  interesting  chil- 
dren have  blessed  tliis  union.  Carl  W.  and  Mamie 
M.  In  Mr.  Andel  we  behold  one  of  the  influen- 
tial men  of  Belleville,  and  one  that  enjoys  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  everyone  who  knows  him, 
and,  as  he  is  in  a  position  to  become  acquainted 
with  all  the  peoi)le.  his  circle  of  friends  is  ex- 
tremely large. 


ON.  .70IIN  T.  MtCASLAND.  There  is  in 
the  development  of  every  successful  life  a 
principle  which  is  a  lesson  to  every  man 
following  in  its  footsteps,  a  lesson  which 
leads  to  higher  and  more  honorable  positions  than 
the  ordinary.  Let  a  man  be  industriously  ambi- 
tious, and  honorable  in  his  ambitions,  and  he  will 
rise,  whether  having  the  prestige  of  family  or  the 
obscurity  of  poverty.  These  reflections  are  called 
forth  by  the  study  of  the  life  of  Mr.  John  T.  Mc- 
Casland,  who  is  not  only  the  "real-estate  king"  of 
East  SL  Louis,  but  one  of  the  city's  most  active 
and  public-spirited  citizens,  promoting  her  best 
interests  in  every  w.ay.  He  is  a  man  of  unusually 
good  judgment  and  has  any  amount  of  push  and 
energy. 

Mr.  McCasland  was  born  near  Murray  ville,  Mor- 
gan County,  111.,  April  2,  18.56,  and  is  a  son  of 
J.  M.  McCasland  (see  sketch).  His  childhood 
days  were  spent  on  a  farm,  where  he  had  the  ad- 
vantages of  the  common  schools,  and  he  remained 
under  the  parental  roof  until  over  twenty-one 
years  of  age.  He  then  went  West  to  Colorado,  at 
the  lime  of  the  Pueblo  excitement,  and  drove 
overland  witli  team  and  wagon  to  that  place, 
whi^re  he  sold  the  outllt  and  eng:iged  in  (iros- 
piTtiiig    for    gold,  continuing  this    for  about  a 


year.  Returning  to  Morgan  County,  III.,  he 
soon  after  entered  the  employ  of  the  Equitable 
Life  Insurance  Company  and  traveled  for  this 
company  all  over  the  Union,  going  to  the 
largest  cities  in  the  different  States.  He  met 
with  wonderful  success,  and  in  his  travels,  while 
stopping  at  St.  Louis,  he  saw  the  future  of  East 
St.  Louis  at  a  glance.  He  purchased  property  in 
that  city,  gave  up  his  position  with  the  insurance 
company,  and  in  June,  188l»,  he  stepped  right 
into  the  real-estate  market  with  such  spirit  and 
confidence  that  the  whole  community  was  aroused, 
and  property  advanced  in  value  so  rapidly  that 
hundreds  of  citizens  made  snug  fortunes  in  a  few 
months.  He  was  the  original  mover  in  the  great 
Denverside  addition,  and  is  the  man  who  induced 
the  Denver  capitalists  to  buy  that  large  tract  and 
plat  it  for  an  addition  to  the  city.  His  personal 
investments  soon  made  him  rich.  He  is  enter- 
prising to  the  fullest  extent,  is  shrewd,  quick  and 
reliable. 

Mr.  McCasland  believes  in  the  future  of  the 
city  and  is  doing  as  much  as  any  one  man  can  to 
advance  it.  He  is  spending  here  the  money  he  so 
quickly  earned,  and  is  proud  of  the  progress  and 
development  of  the  city.  He  has  laid  out  Mc- 
Casland &  Guynon's  Addition,  Claremont  Addi- 
tion, Pecan  Addition,  J.  T.  McCasland  Addition, 
Claremont  Annex  Addition,  Denverside  Addition, 
Alta  Sita  Addition,  Beacon  Heights  Addition,  and 
is  interested  in  Landsdowne  Heights  and  Rose  Lake; 
he  sold  the  part  known  as  the  "Wedge"  to  an  Eng- 
lish syndicate.  The  McCasland  Opera  House,  the 
finest  building  in  the  county  and  equal  to  the  opera 
houses  of  St.  Louis  and  Chicago,  being  finished  in 
the  finest  style  and  with  the  latest  conveniences, 
was  built  by  him.  It  is  four  stories  in  height, and 
is  large  and  commodious.  In  this  his  office  is  lo- 
cated, as  is  also  that  of  numerous  other  real-estate 
and  professional  men,  and  it  is  almost  the  geograph- 
ical centre  of  the  city. 

By  his  wonderful  business  acumen  and  excel- 
lent judgment,  Mr.  McCasland  has  brought  East 
St.  Louis  to  the  front  and  has  advanced  her  inter- 
ests in  a  wonderful  manner.  While  thus  engaged, 
he  has  mnde  a  snug  fortune  for  himself,  as  well  as 
for  many  others  in  East  St.  Louis,  and  has  reached 


K)RTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


283 


liis  present  standing  as  a  business  man  by  strict 
attention  to  tlio  interests  of  patrons,  and  by  in  all 
cases  endeavorinti;  to  give  llie  limit  of  satisfac- 
tion. 

Mr.  McCasland  selected  liis  life  comp.anion  in 
the  person  of  Miss  Julia  E.  Lusk,a  native  of  lows, 
and  their  marriage  was  celebrated  at  Cheyenne, 
Wye,  in  1887.  She  is  the  daughter  of  David  C.  Lusk, 
now  a  resident  of  East  St.  Louis.  The  latter  w.as  a 
delegate  to  the  National  Convention  at  Minneap- 
olis and  assisted  in  the  nomination  of  Harrison. 
Mr.  McCasland  is  one  of  the  county's  most  ])rom- 
inent  citizens,  and  is  universally  liked  and  re- 
spected. He  is  liberal  and  open-hearted  and  no 
worthy  movement  is  allowed  to  fail  for  want  of 
support  on  his  part.  He  is  pleasant,  affable  and 
courteous  and  has  raanv  warm  friends. 


e^+^ 


1^^  YLVESTER  FOURNH:.  The  sunny  land 
^^^  of  Fr.ance,  the  home  of  La  Fayette,  has  con- 
!|l/^j  Iributed  to  the  upbuilding  of  this  State 
from  the  early  days  of  its  settlement, 
when  the  most  of  the  traders  on  the  river  were 
brave  Frenchmen,  to  the  present  time,  when  some 
of  the  most  skilled  workmen  from  that  land  come 
to  this  older  Republic  and  find  a  home  in  the  busy 
cities  where  their  ancestoi"s  onlj-  found  the  savage 
Indian. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Lorraine, 
Fr.ance,  where  he  lived  until  the  age  of  twelve 
years.  His  parents  came  to  this  country  at  an 
early  day  and  settled  in  Illinois  m  this  locality, 
and  here  Louis  Fournie  w.as  married  to  Fclissa 
Adlebrook,  who  was  born  in  Lorraine,  France,  and 
came  to  this  country  when  a  young  lady. 

After  marri.agc,  Louis  Fournie  and  his  bride  set- 
tled in  "Dutch  Hollow,"  on  a  farm  near  Belleville. 
The  former  made  a  trip  to  California,  and  then 
came  back  and  bought  a  farm  a  mile  north  of 
IJelleville.upon  which  he  lived  until  the  time  of  his 
deatli,  being  a  consistent  member  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church.  He  had  seven  children,  .loscph, 
Andrew,  Sylvester  and  l.iiuis  are  still  living. 


Our  subject  was  born  September  24,  1851.  on 
the  old  homestead  in  this  county.  He  was  reared 
here  and  sent  to  the  district  schools.  The  lady 
who  became  his  wife  was  Miss  Elizabeth  Cully, 
the  young  daughter  of  Xichol.as  Cully,  a  farmer 
of  this  county.  This  interesting  ceremony  took 
place  in  September,  1878.  After  marriage,  otir 
subject  located  north  of  Belleville,  where  the 
smelting  works  now  are,  and  remained  there 
until  he  came  to  the  farm  he  now  lives  upon.  This 
W.1S  in  1886,  and  on  his  one  hundred  acres  of 
land  on  section  12,  Smithton  Township,  he  raises 
wheat,  corn,  oats  and  potatoes.  He  also  has  a 
valuable  piece  of  timber  land  of  ten  acres,  where 
he  had  previously  lived.  Seven  children  make 
him  welcome  at  home:  Katie,  Tony,  Louis,  Ida.  Syl- 
vester, Tillie,  and  Charlie,  the  seven-month-old 
bab^'.  In  his  political  belief,  Mr.  Fournie  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat. He  belongs  to  the  Roman  Catholic  faith 
and  receives  comfort  from  the  ministrations  of  her 
priests.  He  and  his  capable  wife  and  charming 
children  make  up  a  happy,  peaceful  household 
among  the  green  fields  and  meadows  that  the  pass- 
ing traveler  loves  to  see  and  meditate  upon. 


♦^^■^tg#@!^^^ 


ENRY  ELLIOT,  President  of  the  Elliot 
Frog  and  Switch  Company,  which  was  in- 
iK\y>y  corporated  in  1887,  was  born  in  Jedburgh 
Roxburghshire.  Scotland,  in  1827,  to  the  un- 
ion of  Henry  and  Mary  (Shortreed)  Elliot,  both  na- 
tives of  Jedburgh.  The  paternal  grandfather,  1  lenry 
Elliot,  Sr.,  was  also  a  native  of  Jedburgh.  The 
father  was  an  iron  worker  and  machinist  and  made 
his  home  in  his  native  town  until  18.34,  when  he 
removed  to  Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  England,  and 
w.as  in  the  employ  of  (icorge  .Stevenson,  the  first 
locomotive  builder.  Later,  he  took  charge  as  sup- 
erintendent of  the  locomotive  works  of  Coulthard 
it  Sons,  and  continued  there  until  18.">4,  when  he 
brought  his  family  to  America,  settling  in  Cincin- 
nati, where  he  was  employed  in  the  I^ittle  Miami 
Railrofid  shops.  From  there  he  went  to  A'incennes, 
Ind.,  where    his    death    occurred    in     1863.    when 


284 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RFX'ORD. 


tiixty-three  years  of  age.  Mrs.  Elliot  died  in  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  in  1857.  She  was  the  dauohter  of 
George  Shortreed,  a  native  of  Scotland  and  a  shoe- 
maker by  trade.  When  young,  the  latter  enlisted 
in  the  English  army  as  private,  serving  in  Erance 
and  other  places.  Seven  children  were  horn  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elliot,  ttiree  of  whom  survive. 

Henry  Elliot,  the  original  of  this  notice,  was  the 
third  in  order  of  birth  of  the  above-mentioned 
children.  Erom  the  age  of  seven,  he  was  reared  in 
Newcastle  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  At  the  age  of  twelve,  he  began  working 
in  a  grocerj'  store  and  was  thus  emplo.yed  until 
fourteen,  when  he  was  apprenticed  with  Coulthard 
*  Sons,  locomotive  builders  and  machinists,  as 
machinist  for  the  period  of  five  years.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  this  time,  in  1846,  he  went  to  the  Louca 
Iron  Works,  near  Wiiitehaven,  but  later  went  to 
Liverpool,  where  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  laig- 
est  manufacturing  works  there,  and  assisted  in 
building  the  large  steamer  "Sarah  Sands,"  one  of 
the  first  propellers  tiiat  ever  crossed  the  ocean  to 
America.  Erom  there  he  went  to  Leith,  Scotland, 
and  was  in  the  employ  of  Hawthorne  it  Co.,  man- 
ufacturers of  locomotives. 

Returning  to  his  home,  he  was  tlien  put  in  charge 
of  the  erecting  shops  wliere  he  had  learned  his 
trade.  He  came  to  America  in  1849,  and  was  the 
first  of  his  family  to  touch  American  soil.  He  took 
passage  on  the  sailing-vessel  "Isaac  Wright"  in  May 
of  that  .year,  and  after  a  thirty-five  days'  voyage 
landed  in  New  York  City.  He  went  from  there 
to  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and  worked  for  the  Baldwin 
Locomotive  Works,  remained  there  for  a  time  and 
then  went  to  Richmond,  Va.,  and  worked  in  rail- 
road shops  there  for  some  time.  Erom  there  he 
came  to  Cincinnati  and  was  employed  by  the  Lit- 
tle Miami  Railroad  Company.  Subsequently,  he 
was  transferred  to  Columbus  and  took  charge  of 
the  machine  shops  there  until  1857,  when  he  came 
to  Viucenncs,  Ind.,  and  was  master  mechanic  on 
the  Ohio  (fe  Mississippi  Railroad  until  1863.  In 
1864,  he  was  in  the  Government  employ  as  master 
mechanic  with  headqnjirters  at  Nashville,  Tenn., 
and  he  had  charge  of  fourteen  hundred  men. 
He  remained  there  until  the  close  of  the  war 
and    disposed    of    tlie    machinery.     In    tlie    latter 


part  of  1865,  he  went  to  Leavenworth,  Kan.,  to 
put  up  some  machinery  for  the  Government,  but 
finally  concluded  not  to  do  so.  Returning  to  his 
home,  was  again  employed  by  the  Ohio  &  Miss- 
issippi Railroad  Company  as  master  mechanic  at 
East  St.  Louis,  and  continued  with  this  company 
until  1873.  when  he  went  into  business  at  this 
place  witli  his  brother  George. 

They  started  the  Erog  and  Switch  works  under 
the  firm  name  of  Elliot  &  Bro.,  on  a  small  scale, 
but  as  George  died  soon  after,  his  son  Hari\y  was 
taken  in  and  the  business  was  continued  as  H.  & 
H.  Elliot,  with  a  capital  of  $5,000;  They  leased 
the  ground  and  shops.  Their  business  gradually 
increased,  and  as  they  were  the  first  frog  and 
switch  manufacturers  in  the  United  States  out  of 
railroad  companies,  this  opened  up  a  new  era  of 
manufacture.  They  do  all  kinds  of  general  rail- 
road iron  work  and  tools  and  have  several  im- 
proved frogs  etc.  This  firm  became  incorporated 
as  the  Elliot  Frog  and  Switch  Companj-  with  a  cap- 
ital stock  of  *  100,000  in  1887,  with  our  subject  as 
President,  H.  Elliot  Jr.,  Vice-president  and  Secre- 
tary, and  W.  H.  Elliot  as  Treasurer.  This  is  one 
of  the  oldest  manufacturing  establishments  in  the 
city.  He  resided  in  East  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  until  1879, 
when,  on  account  of  his  health,  he  moved  to  St. 
Louis,  Mo.  He  owns  several  houses  in  the  former 
place  and  the  firm  own  much  valuable  real  estate 
in  the  city.  Mr.  Elliot  is  Director  in  the  Eirst 
National  Bank  and  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Ituild- 
ingand  Loan  Association. 

Mr.  Elliot  was  first  married  in  Cincinnati  to 
]\Iiss  Mary  A.  Bariy,  a  native  of  County  Armagh, 
Ireland.  She  died  in  Vincennes,  Ind.  Six  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them,  with  three  living  and 
married: .  Susan,  married  and  resides  in  East  St. 
Louis;  James  emploj'ed  in  a  shop;  May  is  married 
and  resides  in  Detroit,  Mich.  Mr.  Elliot's  second 
marriage  was  with  Miss  Hessie  Roach,  a  native  of 
Virginia,  and  they  have  three  children,  viz.:  Will- 
iam H.,  Treasurer  of  the  Company;  Attie  B.,  at 
home,  and  Vesta  E.  Mr.  Elliot  and  family  reside 
at  No.  3631  Washington  Avenue,  St.  Louis. 

Mr.  Elliot  assisted  in  drawing  uj)  the  charter 
for  East  St.  Louis,  and  while  in  Vincennes  was  a 
member  of  the  city   council.     He  is  a  Roval  Arch 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Mason,  and  in  politics  is  a  Republican.  In  1882, 
he  made  a  trip  to  Europe  and  has  visited  that 
country  twice  since,  the  last  time  in  1891.  He 
had  a  very  pleasant  visit  hack  to  his  old  iiome  and 
has  been  all  over  Scotland,  England,  Ireland,  (ier- 
many,  France  and  Switzerland.  The  second  time 
he  took  his  family  along.  Mr.  Elliot  is  a  member 
of  the  Xational  Master  Mechanics'  Association  and 
is  one  of  t4ie  oldest  members. 


'OHN  HENRY  FRIESS,  who  resides  on  sec- 
tion '2G,  Shiloh  Valley  Township,  is  one  of 
the  worthy  citizens  tliat  (iernian}-  has  fur- 
nished to  St.  Clair  Couut3'.  He  was  born 
in  Darmstadt  in  1825,  and  is  a  son  of  Peter  and 
Elizabeth  M.  (Ople)  Friess,  both  of  whom  were 
also  natives  of  Darmstadt.  The  father  was  reared 
in  the  village  and  in  his  youth  learned  the  shoe- 
maker's trade,  which  he  followed  until  his  mar- 
riage. In  accordance  with  the  laws  of  his  native 
land,  he  also  served  a  few  years  in  the  German 
army. 

After  liis  marriage.  Mr.  Friess  turned  iiis  atten- 
tion to  agricultural  pursuits, owning  a  farm  in  the 
Fatherland.  At  length,  he  determined  to  seek  a 
home  in  the  New-  World,  and  bidding  good-bye  to 
the  scenes  of  his  youth,  .accompanied  by  his  fam- 
ily, he  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  to  the  United 
States.  He  came  directly  to  the  West,  and,  locat- 
ing in  St.  Clair  County,  111.,  entered  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  from  the  (iovernnient. 
The  wild  and  unimproved  tr.act  he  transformed 
into  an  excellent  farm,  ujjon  which  he  made  his 
home  until  his  deatii.  He  w.as  reared  in  tlie  Luth- 
eran Church.  His  death  occurred  about  1877,  and 
his  wife  survived  him  four  years.  To  this  worthy 
couple  were  born  eight  children,  of  wliom  only 
four  are  now  living:  Cieorge.  .John  H.,  Frederick, 
and  Mary,  wife  of  Louis  Fisher.  Those  deceased 
are  Michael,  Peter,  Adam,  and  Marg.iret,  who  was 
the  wife  of  Stejjhen  Piecebanker. 

Mr.  Friess,  whose  name  heads  this  record,  spent 


the  first  eleven  years  of  his  life  in  his  native  land 
and  then  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  emi- 
gration to  America.  Tiie  days  of  his  boyhood 
were  spent  under  the  parent,al  roof  and  he  gave 
his  father  the  benefit  of  his  labors  upon  the  home 
farm  until  twenty-eight  years  of  age,  when  an 
important  event  occurred  in  his  life,  his  marriage 
with  Miss  Catherine  Funk.  The  lady  is  a  native 
of  this  county,  and  a  daugliter  of  George  and 
Catherine  (Froot)  Funk,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  Germany,  and  came  to  this  country  in  an 
early  day.  Six  children  have  been  born  of  the 
union  of  Jlr.  and  Mrs.  Friess,  three  sons  and  three 
daughters:  Philip.  Henry,  George;  Katie,  wife  of 
JIartin  Emerick;  Matilda,  wife  of  Gusta  ve  Schrader; 
and  Mary,  wife  of  Frank  Moser. 

Soon  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Friess  purchased 
the  laud  on  which  he  now  resides.  .B3"  his  indus- 
try and  perseverance,  he  has  become  the  owner  of 
a  highly  improved  farm,  comprising  one  hundred 
and  eighty  acres  of  rich  land,  which  yields  to 
him  a  golden  tribute.  He  is  an  enterprising 
and  successful  farmer,  and  his  well-directed  ef- 
forts have  brought  to  him  a  comfortable  compe- 
tence, which  places  him  among  the  substantial 
citizens  of  the  community.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  Church,  and  in  political  sentiment 
is  a  supporter  of  Democratic  principles.  The 
county  regards  him  as  among  its  valued  citizens, 
for  he  has  ever  borne  his  part  in  the  jiroinotion 
of  ail  public  enterprises  of  wortii. 


J'"?  OHN  EHIXGER.  This  gentleman  is  one  of 
the  oldest  German- Americans  at  Belleville, 
having  come  here  April  1,  18.50.  He  was 
_  born  in  Baden,  (Jermany,  April  ;?,  1823, 
and  was  the  son  of  Xavier  and  Maria  (Wengia) 
Ehinger,  who  spent  their  entire  lives  in  their  native 
land.  Our  subject  obtained  his  education  in  Ger- 
many, and  w.as  there  taught  the  carpenter's  trade. 
For  five  and  one  half  years  he  was  a  soldier.  After 
the  Revolution  of  1848,  he  resolved  to  go  to  Amci- 
ica.   ( In  reaching  tiiis  country,  he  followed  the  tiade 


286 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  cai-penter,  woikiiiu;  for  eleven  months  as  jour- 
neyman. He  then  engaged  in  business  for  himself, 
and  began  taking  contracts  and  building  from  that 
time  on.  He  has  put  up  a  large  number  of  build- 
ings, good  houses  and  stores,  in  this  town,  as  he  is 
the  oldest  contractor  here.  He  kept  on  improving, 
and  finally  began  to  contract  for  bridge  building, 
requiring  the  assistance  of  sixteen  men.  In  1886, 
the  weight  of  business  became  irksome  to  him,  and 
he  turned  it  over  to  his  sons,  they  having  been 
well  trained  under  him.  The  sons  now  have  a 
building  50x115  feet,  with  power  and  everything 
well  arranged  for  their  line  of  business,  and 
constantlj'  give  employment  to  tweiity-tive  men. 

Our  subject  married  Miss  Caroline  Suttler,  in 
1851,  the  marriage  taking  place  in  this  city.  She 
was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  in  the  year  1826. 
Their  children  were:  Charles,  deceased;  William 
and  Emil,  who  form  the  firm  of  Ehinger  Bros.; 
Anna;  and  Bertha,  who  is  the  widow  of  Conrad 
StoU. 

Mr.  Ehiugcr  built  a  flue  home  on  the  corner  of 
Clay  Avenue  and  Lebanon  Road,  where  he  has 
lived  for  over  forty  years.  He  has  had  an  active 
life,  and  takes  great  pleasure  in  seeing  the  busi- 
ness carried  on  so  successfully  in  the  family-. 


i.S|&^SA£2^ 


^^^m^^w^m 


^S^ETER  SCHWINN,    who    is  the  owner  of  a 
jj]  fine  farm  of  six  hundred  acres  on  section  2, 
f^   Stookey  Township,  was  born  in  Gerniau^-.,  in 
\        1822,  and  is  a  son  of  Leonard  and  Margaret 
Schwinn,  both  likewise  natives  of  the  Fatherland. 
The  father  was  born  in    1782,  and   the   mother's 
birth    occurred    the    following     year.      Leonard 
Schwinn  grew  to  manhood  on  a  farm,  receiving 
his  education  in  the  schools  of  a  neighboring   vil- 
lage.    He  followed  agricultural  pursuits  as  an  oc- 
cupation, and  in  addition  to  the  regular  duties  of 
the  farm  owned  a  large  vineyard,  from   which   he 
made  wine  quite  extensively. 

In  1833,  when  our  subject  was  a  lad  of  eleven 
years,  his  father  left  Germany  and  brought  his  fam- 
ily to  the  United  States,  coming  at  once  to  St.  Clair 


County,  111.  Here  he  purchased  eightj'-seven  acres 
of  the  farm  where  his  son  now  lives.  His  means  being 
limited,  he  bought  his  property  on  long  payments. 
After  this  he  entered  forty  .acres  of  Government 
land  and  again  added  to  his  possessions  seventy- 
three  acres,  making  in  all  a  farm  of  two  hundred 
acres.  His  whole  life  and  attention  were  strictl}' 
devoted  to  the  tilling  of  the  soil  and  kindred  pur- 
suits. 

On  the  Ttliuf  Se[)tcml)er,  1848,  Leonard  .Schwinn 
was  foully  murdered  by  a  farm  hand  who  had  pre- 
viously worked  for  him.  At  the  time,  witii  his 
son,  Mr.  Schwinn  was  living  alone  on  his  farm,  his 
wife  having  died  several  years  before.  Our  sub- 
ject was  at  a  neighbor's  when  the  dreadful  crime 
was  committed.  The  cowardly  assassin  followed 
Mr.  Schwinn  from  the  house,  and  shot  him  in  the 
back.  The  motive  of  the  deed  was  always  sup- 
posed to  be  robbery,  as  the  victim  had  a  large  sum 
of  money  in  his  possession  at  the  time.  The  mur- 
deier  was  soon  captured  and  received  his  just 
punishment  for  the  awful  crime. 

At  the  time  of  his  father's'death,  Peter  Schwinn 
was  twent3--eight  years  of  .age.  He  was  the  young- 
est of  a  family  of  four  children,  and,  like  his  father, 
his  attention  was  early  turned  to  farming.  He  has 
now  six  hundred  acres  of  the  best  farm  land,  which 
he  has  improved  and  brought  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation,  His  farm  is  considered  one  of  the 
best  in  the  neighborhood,  and  his  fine  residence, 
barns  and  other  outbuildings,  the  latest  improved 
machinery  and  well-tilled  fields,  all  indicate  the 
thrift  and  enterprise  of  the  owner,  who  ranks 
among  the  leading  agriculturists  of  the  county, 
where  he  has  lived  for  nearly  sixtj-  years.  He  is 
an  intelligent  and  successful  business  man,  iden- 
tified with  the  best  interests  of  the  community  and 
ever  ready  to  aid  in  the  promotion  of  such  enter- 
prises as  will  advance  the  general  welfare. 

The  marriiige  of  Mr.  Schwinn  was  celebrated 
April  23,  18-18,  when  Miss  Christina  Mosser  became 
his  wife.  To  them  were  born  seven  children:  Mary, 
the  wife  of  James  Jlitchell;  Peter,  Frederick;  Min- 
nie, the  wife  of  Charles  Hoff;  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
Louis  Rhine;  Leonard;  and  llosa,  who  is  now  de 
ceased.  Afterthedeath  of  his  first  wife,  Mr.  Schwinn 
was  married  to  Mrs.  .losephine  Droit,  the  ceremonv 


PORTRAIT  AND  r.I()(  inAPTHCAL  RECORD. 


289 


being  performed  in  1877.  Slio  is  tliu  (l;iu<;litor  uf 
I.oiiis  Miul  Mary  (Merselle)  Diipoiit.  By  iier  union 
Willi  Mr.  Droit  were  horn  s^ix  c-liildron:  Louisa, 
wife  of  Joseph  Kttienne;  C'aniit'1;i.  'I'olina.  C'nllu'rt 
(deceased),  Waller  and  Oliver. 

In  his  political  attiliations,  Mr.  Schwinu  is  allied 
with  the  Republican  party,  and  is  much  interested 
in  the  political  issues  of  the  day.  His  fellow-citi- 
zens, api)reciating  his  worth  and  aliility,  have  fre- 
(piently  called  upon  him  to  serve  in  local  positions, 
the  duties  of  which  he  has  ever  performed  with 
lidelit\ .  and  to  the  sati  faction  of  all. 


S-^*       / 


NTOX  J.  MUELLKR  is  one  of  the  sub- 
"  stantial  and  influential  farmers  of  St.  Clair 
Township,  living  on  a  line  farm  one  and 
a-lialf  miles  from  Belleville.  His  parents 
were  .Joseph  D.  and  Annie  Mary  (P'isher)  Mueller, 
natives  of  ( Jermany.  These  estimable  people  made 
the  long  and  dangerous  voyage  across  the  seas  in 
1848,  landing  in  New  York  in  the  same  year. 
From  that  city,  they  went  to  Ohio  and  Indiana, 
where  the  father  engaged  in  sawmilling,  but,  not 
feeling  satisfied  with  the  country,  they  in  1852 
came  to  Illinois  and  settled  on  a  farm  about  eight 
miles  from  the  present  home  of  our  subject,  re- 
moving in  1 8.^)3  to  his  present  home.  The  grand- 
parents of  our  subject  lived  and  died  in  their  na- 
tive land — Germany.  Anton  was  one  of  six  chil- 
dren, who  were  as  follows:  .lolin  F.,  a  farmer  of 
Franklin  Township;  Stephen,  a  single  man,  who  is 
making  his  home  with  his  brother  ,lohn ;  Helena,  now 
the  wife  of  .1.  II.  Germain,  a  resident  of  George- 
town Road,  where  he  has  a  fine  farm;  May,  single, 
who  is  residing  with  her  brother  Anton:  and  .Joseph, 
who  is  also  single  and  resides  with  Anton.  Mr. 
Mueller,  Sr..  died  in  188.3,  .and  his  faithful  wife 
only  survived  him  six  years,  when  she,  too,  passed 
unto  the  better  life,  in  1889.  They  had  been  good, 
worthy  people  and  their  loss  was  felt  throughout 
the  township. 

Mr.  Mueller  was  reared  on  the  tine  farm  he  now 


o(•(■u|>ic:^  and  attended  the  common  schools  of  the 
neighborhood,  but  in  addition  to  the  education 
received  there  he  learned  to  speak  fluently  the  lan- 
guage of  his  father's  native  land.  He  is  yet  a  young 
man.  only  twenty-eight  years  of  age,  having  been 
born  April  28,  18(!4,  but  is  one  of  the  best  farmers 
in  his  section  and  promises  to  lie  one  of  the 
weighty  men  of  the  county.  His  farm  is  a  fine 
one  of  eighty-five  .acres,  which  he  has  well  im- 
proved and  furnished  with  all  the  necessary  farm 
buildings.  He  was  united  in  marriage  January  21, 
1892,  to  Miss  Agnes  Krans,  a  native  of  Mis.souri, 
the  accomplished  and  charming  daughter  of  Philip 
Krans. 

Our  subject  is  one  of  the  leading  Democrats  of 
the  township  and  is  an  ardent  supporter  of  the 
principles  of  Democracy.  In  his  religious  views, 
he  is  a  Catholic,  and  lives  according  to  the  pre- 
coiits  taught  by  his  church.  With  such  young 
blood  .as  this  in  Illinois'  veins,  is  it  any  wonder 
that  she  bids  fair  to  outstrip  her  sister  States  in 
influence  and  wealtlir 


='*++*'^S 


JOHN  FHEY  is  the  owner  and  occupant  of  a 
pleasant  farm  located  on  section  26,  Stookey 
Tovvnshi]!.  It  comprises  many  acres  of 
well-improved  and  cultivated  land,  a  suli- 
stantial  and  commodious  residence  and  good  barns 
being  included  in  the  buildings  which  adorn  it.  It 
is  devoted  to  the  pur))Ose  of  general  farming,  and 
has  been  for  years  the  scene  of  the  successful 
labors  of  its  owner. 

Jolni  and  Mary  (Mas)  Fiey,  the  parents  of  our 
subject,  were  born  in  Prussia,  and  were  natives  of 
the  same  town.  .John  Frey,  Sr.,  was  a  weaver  by 
occupation,  but  owned  a  small  farm  which  he  man- 
aged successfully  in  connection  with  his  trade.  The 
subject  of  our  sketch  w.as  the  third  of  five  chil- 
dren, his  brothers  and  sisters  being  Adam;  Frank, 
deceased;  Catherine,  wife  of  Peter  Rock;  and 
Marv,  deceased.  The  members  of  the  family  who 
sought  their  fortune  in  close  proximity  to  the  pres- 
ent home  of  our  subject  were  Adam,  who  is  a  resi- 


290 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


dent  of  Missouri;  and  Catherine,  Mis.  Rock,  who 
lives  in  Marion  County,  III. 

John  Fre_y,  Jr.,  received  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  land,  and  after  finishing 
the  school  course  compulsory  under  the  laws  of 
Prussia,  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  shoemaker,  which 
he  followed  as  a  means  of  livelihood  until  he  left 
his  native  land  to  seek  a  lietter  fortune  in  the  New 
World. 

On  reaching  his  seventeenth  year,  the  subject  of 
our  sketch  became  imbued  with  a  desire  to  investi- 
gate the  possibilities  and  discover  the  rich  re- 
sources of  America,  so,  leaving  his  parents  and  na- 
tive land,  be  started  on  his  journey  to  the  United 
States,  the  Mecca  of  his  hopes  of  future  prosper- 
ity. In  the  year  1853,  he  located  at  Belleville, 
111.,  at  which  place  he  found  the  den: and  for  men 
of  his  craft  rather  limited;  so  he  obtained  employ- 
ment in  a  soda-water  factory.  Naturally  thrifty 
and  diligent,  our  subject  was  enabled  to  accumu- 
late some  of  his  earnings,  and  after  working  at  the 
soda-water  business  for  a  short  time,  lie,  as  the  son 
of  a  farmer,  became  impressed  with  the  fertility  of 
the  district  in  which  he  bad  located,  and  therefore 
left  his  position  in  the  factory  and  took  a  position 
on  a  farm,  in  order  to  become  thorouglily  conver- 
sant with  the  life  he  meant  to  pursue. 

The  year  1872  marks  an  era  in  the  life  of  our 
sul)ject,  he  at  that  period  assuming  the  responsi- 
bility of  being  head  of  a  family.  The  lady  he  mar- 
ried was  Mrs.  Barbara  Wagner,  daughter  of  Adam 
A'  Barbara  (Stein)  Haas,  and  who  at  the  time  of 
her  marriage  was  the  owner  of  the  farm  on  which 
they  now  reside.  Mrs.  Barbara  Fre3'  was  born  near 
New  Orleans,  her  birth  occurring  on  board  the 
vessel  that  brought  her  parents  to  the  United 
States  in  tlie  year  1833.  She  had  the  advantage 
of  a  common-school  education,  and  in  the  home  of 
her  parents,  under  her  mother's  supervision,  she 
was  trained  in  all  that  goes  to  make  a  good  house- 
wife. She  is  a  lady  of  most  estimable  character 
and  fine  principles,  one  who  embodies  true  woman- 
liness and  kindness  of  heart  in  the  spirit  with  which 
she  treats  her  friends  and  neighbors.  She  was 
brought  up  in  the  Lutheran  faith,  and  is  a  woman 
of  broad  and  progressive  ideas. 

John  Frcv  is  a  man  of  excellent  habits  and    flue 


principles,  possessing  in  a  great  degree  those  traits 
of  character  that  commend  him  to  the  confidence 
of  all  about  him.  Although  not  a  native  Ameri- 
can, he  was  ready  to  espouse  the  cause  of  this  nation 
as  far  back  as  1865,  when  he  enlisted  in  Company 
B,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-ninth  Illinois  Regiment; 
after  serving  in  the  army  for  one  year,  he  re- 
ceived his  discharge.  His  political  sympathies  are 
with  the  Republican  party,  and  he  is  a  stanch  ad- 
herent of  the  principles  and  theories  of  the  leader 
he  helps  to  elect. 


i>-^<^=^- 


OUIS  FORCADE.  The  Forcade  family  has 
many  representatives  in  Prairie  du  Long 
Township,  and  we  are  pleased  to  add  the 
name  of  Louis  Forcade  to  the  long  list  of  honor- 
able citizens  whose  biographies  we  are  publishing. 
The  Forcade  homestead  is  one  of  the  pleasantest 
in  this  county  and  shows  many  improvements  of  a 
high  order,  which  are  the  work  both  of  the  senior 
and  junior  members  of  this  family. 

Louis  Forcade,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Germany,  and  came  to  this  country  with 
his  parents  when  a  boy  of  twelve  years.  His 
fatiier  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  from  which  State 
he  moved  to  (reorgetown.  111.,  where  he  spent  the 
rest  of  his  life.  His  family  consisted  of  nine  chil- 
dren, six  of  whom  are  living. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  on  the  place 
■where  he  now  lives.  May  26,  1848.  He  received 
his  early  education  at  the  public  schools,  and 
afterward  attended  Rohrer's  Commercial  College. 
After  leaving  college,  he  at  once  commenced  to 
earn  his  livelihood  as  an  agriculturist.  The  year 
1869  marked  an  eventful  era  in  his  career,  as  it  was 
the  year  in  which  he  married  Eva  Elizabeth  Press, 
a  daughter  of  Michael  Press,  who  lived  in  Monroe 
County,  III.,  and  moved  thence  to  Belleville,  III. 
Eleven  children  were  born  to  our  subject  and  his 
wife,  seven  of  whom  are  still  living.  They  are 
Katie,  George,  Louis,  Henry,  Eda,  Hilda  and  Lulu, 
who  are  all  at  home. 

Mr.  Forcade  is  the  possessor  of  a  very  tine  farm 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


201 


comprisiug  some  two  hundred  acres,  all  of  which 
is  well  improved  and  in  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. He  is  noted  as  one  of  the  most  skillful  and 
thrifty  farmers  in  this  section  of  the  country,  and 
is  at  the  same  time  one  of  the  most  liberal-minded 
and  progressive  men  in  the  community.  He  raises 
some  of  the  best  crops  of  wheat  to  be  found  any- 
where in  this  township,  and  is  i)roud  of  the  record 
lie  has  made  as  a  successful  cultivator  of  this 
cereal.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church, 
to  which  body  both  he  and  his  wife  belong.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Farmei-s'  J[utiial  Benefit 
Association,  of  wliich  he  is  Secretary;  and  also  of 
the  Trebund  order,  of  which  he  is  Financial  Secre- 
tary. 

Politically,  -Mr.  Forcade  is  a  strong  Democrat, 
and  has  always  voted  that  ticket.  He  has  been 
elected  to  the  oHice  of  Assessor  of  this  township, 
and  for  three  successive  years  has  held  the  ottice 
of  Collector.  He  is  a  strong  advocate  of  educa- 
tion and  served  the  community  for  eighteen  years 
in  the  office  of  School  Director. 

Mr.  Forcade  takes  an  intelligent  interest  in  all 
that  pertains  to  the  good  of  the  community  in 
which  he  dwells.  He  manifests  the  same  energy 
in  local  affairs  which  has  made  liim  successful  in 
his  individual  efforU,  and  all  duties  of  ottice  have 
been  filled  by  him  in  a  manner  creditable  to  him- 
self and  those  who  made  such  a  worthy  appoint- 
ment. His  qualities  of  mind  and  heart  are  duly 
appreciated  by  his  fellow-citizens,  who  accord  him 
his  just  measure  of  respect.  He  is  numbered 
among  the  substantial  men  of  the  community,  and 
his  example  as  a  man  of  energy,  industry  and 
business  ability  iiiav  lie  emulated  to  advantage. 


^^EOKGE  DRASF:R.  One  of  the  most  enter- 
'|j  g--  prising  and  successful  business  firms  in  the 
^^3i'  city  of  jSIascoutali  is  the  lumber  firm  of 
Diuser  it  I'faflf,  in  which  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
occupies  the  position  of  junior  partner. 

George  Draser,  Sr.,  was  born  in  the  province  of 
Hesse-Darmstadt,  that  section  of  Germany  that  has 


contributed  so  much  to  the  settlement  and  culti- 
vation of  the  State  of  Illinois.  He  reached  here 
in  1826,  and  when  the  first  excitement  grew  over 
the  fertile  lands  to  be  had  in  this  part  of  the 
West  he  made  his  wa3'  hither.  His  first  location 
was  in  Georgetown,  in  St.  Clair  Countj-,  and  there 
he  soon  found  plenty  of  employment  in  his  tr&de 
of  carpenter.  He  followed  his  occupation  steadily 
for  three  years,  but  after  that  moved  to  a  farm  east 
of  ^lascoutah,  and  here  remained  for  six  years, 
when  the  growing  village  of  JLascoutah  proving 
attractive  on  account  of  the  amount  of  building 
going  on  there,  he  removed  to  that  place  and 
followed  his  trade  there  until  1870,  when  he  saw 
a  line  opening  in  the  lumber  business,  and  started 
a  yard  in  Mascoutah.  Previous  to  this  time,  he 
bought  a  farm  in  Clinton  County,  and  lived  upon 
that  for  several  years,  but  in  1881  he  formed  a 
partnership  w-itli  Mr.  Pfaff  in  the  lumber  business, 
which  was  carried  on  successfuil3- until  1890.  Then 
Mr.  Draser  retired  from  the  firm,  and  his  son 
George  went  into  it  in  his  place,  and  became  the 
junior  member. 

(ieoi'ge  Draser,  Sr.,  was  married  about  IS,')!  or 
18.5.5,  in  Georgetown,  to  Miss  Dora  Slromberger, 
whose  father  came  to  America  when  advanced  in 
years.  He  had  followed  the  occupation  of  fanning 
in  the  Old  Country,  and  continued  it  in  this.  Three 
children  were  born  of  this  marri.age,  who  are 
Henrietta,  who  now  is  the  widow  of  George  Schus- 
ter; Jlena,  who  is  the  wife  of  John  Kolp,  who 
conducts  a  successful  business  in  a  general  store  in 
Lebanon,  in  this  county;  and  the  third  is  the  sub- 
ject of  this  notice.  Mr.  Draser,  Sr.,  has  held  the 
office  of  Treasurer  of  the  town  of  Mascoutah, 
where  he  now  lives  retired. 

The  suljject  of  this  sketch  was  born  March  2. 
1865.  He  grew  up  bright  and  active,  and  attended 
the  public  schools  and  continued  the  course  un- 
til he  graduated  from  the  High  School  of  Mas- 
coutah in  the  year  1878.  After  he  left  school 
he  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter,  and  this 
proved  so  profitable  that  he  followed  it  for  six 
years,  and  then  went  into  the  lumber  business. 
His  previous  trade  had  given  him  a  good  know- 
lege  of  different  kinds  of  lumber,  and  when  he 
went    into    the   business    with   his    father    he    had 


292 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


little  more  than  the  details  to  learn.  When  his 
parents    decided  to    retire  from    active    life,   in 

1890,  he  took  his  place  with  Mr.  Pfaff,  and  the 
firm  lias  made  trade  very  lively'  in  this  section  for 
the  past  three  j'ears. 

The    lady  who    became   Mrs.  Draser  on    June  4, 

1891,  was  Miss  Matilda  Grossman,  who  was  the 
daughter  of  Louis  Grossman,  of  Fayetteville.  The 
father  was  an  old  settler  in  this  county',  and  he 
died  in  Fayetteville  about  twenty-three  years  ago. 

The  political  convictions  of  our  subject  are  tliose 
of  the  Republican  party,  and  he  works  for  its  ad- 
vancement. He  is  one  of  those  solid  young  men 
who  become  the  founders  of  great  enterprises,  and 
tlie  future  ma}'  hold  an  important  place  for  Mr. 
Draser.  He  is  the  only  son  of  his  father,  and  to 
this  parent  he  is  a  comfort  in  his  declining  years, 
lie  and  his  young  wife  are  prominent  socially  in 
Mascoutah. 


OUIS  G.  MILLER.  No  member  of  any  com- 
munity in  St.  Glair  County  is  held  in  greater 
honor  and  esteem  than  this  gentleman, and 
no  one  is  more  worthy  of  the  success  that  results 
from  diligence,  ability  and  enterprise,  than  he. 
His  residence  on  section  20  has  long  been  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  choice  local  features  of  this 
communit}',  its  well-kept  surroundings  and  hand- 
some buildings  giving  evidence  of  care  and  excel- 
lent management  on  the  part  of  the  owner. 

Michael  Miller,  the  father  of  him  whose  biog- 
raphy we  arc  writing,  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Ger- 
many, on  the  23d  of  June,  1823,  and  after  attain- 
ing Ills  fourteenth  year,  he,  with  his  mother,  emi- 
grated to  this  country.  His  first  home  on  this  side 
the  Atlantic  was  in  New  York  State,  where  he 
lived  for  one  year.  The  spirit  of  enterprise,  and  a 
desire  to  seek  fortune  in  other  fields,  induced  him 
to  leave  New  York  State  in  1839  and  take  up  his 
residence  in  the  city  of  Chicago,  where  he  learned 
the  trade  of  a  siioemaker  and  worked  at  the  bench 
until   1844.     Business  prospects  seemed  to  him  to 


be  better  at  St.  Louis,  and  he  accordiiiglj'  started  for 
that  point,  where,  after  being  employed  at  iiis  trade 
but  a  sliort  time,  he  started  in  business  and  estab- 
lished himself  as  a  dealer  and  manufacturer  of  boots 
and  shoes.  It  was  about  the  year  1850,  tliat  the  pos- 
sibilities of  St.  Clair  County  as  a  farming  county 
attracted  Mr.  IMiller's  attention;  and,  following  his 
naturall}'  shrewd  business  instincts,  he  closed  out 
his  affairs  in  St.  Louis,  moved  to  Prairie  du  Long- 
Township,  St.  Clair  County,  and  purchased  forty 
acres  of  land  on  section  30.  Here  he  built  his 
home  and  remained,  and  here  he  still  resides  at 
the  time  of  this  writing. 

In  the  year  1854,  Mr.  Miller  married  Miss  Cath- 
erine Schwarz,  who  was  the  daughter  of  Jacob 
Hammel,  a  prominent  farmer  of  St.  Clair  County. 
Eight  children  were  born  to  this  couple,  seven  of 
whom  are  still  living.  They  are  as  follows:  Cath- 
erine, the  wife  of  Peter  Muskopf ;  Mary,  the  wife 
of  Philip  Peffer,  who  lives  in  this  township;  Louis, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Charles  M.,  who  also 
lives  in  this  township;  Adeline,  who  is  the  wife  of 
James  Thompson  and  resides  in  Prairie  du  Long; 
Caroline,  the  wife  of  .John  Rittinghouse;and  Henry 
■\V.,  who  lives  at  home.  The  family  circle  was 
broken  by  the  death  of  Adolph  F.,  which  occurred 
when  he  was  two  years  and  five  months  old.  Pros- 
perity was  the  reward  that  crowned  Mr.  Miller's 
etforts,  and  but  a  short  time  after  settling  in  this 
county,  we  find  his  original  purchase  of  forty  acres 
largely  increased.  He  became  an  American  citizen 
in  the  strictest  sense  of  the  term  and  is  a  fine  ex- 
ample of  all  that  the  words  imply. 

Politically,  Mr.  Jliller  is  a  stanch  adherent  of 
the  Republican  part}-  and  h.as  held  the  offices  of 
Road  Commissioner,  School  Trustee  and  School 
Director.  His  career  is  well  worthy  of  emulation. 
He  started  in  life  poor,  but  by  hard  work  and 
skillful  management  is  now  one  of  tiie  most  suc- 
cessful farmers  in  this  vicinity.  His  reputation  is 
that  of  a  man  whose  motives  are  actuated  by  the 
highest  principles.  He  added  to  his  farm  until  it 
now  comprises  three  hundred  and  seventy-seven 
acres,  most  of  which  are  well  improved. 

Louis  G.  Miller,  the  subject  proper  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  in  Prairie  du  Long  Township,  on  the  old 
homestead,  where  he  grew  up  to  manhood's  estate. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


293 


lie  received  his  education  in  the  district  school, 
which  at  that  lime  was  located  on  section  21.  When 
fifteen  years  of  age,  he  concluded  to  end  iiis  school 
life,  and  became  interested  in  |)ursuits  of  labor 
more  fitted  to  his  taste.  A  natural  and  careful 
student,  he  acquired  by  reading  and  close  study  of 
books  and  of  all  witii  whom  he  came  in  contact,  an 
education  that  is,  so  far  as  the  actual  and  practical 
experiences  of  life  are  concerned,  (jnite  equal 
to  tliat  gained  in  our  large  colleges;  and  has  not 
only  developed  his  inherent  faculty  of  accpiiring. 
but  is  also  endowed  with  the  ability  to  make  use  of 
his  knowledge  and  self-training. 

In  the  year  187St,  L.  G.  Miller  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  Skaer,  daughter  of  Philip  Skaer,  one  of 
the  wealthiest  farmers  in  Prairie  du  Long  Town- 
ship, who  still  lives  and  enjoys  his  large  possessions 
on  survey  (JOT.  After  his  marriage,  our  subject 
assumed  the  responsibilities  of  his  own  home  and 
located  on  the  farm  which  he  now  occupies.  Six 
children  have  been  born  to  him  in  tlie  years  that 
have  intervened  since  his  marriage:  Anielia,  Laura. 
Clara,  Percy  J.,  ^Malbern  P.,  and  Albert  .1. 

Our  subject  li.as  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundied  and 
six  acres,  all  of  which  is  well  improved  and  in  a 
high  slate  of  cultivation.  He  devotes  his  farm 
to  growing  cereals  mostl}',  wiieal  being  his  princi- 
pal crop.  He  is  a  stanch  Republican  and  the  leader 
of  his  party  in  Praiiie  du  Long.  His  first  vote 
was  cast  for  (ien.  Garfield  and  he  has  voted  the 
straight  ticket  ever  since  and  never  missed  an 
election.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  County 
Central  Committee  for  the  last  twelve  years,  held 
the  oflice  of  School  Treasurer  from  1880  to  1884, 
and  was  Collector  for  his  township  during  thesamc 
period.  He  held  the  otiice  of  Assessor  from  1886 
to  1881),  and  h.ns  been  School  Director  for  the  past 
five  years.  Fie  w.as  re-elected  to  the  oflice  of  Col- 
lector in  IM'.to.  and  in  1891  was  elected  Supervisor, 
the  most  important  office  in  the  townsiiip,  whicii 
position  he  now  holds.  As  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  References,  he  is  Ciiairman  of  the  Committee 
on  Elections  and  Townships,  and  a  member  of  the 
Committee  on  Paupers,  and  hasalso  been  appointed 
Census  Enumerator  ff)r  his  township.  All  these 
positions  he  lias  filled  with  honor  to  himself  and 
with  credit  to  his  constituents.     In   the    ranks  of 


the  Republican  party,  he  has  always  been  one  of 
the  foremost  and  active  workers,  and  is  popular  as 
a  politician  and  citizen.  He  is  a  young  man  of 
broad  and  liberal  views,  is  progressive  and  benev- 
olent and  a  generous  supporter  of  all  worthy  enter- 
prises. 


y;ILLIAM  LOTZ  was  horn  and  reared  on 
the  farm  whicli  he  now  operates,  on  sec- 
,,  ,,  tion  27,  Shiloh  Valley  Township,  1855 
being  the  year  of  his  birth.  He  is  a  son  of  John 
and  ISIargaret  (Sensel)  Lotz.  The  father  was  born 
in  1820,  and  his  mother's  birth  occurred  on  the 
27tli  of  June,  1824,  both  being  natives  of  (Ger- 
man}'. The  |)atcrnal  grandparents  of  our  subject 
were  Charles  O.  .and  Elizabeth  Lotz,  who  lived  in 
Germany,  where  the  former  carried  on  a  farm. 
They  both  came  to  the  Ignited  States  and  died  in 
St.  Clair  County.  Our  subject's  father  came  with 
his  parents  to  this  country,  being  then  a  .young 
man.  Locating  in  this  township,  he  afterward 
married  the  daughter  of  Peter  and  Margaret  Scn- 
.sel.  He  started  to  earn  his  own  livelihood  by 
working  for  the  neighboring  farmers,  and  later 
rented  a  farm,  which  he  cultivated.  He  accumu- 
lated a  tract  of  two  hundred  and  eighty-eight 
acres,  all  of  whicli  was  a  most  desirable  proiiorty. 
His  first  purchase  was  a  tract  of  fifty  aiTcs,  for 
which  he  paid  %5  per  acre. 

Our  subject  was  one  of  four  children,  but  the 
others  died  when  quite  young.  His  education 
was  received  in  the  district  schools,  supplemented 
by  a  course  of  study  in  Belleville.  After  the 
death  of  his  father,  he  remained  on  the  farm, 
which  he  took  charge  of  as  soon  as  he  had  reached 
a  sudicient  age.  His  mother  found  in  him  an  able 
and  trustworthy  helper,  who  relieved  her  of  most 
of  the  cares  and  anxieties  pertaining  to  llic  proper 
management  of  a  large  farm. 

When  he  had  reached  the  age  of  Iweiity-tluee, 
Mr.  Lotz  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  Scliiicder,  a 
daughter  of  Adam  .and  Elizabeth  (Hamen)  .Schne- 
der.  Into  them  two  cinldrcn  li.ave  been  born, 
Tillie  anil   Charles    W.      They   have   also   opened 


294 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIUCAL   RECORD. 


their  hearts  and  home  to  an  orphan  child,  John 
Fisher,  to  whom  they  have  shown  every  kindness. 
Mf.  Lotz  uses  his  right  of  franchise  in  support 
(if  the  Kepuhlican  party,  as  did  liis  fatiier  before 
him.  He  was  chosen  Collector  of  the  township  in 
18!I2,  as  the  successor  of  John  Pierce.  He  takes 
an  active  part  in  the  affairs  of  education,  and  has 
l)een  School  Director  for  three  3ears.  His  voice 
and  influence  are  ever  devoted  to  the  cause  of 
truth,  right  and  order,  and  he  is  highly  esteemed 
through  this  section  for  his  independence  of  char- 
acter and  loyalty  to  the  public  good.  He  has 
lived  here  during  his  whole  life,  and  has  made 
many  friends  throughout  this  section.  As  a  farmer, 
his  efforts  have  been  blessed  with  success,  and  he 
has  attained  a  fair  competence.  We  are  pleased 
to  add  this  brief  sketch  of  one  of  the  lionored 
citizens  of  St.  Clair  County  to  this  volume.  As 
one  of  our  representative  men  of  sterling  worth, 
lie  ranks  high  in  this  commuiiit)'  where  he  has  so 
long  made  his  home. 


W  OHN  CEORGE  DEHN.  The  subject  of  the 
present  sketch  is  a  prosperous  farmer  who 
resides  on  section  24  in  Millstadt  Township, 
((^/  St.  Clair  County.  The  father  of  the  gentle- 
man of  whom  we  write  was  Henry  Dehn,who  was 
an  agriculturist  of  Germany,  where  he  was  born 
and  reared  and  s[)ent  the  whole  of  liis  life. 

Our  subject  was  one  of  three  children,  of  whom 
Katherine  and  Mathias  died  in  their  old  home  in 
Germany.  He  first  saw  the  light  on  the  22d  of  Oc- 
tober, 1817,  at  Reinheim,  Germany,  where  he  was 
reared  and  educated.  When  twenty  years  old,  he 
decided  to  leave  the  old  surroundings  and  find  a 
new  home  and  a  wider  field  in  America.  He  made 
his  way  to  the  seashore,  engaged  passage,  and  soon 
was  on  his  w.ay  to  New  York,  where  he  landed  in 
1838.  His  destination  was  the  fertile  Lands  of  the 
Prairie  State.  He  went  first  to  Philadelphia  and 
tiience  to  Pittsburgh  by  rail,  and  then  sailed  down 
the  Ohio  River  ou  a  Hat-boat  to  Cincinnati,  and, 


as  the  river,  was  very  low  at  that  time,  it  took  a 
long  time  to  make  the  trip.  What  a  new  world 
this  must  have  opened  up  to  the  lad  from  across 
the  sea!  It  required  a  great  deal  of  decision  of 
character  to  go  among  strangers  in  a  far-off  land 
and  make  a  new  home,  but  it  was  just  that  very 
possession  that  has  caused'Mr.  Dehn  to  grow  into 
the  successful  man  that  he  is  at  this  present  time. 

On  reaching  St.  Clair  County  in  the  roundabout 
way  that  poor  facilities  of  transportation  then 
made  necessary,  our  subject  engaged  to  work  for 
$10  a  month.  After  working  for  fourteen  months, 
he  had  saved  a  good  part  of  his  inone.y  and,  de- 
ciding to  purchase  a  farm  for  himself,  bought 
eighty  acres  of  land  where  he  now  lives  from  Louis 
Grostniann. 

In  1841,  our  subject  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Anna  Borbra  (irosmann,  who  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  Charles  C.  Grosmann,  an  early  settler  of 
this  county.  From  this  marriage  resulted  ten  chil- 
dren, of  whom  five  grew  to  maturitj-,  and  four  are 
still  living.  They  are:  Marie  Marthareta,  who  is 
the  wife  of  Valentine  Schwab  and  lives  in  this 
township;  Charles  lives  in  Millstadt  and  is  in  the 
machine  business;  Anna  Katarina  resides  at  home, 
and  George  died  when  he  was  thirty  years  old. 
The  names  of  the  children  that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dehn 
had  to  part  with  were  Johann  Philip,  Anna 
Katarina  (two children  were  named  b}' this  beauti- 
ful German  name),  Johann  Carl,  Marie  Katarina 
and  Fritz. 

The  subject  of  this  sketcli  is  now  the  owner  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  fine  farming  lancf. 
all  of  it  under  improvement  except  forty  acres  of 
valuable  timber.  He  cultivates  all  of  the  cereals, 
but  gives  most  of  his  attention  to  wheat.  He 
built  his  present  comfortable  house  and  commodi- 
ous barns  in  1841),  .and  his  land  shows  what  farm- 
ing carried  on  with  good  man.agement  in  all  mat- 
ters can  make  of  a  jilace. 

When  a  draft  was  made  for  iiuire  men  to  lill  ii|i 
the  ranks  during  the  latter  part  of  the  Civil"  War. 
the  name  of  our  subject  was  one  in  the  list.  He 
filled  the  gap  by  the  purchase  of  a  substitute.  In 
his  political  preference,  Mr.  Dehn  is  a  stanch  He- 
publican  and  will  always  give  his  influcni-e  for 
that    iKiily.     lie  lias   been  a  member  of  the  Board 


PORTRAIT  AND  BlDGRAl'HICAL   RECORD. 


295 


of  Township  Supervisors  and    has  also  filled  the 
office  of  School  Director  for  many  years. 

recuniarily,  Mr.  Delin  i^  well  situated  and  bis 
son  Henry  lias  taken  the  management  of  tlic  farm 
off  of  his  hands.  He  stands  higli  in  the  esteem  of 
his  fellow-townsmen,  because  of  his  i)ractical  busi- 
ness views  and  upright  dealings  with  all. 


"I^  DWARD  J.  Mc  QIILLAN,  one  of  the  pros- 
i|^  perous  farmei?  of  this  county,  resides  on 
J^^  section  31,  Prairie  du  Long  Township.  He 
is  the  son  of  John  Mct^uillan.  who  was  born  in 
Dayton,  Ohio,  April  2.  1820.  and  who  lived  in 
Brown  County,  Ohio,  until  about  ten  years  of  age. 
when  he  was  bound  out  as  an  apprentice  to  a 
butcher  in  Cincinnati.  When  he  was  eighteen 
years  old,  he  came  to  !Monroe  County,  111.,  and 
there  followed  his  trade  for  a  short  time,  after 
which  he  worked  on  a  farm.  He  then  took  eighty 
.leres  of  (iovernment  land,  and  from  that  small 
start  as  a  foundation  he  built  tlie  magnificent  for- 
tune with  which  he  w.is  afterward  blessed. 

When  .lohu  Mct^uilian  was  born  in  Dayton, 
there  were  but  three  houses  in  the  town,  and  his 
remembrance  of  that  place  was  not  such  as  to  in- 
duce him  to  remain  in  the  locality.  His  choice  of 
location  has  shown  how  much  he  gained  by  re- 
moving to  this  county,  as  lo  his  start  of  eighty 
acres  he  kept  on  adding  property  until  at  one 
time  he  owned  as  many  as  three  tliousand  .acres  of 
land.  !Much  of  this  property  he  has  divided 
among  his  children,  until  now  he  owns  but  twelve 
hundred  acres.  Most  of  his  wealth  was  made  in 
farming  and  stock-raising,  although  he  ha-s  also 
invested  some  in  patents.  He  has  one  patent  on 
which  lie  now  makes  coiisidei-al)le  simply  from  tiie 
royalty  he  receives  therefrom. 

The  lady  who  became  the  wife  of  .John  Mcl^uil- 
lan  was  Miss  Mary  Ann  Thorajjson,  daughter 
of  Robert  and  Ann  Thompson,  natives  of  Lan- 
caster, England.  Of  their  seven  children,  five 
are   slili    liviut;    and    tliev    are   as    follows:    our 


subject;  Elizabeth,  who  is  the  wife  of  Louis 
Gregson:  Mary,  the  wife  of  Theodore  Klinkhardt: 
.lohn  B.;  aud  .Martha  M.,  wife  of  Joseph  Roscoe.  of 
Monroe  County.  Sarah  Ann  aud  Edward  are  de- 
ceased. 

Edward  J.  McQuillan  w.as  bom  in  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
March  8.  184.5.  When  he  was  four  years  old,  his 
parents  moved  to  Monroe  County,  111.,  and  he  re- 
sided there  until  his  niarri.age,  which  occurred 
April  2.  1866,  when  he  took  in  marriage  Jane, 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary  Thompson,  natives 
of  Yorkshire,  England.  Of  their  two  children. 
Minnie,  the  only  one  living,  is  the  wife  of  Fred 
Staufenbeil.  who  now  operates  the  two  liumlred 
.icres  which  comprise  our  subject's  farm,  on  which 
are  produced  fine  crops,  principally  of  wheat, 
though  part  of  the  farm  is  given  up  to  stock- 
raising. 

During  the  war.  our  subject  served  as  a  scout 
under  Gen.  Fremont,  but  with  the  exception  of 
the  time  thus  spent  and  about  six  or  seven  years 
that  he  was  engaged  in  farming  near  Decatur,  III., 
he  has  remained  on  the  home  farm.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  and  belongs  to 
the  Farmers'  Mutual  Benefit  Association.  Politi- 
cally, he  upholds  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  h.as  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace 
for  three  terms,  and  is  still  serving  in  that  capac- 
ity, besides  that  of  a  Notary  Public.  He  has  also 
served  as  School  Director  in  his  district  for  nine 
}-ears,  and  is  a  man  whose  advice  and  counsel  are 
much  souelit  after  bv  all. 


-^^ 


-^^ 


fip^REDERICK  AHRENS.  One  of  the  men  of 
ll^^  this  ])art  of  the  county  who  can  look  with 
1  pride  on  an  honest   and    industrious  p.ast, 

which  has  been  crowned  with  success,  is  the 
owner  of  the  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  acres  of  beautiful  land  situated  on  section  25. 
-Millstadt  Townsiiip.  The  father  of  our  subject 
was  one  of  the  honest  German  farmei's  who  lived 
and  died  in  the  old  home,  but  who  encour.aged 
the  voung  life  lo  find  a  career  in  the  New  Country, 


296 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


where  thfere  was  more  room  and  chance  for  ad- 
vancement. 

Frederick  Ahrens,  our  subject,  was  born  in  (Ter- 
many,  October  7,  1832,  and  was  reared  on  the  old 
home  there,  and  sent  to  the  public  schools  in 
his  native  place.  He  remained  there  until  he  was 
eighteen  years  of  age,  and  then  settled  his  whole 
future  life  by  making  his  way  to  a  seaport  and 
shipping  for  America.  He  reached  these  shores 
and  soon  found  his  couutrj'men  in  the  State  of 
Illinois.  He  located  in  Smithton  Township  and, 
as  he  looked  about  and  saw  what  others  had  done 
for  themselves,  he  resolved  that  he,  too,  would  some 
day  own  as  fine  a 'farm  as  any.  He  rented  land  at 
first  and  soon  got  a  start, and  kept  on  in  this  wa3', 
renting  and  working,  saving  and  looking  about 
for  the  best  place  in  wiiich  to  place  his  earnings 
and  savings  for  a  permanent  home.  For  several 
jears  he  did  this  and  then  decided  to  locate  on 
the  pleasant  place  which  is  now  his  home.  Of 
course,  he  was  obliged  to  go  deeply  into  debt, 
but  he  had  establislied  such  habits  of  tlirift  that 
he  was  soon  able  to  pay  all  that  lie  owed.  The 
place  was  entirely  unimproved,  a  perfect  wilder- 
ness, but  he  went  bravely  to  work,  and  in  an  as- 
tonishingly short  time  he  was  able  to  see  grain 
where  he  liad  found  only  forest  and  scrul). 

A  home  in  the  wilderness  is  lonely,  and  work 
is  discouraging  if  there  is  no  one  to  please,  there- 
fore our  subject  looked  about  him  and  soon  found 
one  who  was  willing  to  become  his  partner  in  the 
new  home.  This  was  Miss  Anna  Wahllenberg, 
also  a  native  of  Germany,  and  to  her  he  was  mar- 
ried in  1855.  Her  life  ended  in  1878,  and  Mr. 
Ahrens  was  then  married  to  Miss  Margaret  Stur- 
zem,  who  has  made  him  a  good  and  industrious 
wife. 

The  first  wife  of  nur  subject  left  him  seven 
children,  and  these  are  Mena,  who  is  the  wife  of 
William  Jelly,  and  lives  in  Kansas  City;  Rachel, 
who  is  the  wife  of  Louis  Grossman  and  lives  in 
Smitliton  Township;  Katherine,  who  is  the  wife 
of  George  Ollendorf  and  lives  at  home;  Lizzie, 
who  is  the  wife  of  John  Kelly  and  resides  in  this 
township;  and  Elizabeth,  wlio  is  also  at  luiinc. 
Mary  and  Fred  are   the  names  of  those    who  dii'd. 

The  tine  farm  of  Mr.  Ahrens  contains  one  hun- 


dred and  seventy  acres  of  land,  which  would 
bring  a  high  price  if  [)ut  upon  the  market.  The 
soil  is  very  fertile  and  the  production  of  grain  very 
great,  although  Mr.  Ahrens  prefers  to  make  his 
principal  crop  of  wheat.  The  place  now  shows 
careful  farming,  and  the  improvements  of  fences, 
trees  and  buildings  are  all  that  could  be  desired. 
In  his  political  opinions,  our  subject  belongs  to 
the  great  party  that  calls  itself  Republican,  and 
is  a  very  ardent  supporter  of  its  doctrines.  Tlie 
family  are  good.  Christian  people, consistent  mem- 
bers of  the  Lutiieran  Church,  and  stand  high  in 
the  neitthborhood. 


\1l ^  KNRY  FINK.      The  gentleman   of    whom 

r  jl  we  write,  although  deceased,  still  lives  in 
JV;^  the  esteem  and  affection  of  his  neighbois 
[^j  and  friends.  He  was  a  man  of  great  in- 
dustry and  left  his  family  with  a  fine  farm  of  five 
hundred  acres.  He  was  the  son  of  Christopher 
William  Funk,  who  was  born  in  Spesaltine,  Darm- 
stadt, Germany,  and  came  to  this  country  in  1832, 
first  locating  on  the  place  where  the  widow  of 
the  lamented  subject  of  this  sketch  now  resides. 
Chrislopiier  entered  this  land  from  tlie  Govern- 
ment and  worked  hard  to  improve  it.  He  was  the 
father  of  six  children,  all  of  whom  were  born  in 
Germany,  but  one  died  on  tiiis  place.  The  chil- 
dren were  (ieorge;  Margaret,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Adam  Routli;  Henry;  Katharina;  Holzstophel; 
and  Regina,  who  married  Peter  Friese. 

Our  subject  was  born  February  23,  1818,  in  the 
same  town  of  which  ids  father  was  a  native  and  was 
thirteen  years  old  when  he  came  to  this  country.  He 
grew-  to  manhood  on  the  place  where  his  widow  now 
lives,  and  assisted  his  father  on  tlie  farm.  He  was 
married  in  1845,  to  Miss  Catherine  Perschbacher, 
who  was  born  in  (ierman^^  and  came  to  this  county 
in  1833.  Her  father  located  in  Shiloh  Valley,  this 
county,  where  he  entered  Government  land. 

Mr.  and  ]Mrs.  Funk  of  this  notice  had  seven 
cliihlri-u,  six  of  wlioni  are  yet  living:  Regina,  who 
iii.nnicd  llcnnaii  Spelynars  and   is  now  deceased; 


PORTRAIT  AND  JUOGRArHlCAL  RECORD. 


29:) 


(u'urge  WilliMiii.  wild  lives  in  Belleville;  Mary, 
who  iiiai-ricd  lleiiiuiii  Spelyiiiirs;  Annie,  who  m;\v- 
riod  Fred  K.  Stock  and  lives  near  Baden;  Louisa, 
who  married  William  Reinliart  and  lives  in  this 
t()wnsiii[);  llenrv,  who  is  on  the  old  farm, and  Kate, 
who  married  Kdward  lloerintf.  The  latter  is  farm- 
inj;  tlie  i)laee  wliere  Mrs.  Funk,  Sr.,  is  livina'. 

Our  suhjeet  accumulated  a  line  property, and  iii.s 
widow,  witii  the  help  ol'  hei'  son-in-law,  carries 
on  his  work  on  three  hundred  and  ninety  acres. 
Ilenr}'  Funk  died  Octolier  is.  1^77,  leavin<i'  a 
character  for  honesty  and  integrity  lieiiind  iiiin. 
lie  had  been  a  Democrat  in  his  jwlitica!  belief  and 
had  served  the  district  accei)tahly  as  School  Di- 
rector and  hi.s  county  as  Supervisor. 

The  son-in-law  of  Mrs.  Funk.  Kdward  llncriuLr. 
was  born  in  Mascoutali,  lliis  comity,  and  was  the 
son  of  riiilip  lloeiinu',  wlio  was  a  car[)cnter  by 
trade.  lie  was  edncati'd  in  Mascontah,  and  in 
the  year  l?i7'.)  was  married  to  our  subject's 
daujrjiter  Kate.  After  marriaice  he  located  in 
Mascontah  and  engaged  in  the  car|)enter  iiusiness 
for  five  year.s  and  then  came  to  this  place.  Mr. 
and  Jlrj.  Iloeringare  the  parents  of  the  following 
children:  Rudolph,  Emma,  C'l;na,  ivate,  Fred, 
and  (ieorge  F.     Edwin  is  deceased. 

In  i)olitical  affair-S,  Mr.  Iloering  votes  with  the 
Democratic  party,  and  is  now  serving  the  district 
a."*  School  Director.  This  family  is  well  connected 
in  the  county  and  all  arc  highly  respecti'd. 


!-^+  A 


.ANIEL  I1A.\.S,  who  owns  a  farm  fin  sec- 
tion 22,  Stookey  Townshii),  St.  Clair 
Count}',  is  the  son  of  Adam  and  Barli:ira 
(.Stein)  Haas.  He  was  born  in  (ierinany. 
in  1«21.  His  father  was  liorn  in  I  7m  I  and  his  mo- 
ther in  17SH,  and  both  were  natixes  uf  the  same 
town.  Adam  Haas  was  reared  on  a  faiiii  .'ind  re- 
ceived such  educational  advantages  as  weie 
afforded  by  the  schools  of  his  Fatherland.  He  early 
turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits  ami 
during   his   life    followed    that  occupation    solely. 

14 


In  l.s;!.i.  leaxing  (iermany,  Mr.  Hans,  Si.,  .sailed 
Westward  willi  his  family  for  America  and  landed 
ill  .St.  i.oiiis  the  12th  of  June.  lie  came  at  once 
to  St.  Clair  County  and  here  took  up  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  (ioveniment  land,  where  our 
subject  now  resides.  The  latter  has  in  his  po.sses- 
sioii  the  ( ioveniment  deeds  to  this  property,  which 
were  signed  by  Andrew  .lackson  and  Martin  Van 
Bureii.  To  this  |iropeity  Mr.  Haas  added  from 
time  to  time  until  he  had  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres.  In  |)olitics,  he  was  a  Whig,  and  with  his 
family  w;is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 
I'nto  liini  and  his  wife  were  born  ten  children,  two 
of  whom  died  in  Germany,  in  infancy.  The  others 
were  as  follows:  Louisa  and  Margaret,  both  now  de- 
ceased; Daniel,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Jacob 
and  Catherine,  also  deceased;  Philip;  F^lizabeth, 
wife  of  Benedict  Wealtz.and  Barbara,  wife  of  John 
Frey. 

Our  subject  received  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Germany  and  remained  with  his 
father  on  the  farm  until  184G,  when  he  started  in 
business  for  himself.  \t  that  time, he  was  married 
to  Mi.ss  Philapena.  a  daughter  of  Conrad  Hankani- 
mer.  ()iie  child  was  born  of  this  union,  Barbara, 
the  wife  of  Christian  Ileilman.  After  the  death 
of  his  lirst  wife,  Mr.  Haas  was  married  to  Caroline, 
a  daughter  of  .lacob  and  Susan  Bisliof.  Ten  chil- 
dren were  born  of  this  marriage.  Two  of  these  died 
in  infancy  and  eight  are  still  living:  Jacob,  who 
married  B.'irbara  Gnckese;  Daniel  A.,  who  married 
Lena  Hambaum;  Christian;  Margaret,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Nicholas  Rohr;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Charles 
Welde;  (ieorge;  Albert,  who  married  Emma  Iler- 
liert,  .and  Charles,  who  wedded  Elizabeth  Pinkston. 
His  second  wife  having  departed  this  life,  onr  snlt- 
jecl  married  Mrs.  Susanna  Deietz,  a  daughter  of 
.lacoli  Rolin.  Her  death  occurred  a  year  and  ;i 
half  .ago. 

In  his  political  sentiment,  our  subject  is  a  stanch 
siip|)orter  of  the  Repulilican  i)arty.  He  is  a  man 
of  public  s|)iiit,  doing  all  in  his  power  to  advance 
the  be>t  interests  of  his  county  and  the  coniinunitv. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  in  which 
he  is  highly  esteemed.  He  is  one  of  the  pruiiiinonl 
and  inlliiential  tariiieis  of  this  section  and  his  place 
bears  on  ever\   li.'iml  the  evideiic-eof  the  thrift  and 


300 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


enterprise  of  the  owner.  He  has  one  of  the  most 
fertile,  best  cultivated  farms  in  this  locality  and 
conducts  his  business  affairs  with  good  ability  and 
discretion.  During  his  long  residence  in  this 
county,  comprising  nearly  sixty  years,  he  has  won 
the  esteem  and  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he  has 
been  brought  in  contact. 


'll  ACOB  LKINEK.  One  of  the  pleasantest 
I  places  in  tlie  city  of  Belleville  is  the  pop- 
,~  '  ular  Green  Tree  Hotel,  conducted  by  its  no 
^fJ  less  popular  owner  and  manager,  Mr.  Jacob 
Leiner.  This  gentleman's  reputation  as  a  landlord 
extends  over  a  wide  territory,  and  he  is  especially 
well  and  favorably  known  to  the  traveling  public. 
He  is  well  fitted  in  every  way  for  the  business  in 
which  he  is  engaged,  and  around  the  name  of  his 
hotel  hovers  the  remembrance  of  fine  dinners,  ele- 
gant breakfasts  and  delicious  hot  suppers.  His  estab- 
lishment is  one  of  the  old  landmarks  of  the  place, 
and  the  rooms  arc  well  furnished  and  well  at- 
tended to.  Mr.  Leiner  has  been  a  resident  of  this 
place  since  October,  1874,  and  since  1876  has  been 
the  proprietor  of  his  hotel.  He  was  born  in  Rhein, 
Bavaria.  Germany,  June  23,  1849,  a  son  of  V.  and 
Elizabeth  (Plinn)  Leiner,  the  former  of  whom 
was  an  honest  and  industrious  tiller  of  the  soil,  a 
man  of  admirable  traits  of  character,  and  in  the 
family  circle  an  admirable  husband  anil  father. 
lie  was  called  from  life  in  1867. 

Jacob  Leiner,  the  sul)jeet  of  this  biography,  was 
educated  in  the  Fatherland,  liis  advantages  being 
far  better  than  that  of  the  average  young  man. 
He  attended  school  until  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
and  there  his  good  sense  early  manifested  itself, 
for  he  paid  strict  attention  to  his  studies,  and  en- 
deavored in  every  way  to  imi^rove  his  time  to  the 
utmost.  Although  in  no  way  a  "  mollycoddle," 
lie  was  keenly  enough  alive  to  his  own  interests 
to  obey  rules  and  to  endeavor  to  please  his  in- 
structors. In  1871,  he  embarked  for  the  United 
States  and  landed  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  where  he 
iciii;iiMed  for  three  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time 


Belleville,  111.,  became  the  scene  of  his  operations. 
He  at  once  began  the  erection  of  the  Green  Tree 
Hotel  at  the  corner  of  High  and  C  Streets,  it  be- 
ing a  substantially  built  two-story  brick  structure, 
50x75  feet  in  dimensions,  of  which  he  has  since 
been  the  successful  and  popular  proprietor.  He 
has  made  this  his  life  work,  and  as  he  believes  in 
doing  well  what  he  undertakes  to  do,  he  has  been 
undeniabl}-  successful  in  this  field.  Besides  the 
attractions  of  his  house,  he  is  an  attraction  in  him- 
self, genial,  courteous  and  affable,  with  a  good 
knowledge  of  the  world,  all  of  which  (lualities 
constitute  him  a  model  host. 

Our  subject  has  shown  excellent  judment  in  the 
man.agement  of  his  business  affairs,  as  well  as  in 
choosing  himself  a  wife,  for  the  lady  who  has  been 
his  heljimate  for  the  past  eighteen  years  is 
intelligent  and  energetic,  wide  awake,  enter- 
prising and  ambitions.  Their  marriage  took 
place  on  the  12th  of  October,  1874,  and  re- 
sulted in  the  birth  of  six  children:  Amelia,  Louisa, 
Laura,  Lena,  Luella,  and  Otto,  the  only  son,  who  is 
the  second  of  the  family  in  order  of  birth.  Mr. 
Leiner  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the 
Mutual  Aid  Society,  the  Ilarugari  and  the  Treu- 
bund,  and  for  tlie  last  three  years  has  Ijeen  Grand 
Master  for  the  State  in  the  latter  organization. 
He  was  elected  the  National  Grand  Master  for  the 
United  States  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  March  4,  1892,  and 
has  done  a  large  amount  of  traveling  throughout 
the  State,  organizing  lodges  and  installing  officers. 
He  has  been  a  representative  from  his  lodge  to  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  the  Kniglits  of  Pythias.  He 
and  his  family  are  members  of  St.  Paul's  Cathe- 
dral, to  which  he  is  a  liberal  supporter  and  of 
which  he  has  been  Treasurer  for  many  years. 


-5-=^=^>-^^<^^=- 


{([  I-,  is  familiar  to  tlie  traveling  public,  for  he 
^^y  who  bears  it  looks  after  the  comfort  of  those 
whom  business  or  pleasure  detains  f  r(mi  home  within 
the  borders  of  the  little  town  of  Millstadt.  He  dis- 
penses food  and  refreshment  to  man  and  beast,  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


301 


has  caused   many  a  dreary  hour  to  pass  swiftlj'  in 
his  pleasant  hostelry. 

Tlir  f.ither  of  the  subject  of  tills  notice  was  an 
honest  farmer  of  Baden,  (iei-many.  who  came  to 
America  when  his  son,  our  subject,  was  only  eight 
years  old.  lie  located  in  Highland,  Madison 
County,  111.,  and  remained  there  for  several  yeare 
farnnng  and  teaming.  Later  in  life,  he  moved 
inl«>  .Millstadt.  where  lie  lived  until  the  lime  of  his 
death. 

The  sul)ject  of  our  sketch  was  liorn  in  Baden, 
Germany,  in  the  old  iiome  across  the  water,  but  his 
recollection  of  it  can  not  be  very  distinct,  as  he 
left  it  when  he  was  a  lad  of  eight.  He  was  reared 
in  Madison  County,  this  State,  and  went  to  the 
schools  of  the  district  in  which  he  lived  until  he 
was  considered  old  enough  to  learn  a  trade.  lie 
w.as  a  strong  boy,  and  as  he  loved  horses  decided 
to  become  a  blacksmith,  and  before  long  had  his 
apron,  anvil,  forge  and  bellows,  and  worked  for 
twenty -eight  years  at  the  trade.  He  became  very 
expert  and  w.is  in  great  demand  among  those 
who  were  careful  of  the  hoofs  and  feet  of  their 
faithful  friends,  the  horses. 

Wlien  ilr.  Merkel  discontinued  his  blacksmith 
business  he  began  another  which  has  proved  as 
profitable — that  of  a  butcher — and  he  still  con- 
tinues it  in  connection  with  his  inn,  thus  making 
sure  that  his  meat  supp'.y  for  his  table  will  be  of 
the  best  and  most  varied. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Merkel  took  phice  in  the 
vear  1H83,  when  he  was  united  to  Miss  Louisa 
Kropp,  who  was  also  reared  in  St.  Clair  County, 
and  who  has  proven  wise  and  capable,  assisting  her 
excellent  husband  in  the  management  of  the  house 
with  economy  and  thrift.  Five  children  have 
come  into  the  household  since  the  marriage, 
named  respectively:  (Jeorge  K.,  Henry,  Oliver, 
Alia  and  Elmer.  They  are  all  bright,  interesting 
children  who  will  make  their  inipre.-is  on  the  future 
of  the  county. 

The  Roman  Catholic  faith  is  the  one  to  which 
the  inclination  and  teadiln^  of  Mr.  Merkel  natur- 
ally bind  him  and  in  lier  ministrations  he  finds 
comfort  in  times  of  trouble.  In  his  [wlitieal  lean- 
ing he  is  a  Republican,  and  he  furthers  in  many  a 
quiet  wa_v  the  interests  of  his  party. 


For  two  years,  our  subject  was  a  member  of  the 
Town  Board,  and  was  regarded  as  a  man  of 
sound  sense  and  good  judgment.  lie  is  a  land- 
owner here  and  one  of  the  most  enterprising  citi- 
zens of  the  place.  In  the  fall  of  1891  he  erected 
the  large,  commodious  and  comfortjible  hotel,  with 
saloon  attached,  where  he  now  carries  ou  his  busi- 
ness, his  out-l.iy  being  nearly  8C,0(IO. 

There  is  much  travel  through  Millstadt  and 
there  is  no  place  where  strangers  can  find  the  com- 
forts of  home,  when  not  actually  there,  as  under 
the  hospitable  roof  of  Mine  Host  Merkel,  of  tlie 
Millstadt  inn. 


R.  FREDRICK  KIRSCH.  Although  but  a 
I  lecent  addition  to  the  medical  fraternity. 
Dr.  Kirsch  h.as  already  won  an  enviable 
reputation  as  a  practitioner  of  the  healing 
art,  and  has  a  large  and  lucrative  [)ractice.  Like 
many  of  the  representative  citizens  of  the  county, 
he  is  a  native  of  (iermany.  horn  in  Mentz,  Hesse- 
Darmstadt.  Februarj'  2,  18.59,  and  is  one  of  five 
children,  ftuir  sons  and  one  daughter, born  to  Gab- 
riel and  Annie  .S.  Kirsch,  nalives  of  Germany  and 
Alsace, France,  respectively. 

The  father.  Dr.  Gabriel  Kirsch,  was  the  son  of 
an  apothecary,  and  was  graduated  from  the  Uni- 
verslt}'  at  Strasburg,  and  the  University  of  Hei- 
delberg, with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  Afterward,  he 
l)racticcd  in  Mentz  until  1882,  when  he  retired, 
and  In  1891  he  came  to  the  United  Suites  to  reside 
with  his  son.  Dr.  Martin  Kirsch,  at  .\bllenc.  Kan.; 
but,  not  being  .satisfied  with  this,  he  returned  to 
his  old  home,  where  he  is  now  living  at  the  age  of 
eighty-two  years.  His  wife  died  in  1890,  when 
seventy-nine  years  of  age.  Her  parents  lived  to  be 
ninety-nine  and  one  hundred  and  two  years  of 
age,  respectively.  The  children  born  to  this  much 
esteemed  couple  were  as  follows:  .lacob.  a  felt  man- 
ufacturer of  Mentz,  (Jermany:  .lohn:  Dr.  Martin,  a 
practicing  physician  of  .Vbilene.  Kan.;  and  Clara. 
Mrs.  Fllllnger,  who  resides  in  (icrniany. 

The  oriyinal  of  this  sketch   received   his  carlv 


302 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


education  in  Mentz.  and  was  graduated  from  tlie 
gymnasium  as  a  jiharmacist  when  twenty  years  of 
age.  In  the  year  1880,  he  left  Bremen  on  the 
steamer  "ISIain,"  which  landed  him  in  the  harbor 
of  New  York  a  weeiv  or  so  later.  For  a  year  and  a 
lialf  he  traveled  about  through  the  various  .States, 
and  for  seven  months  he  worked  in  the  wholesale 
business  in  Denver.  He  then  returned  to  St.  Louis, 
and  on  the  7th  of  October,  1882,  purchased  a 
drug  store,  which  he  carried  on  very  successfully 
until  1889,  when  he  sold  out. 

Our  subject  selected  his  life  couipaniou  in  the 
person  of  Miss  Minnie  Reubel,  a  native  of  Belle- 
ville, III.,  and  their  nuptials  were  celebrated  on 
the  1st  of  October,  1882.  Her  father,  Peter  Reu- 
bel, was  engaged  in  the  meat  business  at  Belleville. 
In  1888,  our  subject  entered  the  St.  Louis  Medical 
College,  and  was  graduated  from  that  well-known 
institution  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  in  18110.  Af- 
ter this  he  bought  his  drug  store  of  A.  Kring,  and 
is  now  located  on  the  corner  of  Tenth  and  Rock- 
road  Streets.  He  has  a  line  store,  lias  it  well 
equipped  with  new  and  fresh  drugs,  and  in  his  dual 
capacity  of  physician  and  druggist  has  met  with 
the  support  and  patronage  he  so  riclil\'  merits.  Li 
the  whole  list  of  professions  there  are  no  two  usu- 
ally kept  distinct  that  admit  of  more  satisfactory 
blending  than  that  of  the  physician  and  druggist. 
The  Doctor's  marriage  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of 
three  children,  as  follows:  Lizzie,  Frank  and  Ar- 
thur.     In  |i()litu-s,  the  Doctor  is   independent. 


KOF.  (i.  LEHMAN,  President  of  the  Fast 
St.  Louis  Board  of  Education,  and  a  musi- 
cal instructor  of  distinguished  ability,  was 
I)orn  in  Potsdam, Germany, .lune  1 1,  184.5, 
a  son  of  Adolph  Lehman,  who  was  engaged  in  the 
wholesale  grocery  Inisiness  in  a  town  near  Berlin, 
in  which  business  he  was  very  successful.  He  died 
ill  Ills  native  land  in  1862.  His  wife  was  Minna 
llilkert.  a  native  of  Potsdam,  whose  father  was  a 
j>rii>|)erous  lumber  dealer  of  that  place.     She  still 


lives  in  Berlin,  is  a  Protestant  in  her  religious 
views,  and  is  now  about  seventy-nine  years  of  age. 
Prof.  G.  Lehman  was  the  fifth  of  twelve  chil- 
dren, only  two  of  whom  are  residents  of  America. 
He  attended  the  gymnasium  of  Potsdam  until  he 
reached  the  Senior  Class  in  1863.  He  inherited 
his  love  of  music  from  both  father  and  mother, 
and  from  the  time  he  was  six  years  of  age  received 
instruction  in  instrumental  music.  At  the  age  of 
eighteen  years,  he  braved  the  dangers  of  an  ocean 
voyage  in  a  sailing-vessel,  taking  passage  on  the 
"America"  at  Bremen,  and  reaching  New  York  City 
fifty-seven  days  later.  He  was  engaged  in  teach- 
ing instrumental  music  in  that  city  for  four  years, 
and  from  1867  to  1870  followed  that  occupation 
in  St.  Louis.  Mo.  In  the  last-mentioned  year,  he 
located  in  East  St.  Louis,  and  until  November, 
1891,  he  was  one  of  the  most  thorough  musical  in- 
structors of  the  city.  He  has  endeavored  to  pro- 
mote the  highest  aims  in  musical  culture,  and  it  is 
but  justice  to  say  that  he  has  signally  awakened  a 
taste  for  classical  music,  resulting  in  its  general 
dissemination.  Upon  abandoning  the  calling  of  a 
musical  instructor,  he  began  dealing  in  musical  in- 
struments, his  establishment  being  on  Collinsville 
Avenue.  lie  began  business  with  a  determination 
to  pursue  fair,  straightforward  and  honorable 
methods  in  all  his  transactions';  to  handle  the  best 
instruments  made,  and  to  sell  at  the  lowest  possi- 
ble prices.  This  policy  has  gained  the  respect  and 
esteem  of  all  who  have  dealings  with  him,  and  has 
built  up  for  Prof.  Lehman  a  profitable  business.  He 
was  the  first  organist  of  St.  Patrick's  Church,  and 
later  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

While  giving  instrumental  instruction  to  a  large 
class,  he  also  conducted  two  or  three  singing  socie- 
ties, and  became  the  leader  of  the  Sangerbund  So- 
ciety, the  East  St.  Louis  Singing  Society,  the  Aeo- 
lian Society  and  the  East  St.  Louis  Liederkranz, 
but  has  given  them  all  up,  as  his  time  is  fully  oc- 
cupied by  his  business.  He  i>  now  the  leader  of 
the  Sehweizer  Maennerchor  of  St.  Louis.  His  busi- 
ness necessitates  two  salesmen  on  the  road,  and  he 
is  constantly  extending  his  connection.  He  has 
made  five  trips  to  Europe,  in  which  continent  he  has 
visited  all  the  principal  places  of  interest.  He  was 
married  in  New    York  to  Miss  Marie  Berger,  a  na- 


'^^2-2>^^Z^r^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


305 


tive  of   Germany,  who  came  with  her  parents  to 

New  York  wiicn  four  years  (if  age.  Her  uiiidn 
with  Prof.  LfliiM;iii  ha-  rfsulled  in  llio  liirtli  <if 
four  children:  Fred  R.,  Ernest.!.,  Ida  1..  M.  and 
Philip  A. 

In  1)<H7.  the  l'rofes.sor  was  elected  President  <if 
the  Board  of  Education  of  East  St.  Loui.s,  and  is 
now  filling  his  fifth  term.  He  was  largely -instru- 
mental in  raising  the  standard  of  the  public  schools 
of  the  place  to  equal  those  of  any  in  tlie  State, 
and  he  is  constantly  endeavoring  to  improve  them. 
He  is  a  warm  patron  of  education,  and  all  measures 
of  morality  (ind  in  him  an  earnest  supporter,  lie 
is  a  memlier  of  the  East  St.  Louis  Protective 
Union,  and  socially-,  belongs  to  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  tlie  Knights  of  Pythia.-: 
politic-all}',  lie  is  a  Republican  of  pronounced  type. 


=-=-^^+^-^ 


APT.  WlLLl.VM  II.  r>ENNETT.  The  pro- 
fession of  law  claims  some  of  the  brightest 
minds  of  the  age,  and  in  the  prominence  of 
its  representatives  East  St.  Louis  need  not  hide  her 
head.  In  the  affable  gentleman  who.se  name  intro- 
duces this  sketch  may  be  found  one  who  thoroughly 
understands  the  vexed  fpiestions  which  only  legal 
minds  can  unravel,  and  wlm  has  met  with  gre;it 
success  in  his  practice,  lie  is  locateil  on  Main 
Street  in  East  St.  Louis,  where  he  Ikis  practiced 
since  1872. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Howard  Bennett, 
was  a  native  of  Virginia  and  the  owner  of  a  large 
])lantation  there.  He  was  proud  of  his  pure  English 
ancestry,  which  he  could  tiace  back  to  Saxon  pro- 
genitors,and  was  related  to  the  old  and  inlluential 
Hearing  and  Lynch  families.  He  carried  out  in  his 
life  the  fine  courtesy  known  the  world  over  as  be- 
longing to  the  Virginia  gentleman  of  the  -'old 
school."  The  father  of  our  subject.  Col.  .lames  I). 
Bennett,  was  born  in  Campbell  County,  November 
!•,  IHK).  In  1832,  he  was  married  in  Tennessee, 
where  he  engaged  in  school-teaching  and  also  be- 
gan the  study  of  the  law,  in  which  he  w.as  gradu- 
ated and  admittetl  to  the  Bar.     He  was  a  Captain 


in  the  Seminole  War,  in  Florida.  In  1837,  he  be- 
came manager  of  his  wife's  large-estate  near  Ilarts- 
ville.Tcnn.,  and  continued  thereuntil  the  breaking 
out  of  the  Civil  War. 

October  19,  1861,  .lames  I).  Bennett  was  chosen 
Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Seventh  Battalion  of 
Tennessee  Cavalry,  and  with  his  regiment  went  into 
camp  .'It  Epperson  Springs,  Macon  County,  Tenn., 
^\'hen  the  Twelfth  and  Seventh  Battalions  were 
consolidated,  he  resigned  on  account  of  ill-health. 
But  his  love  for  his  State  was  too  strong  to  permit 
of  his  remaining  out  of  the  struggle  when  the 
enemy  came  near.  He  raised  another  regiment,and 
as  Colonel  of  the  Ninth  Tennessee  Regiment  went 
into  the  service  under  Gen.  John  H.  Morgan,  with 
wliom  he  took  part  in  the  engagement  at  Harts- 
\  ille.  When  he  left  home  the  last  time,  his  health 
was  in  a  precarious  state  and  he  was  besought  by 
his  family  to  remain  with  them.  He  rci)lied,"No, 
my  men  are  going  and  I  will  go  with  them  as  long 
as  I  am  able  to  ride."  However,  he  was  able  to  go 
no  farther  than  Elizabethtown,  Ky.,  and  stopped 
at  the  home  of  Coi.  Patton,  where  he  died  of 
typhoid-pneumonia,  .lanuary  23,  18G3,  as  much  a 
victim  of  War  as  if  he  had  perished  at  the  cannon's 
mouth.  The  remains  were  sent  home  in  the  care 
of  his  faithful  body-.servant,  Jeff,  to  whom  the 
kind  master  had  given  his  freedom  and  also  a  farm 
of  eighty  .acres. 

•lames  Bennett  was  a  generous,  kind  man,  and. 
as  an  instance  of  his  generositv,  we  may  inenlion 
that  every  year  he  was  .accustomed  to  set  aside  a 
(piantity  of  produce  to  be  distributed  through  the 
neighborhood  to  those  in  need.  He  was  ever  ready 
to  .assist  young  men  to  a  start  in  life,  and  his  pop- 
ularity was  not  bounded  by  the  artificial  barriers 
separating  counties.  In  his  religious  belief,  he  was 
a  c(Misistent  member  of  the  Christian  Church  and 
carried  out  the  precepts  of  its  founders  in  his  daily 
life.  The  mother  of  our  subject,  Martha  Hutchin- 
son, was  born  near  (iallatin,  Tenn., and  still  resides 
on  iier  fine  property  at  Hartsville.  Her  father  was 
of  .Scotch  descent  and  was  one  of  the  most  exten- 
sive and  successful  planters  of  Middle  Tennessee. 

The  oldest  of  ten  children,  our  subject  was  born 
in  Hartsville,  Tenn.,  June  5,  18-1.").  He  was  reared 
in  the  place  of  his  birth  and  attended  the  academy 


306 


PORTllAlT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  EECORD. 


there.  In  October,  1861,  he  joined  the  Confeder- 
ate army  and  was  appointed  Orderly-Sergeant  of 
Company  B,  Seventh  Battalion.  lie  remained  with 
liis  fatlier  until  tlie  latter  witlidrew,  and  then  he 
also  came  home.  He  liad  been  atSliiloli,and  in  a  skir- 
mishing expedition  around  Corintli.  In  July,  1862, 
he  re-enlisted  and  assisted  his  father  in  raising  the 
regiment  and  Ijecame  Sergeant-Major  of  tlie  Ninth 
Tennessee  Cavalry.  He  was  in  the  battle  of  Galla- 
tin, with  Gen.  Morgan;  at  While's  Creek;  at  Mil- 
ton, where  he  was  made  Second  Lieutenant  for 
gallantry  on  the  field;  at  Gordonsville;  then  with 
Morgan  through  Tennessee,  Kentucky  and  into 
Ohio,  engaging  in  Itattle  at  Somerset,  Ky.,  Green 
River,  Lebanon  and  Brandenburg,  on  the  Oliio,  and 
was  the  third  man  who  jumped  off  tlie  boat  upon 
Oliio  soil.  He  fought  in  all  the  minor  engage- 
ments in  Ohio  and  Indiana,  and  was  one  of  the 
sixty  men  sent  to  cross  the  Ohio  River  at  Buffing- 
ston  Island,  where  Morgan  was  repulsed. 

Our  subject  was  one  of  the  remainder  of  tlie 
sixty  men  who  escaped  from  the  island  and  went 
on  foot  three  hundred  miles  through  the  mountains, 
subsisting  upon  wliat  they  could  find  and  often 
reduced  almost  to  starvation.  When  they  reached 
Morristown,Tenn.,they  were  reorganized,  assigned 
to  Forrest's  command,  and  took  part  in  tlie  battle 
of  Chickamauga  and  Wheeler's  raid.  Capt.  Bennett 
was  at  Murfreesboro,  Stone  River  and  Laundy's 
Ferry.  The  regiment  then  encamped  at  Decatur, 
Ala.,  and  later  was  sent  back  to  Chickamauga.  Our 
subject  was  at  the  right  wing  in  command  of  the 
picket  post  where  Sherman  crossed,  and  was  cap- 
tured, being  the  first  officer  brought  to  Gen.  Sliei- 
man.  He  was  a  prisoner  from  November  23,  1863, 
to  October  1,  1864,  at  Johnson  Island,  Lake  Erie, 
and  was  the  youngest  officer  tliere.  On  a  cold 
winter  day,  with  thirty  others,  he  was  taken  thence 
to  be  exchanged  at  Richmond, and,  proceeding  up 
the  James  River,  was  exchanged  at  Atkin's  Land- 
ing. After  two  months  spent  at  Wytheville,  Va., 
lie  joined  his  command  in  time  to  participate  in 
the  battles  of  Big  Spring  and  Abingdon.  He  was 
with  Gen.  Duke,  who,  hearing  of  Lee's  surrender, 
made  an  attempt  to  cross  the  mountains  to  join 
Gen.  Johnson.  At  Charlotte,  N.  C.  they  found 
Jefferson    Davis,  and  our    subject  was  in    Duke's 


brigade  when  Davis  was  cajitured  near  Woodstock, 
Ga.  Tiiere  the  regiment  disbanded.  But  a  few 
days  before  that  our  subject  was  captured  by  Gen. 
Palmer  and  was  kept  at  Greenville,  S.  C,  for 
twenty  days,  wlien  he  was  jiermilted  to  return 
home. 

After  his  hazardous  life,  Capt.  Bennett  settled 
down  in  IlartsviUe  and  entered  the  academy  to 
complete  an  education  that  the  clarion  of  war  had 
interrupted.  Later,  he  entered  the  law  department 
of  the  Cumberland  University  at  Lelianon,  from 
whicli  he  was  graduated  in  1869.  He  began  the  prac- 
tice of  his  jn-ofession  with  his  uncle,  the  Hon.  R.  A. 
Bennett,  and  tlie  Hon.  Bailie  Peyton,  of  Gallatin. 
Tliere  lie  remained  for  two  years,  and  it  was  not 
until  the  fall  of  1872  that  he  came  to  East  St. 
Louis.  In  1878,  he  was  City  Attorney  during 
the  dual  Government,  and  in  other  ways  became 
well  and  favorably  known.  He  has  managed  some 
valuable  property  and  lias  been  the  local  attorney 
for  the  Indianapolis  &  St.  Louis  Railroad.  For 
one  year  he  was  connected  with  the  firm  of  Gross, 
Voss  &  Co.,  real  estate  men,  but  since  then  lie  has 
practiced  law.  He  has  been  very  active  in  political 
matters  and  has  made  many  campaign  speeches  for 
the  Democratic  parly.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of 
the  order  of  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  has  adhered 
to  the  religious  faith  in  which  he  was  reared  and 
attends  the  Christian  Church. 

Mr.  Bennett  was  first  married  in  Tennessee,  in 
1869,  to  Miss  Onie  Payne,  a  native  of  tliat  State, 
who  died  two  years  after  their  union.  His  second 
marriage  occurred  at  St.  Louis  in  1880,  and  the 
lady  who  became  his  wife  was  Miss  Rebecca  Crane, 
a  native  of  Beaver,  Pa.  Her  life  ended  in  1888. 
The  third  marriage  of  Mr.  Bennett  occurred  in 
1890,  this  wife  being  Miss  Zetta  IMillvuni,  who 
was  born  in  St.  Louis. 

^««\  HARLES  CANNADY,  the  efficient  and  in- 
//(^  telligent  Superintendent  of  Scliools  for  St. 
^^1^  Clair  County,  is  the  gentleman  to  whom 
we  call  the  kind  attention  of  the  reader. 

Mr.  Cannadv  is  a  native  son  of  Illinois,  having 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


307 


been  born  near  where  New  Memphis  Station  now 
stands,  in  Clinton  County,  March  3,  1844,  being 
the  son  of  Stepiien  and  Tabitha  (Harryinan)  Can- 
nady.  Tiie  former  was  born  in  Tennessee, coming 
to  Clinton  County  in  1833,  where  he  remained  for 
a  few  years,  and  then  removed  to  Washington 
County,  the  home  of  Mrs.  Cannady.  This  lady 
was  the  daughter  of  CliarlesHarryman,  one  of  the 
old  pioneers  of  the  .State.  In  18G7,  he  left  the 
.State  of  Illinois  and  went  over  into  Southwest  Mis- 
souri, settling  in  Jasper  County,  and  removing  from 
there  to  Lawrence  County,  where  he  died  November 
16,  1886,  leavingiiine  children  to  mourn  his  loss. six 
of  whom  were  by  a  later  marriage.  The  two 
brothei-s  of  our  subject  were  Elijah,  a  Justice  of 
the  Peace  of  Belleville,  and  Stephen  D.,  of  Law- 
rence County,  Mo.  Mr.  Cannady  carried  on  the 
occupation  of  farming  all  his  life  and  succeeded 
in  his  life  work. 

Charles  Cannady  is  a  finely  educated  gentleman, 
having  attended  McKendree  College  for  three 
years,  and  also  the  Northern  Normal  .School,  at 
Normal,  after  which  he  taught  for  sixteen  years, 
giving  entire  satisfaction  wherever  he  was  engaged. 
He  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  schools  of  Mas- 
coutah  for  ten  years,  being  Principal  during  thai 
time.  This  gentleman  li.<is  lieen  interested  in  edu- 
cational matters  ever  since  he  attained  to  man- 
hood, and  his  efforts  in  this  direction  have  been  of 
great  benefit  to  the  different  schools  for  whose 
improvement  he  has  used  his  knowledge  and 
no  inconsiderable  influence.  Mr.  Cannady  had 
been  Principal  of  the  M.iscoutah  schools  up  to 
the  time  when  elected  to  fill  the  office  of  County 
Superintendent,  in  1886,  and  so  creditably  did  he 
fulfill  all  the  obligations  of  his  office  that  he  was 
again  elected  to  the  same  office  in  1890.  He  is  not. 
however,  entirely  dependent  upon  his  exertions 
for  maintenance,  as  lie  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm 
in  .Shiloh  Valley  and  a  pleasant  home  in  M.-iscoutah. 

Our  subject  wa,s  married  to  Miss  Ella  A.  Wise, 
the  charming  daughter  of  Adam  Wise,  an  old 
settler  of  Lebanon.  111.,  the  ceremony  occurring 
September  5,  1872.  These  two  are  the  ])roud  par- 
ents of  six  as  tine  children  as  can  be  found 
anywhere  in  the  county.  These  are:  Edward 
W.,  at  school;  Minnie   Lee,  Arab  A.,  Orla,  Kelsoe 


and  Julia.     One  little  one,  Charles  H.,  aged  eight, 
was  called  home  on  the  25th  of  March,  1892. 

Mr.  Cannady  is  an  influential  member  of  Doug- 
lass Lodge  No.  3G1,  A.  F.  <i'  A.  M.,  of  Mascoutah,  of 
which  he  has  been  Master,  and  has  occupied  almost 
all  of  the  offices.  His  family  is  a  superior  one, 
owing  to  the  fine  educations  the  members  are  re- 
ceiving at  the  hands  of  their  father,  who  is  a  man 
of  high  attainments,  and  all  of  them  give  promise 
of  developing  into  accomplished  men  and  women, 
who  will  be  a  credit  to  the  parents  who  bore 
them. 


W.  CARTER,  1).  D.  S.  The  subject  of 
this  notice  is  a  man  of  means  and  promi- 
nence in  this  city,  and  was  the  first  mem- 
ber of.  his  profession  to  locate  here.  He 
came  in  18.52  and  has  been  in  continuous  practice 
for  forty  j-ears. 

Dr.  Carter  was  born  in  New  Hampton,  N.  H., 
on  the  29th  of  May,  1826,  and  w.is  the  son  of  Levi 
and  ^larv  (Mason)  Carter.  The  father  of  our 
subject  belonged  to  the  Carter  family  whose  first 
representative  to  come  from  the  Old  World  to 
America  was  Thomas  Carter,  who  was  born  in 
the  j'ear  1611.  He  came  to  Massachusetts  and 
shared  in  the  tii-st  division  of  the  town  of  Salis- 
bury, .Sei)tember  4,  1639.  His  son  John  was  born 
in  the  year  1650,  and  his  son  .John,  in  1688.  The 
next  in  line  was  Thomas,  born  in  1713;  then  Moses, 
in  1739;  and  then  came  Levi,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, who  was  born  May  16,  1 788.  The  latter  married 
Polly  Mason,  who  was  born  April  5,  1792,  and  the 
couple  lived  in  New  Hampshire,  bringing  up  one 
of  those  sterling  families  which  have  gtme  out 
over  the  world  as  a  leaven  to  many  communities. 
The  father  was  a  Colonel  of  the  State  militia,  and 
one  of  the  Selectmen  on  the  organization  of  the 
'town.  He  died  June  6,  1885,  at  tiie  advanced  age 
of  ninety-seven  yeai-s,  and  his  wife's  demise  oc- 
curred October  15,  1840.  They  were  members  of 
the  Baptist  denomination. 


308 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Our  ^iubjcct  was  reared  and  educated  among  the 
New  Hampshire  hills,  and  when  he  came  to  decide 
upon  a  profession  lie  chose  that  of  dentistry,  and 
entered  the  ottice  of  Dr.  Williams,  of  Waterford, 
Vt.  He  began  practice  in  Uniontown,  Ohio,  and 
lemained  in  that  vicinity  for  several  years,  and 
then  came  to  this  place,  where  he  has  occupied  the 
ottice  on  Main  Street  ever  since.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Southern  Illinois  Dental  Association, 
and  had  a  membership  in  the  INIasonic  fraternity 
before  he  came  to  Belleville. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  (;arter  took  place  December 
6,  18.")f),  and  the  bride  was  Miss  Melissa,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  Stookey,  who  was  the  son  of  Daniel 
Stookey.  The  mother  of  Mrs.  Carter  was  Mary 
Eymann,  who  lived  on  the  farm  where  her  daugh- 
ter was  married.  Three  children  were  tlie  result  of 
this  marriage:  Mary  E.,  who  married  Robert 
Young;  Kliza,  known  as  I.yda,  who  is  still  at  home; 
and  Samnel  Levi,  who  died  May  28,  1882,  at  the 
age  of  fifteen.  Tiie  Doctor  has  been  very  success- 
ful in  his  practice,  and  to  him  the  older  citizens 
turn,  as  thev  have  .so  long  prolited  by  Ins  skill. 


-^> 


'\f|  OHN  WEBER.     The  import.inee  of  mechani- 
I  I    cal  and  sanitary  plumbing  cannot  be  over- 

d]  estimated,  and  it  has  frequently  been  proved 
,^^  that  much  of  the  sickness  developed  in 
many  hou.seholds  has  been  due  to  deficient  work- 
manship on  the  part  of  the  plumber.  The  least 
defect  in  the  piping  may  cause  sickness  and  death, 
as  it  has  too  often  done,  without  the  cause  being 
known  imtil  too  late.  Fevers,  etc.,  lurk  in  defec- 
tive drainage  and  sewer  connecting  pipes,  and  it  is 
absolutely  necessary,  tiierefore,  that  the  work 
should  be  done  by  a  competent  sanitary  plumber. 
Prominent  among  those  in  this  line  of  business  in 
Belleville  is  John  Weber,  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Weber  &  Son,  with  headquarters  at  No. 
19  South  High  Street,  where  they  have  been  en- 
gaged in  plumbing  and  gas-fitting  for  the  past  four 
years.  They  aie  live,  energetic  business  men  and 
are  worthy  of  all  success. 


The  original  of  this  notice  was  born  in  Prussia, 
Germany,  near  the  Rhine,  on  the  18th  of  July, 
183.3.  and  his  parents,  Jacob  and  Catherine  AVeber, 
were  natives  of  the  same  country.  In  the  year 
1847,  the  parents  decided  to  cross  the  ocean  to 
America,  and  with  their  eight  children  took  pas- 
sage for  this  country.  They  settled  at  Pomeroy, 
Ohio,  and  after  one  year  came  to  Belleville,  111., 
whore  the  father  followed  his  trade,  that  of  a  shoe- 
maker. He  died  of  cholera  in  1849,  leaving  a 
widow  and  the  following  children:  Ottilli,  widow 
of  Andrew  Newmann,  of  Jackson  County;  Philip; 
Eve,  widow  of  Jacob  Puterer;  John,  our  subject; 
Frank;  Kate,  who  died  in  1861;  Margaret,  Mrs. 
Neutzling;  and  Henry,  who  died  in  1866. 

Although  he  attended  school  for  some  time  in 
his  native  country,  the  principal  part  of  our  sub- 
ject's education  wiis  received  in  this  country.  At 
an  early  age,  he  began  learning  the  tailor's  trade 
and  served  an  apprenticeship  of  three  years  in  St. 
Louis.  Later,  he  worked  as  a  journeyman  for 
some  time  and  then  started  a  .saloon,  which  he  con- 
ducted for  twenty-seven  years.  After  this,  he  ran 
the  West  Belleville  Post-oftice  until  the  office  was 
abolished,  and  then  engaged  in  plumbing  in  con- 
nection with  his  son  Edward.  He  is  a  practical 
plumber,  thoroughly  understands  his  business,  and 
is  meeting  with  unusual  success.  His  son,  who  has 
now  taken  hold  of  the  business,  has  had  consider- 
able experience  and  is  an  expert  plumber  and  sani- 
tary engineer. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  to  Miss  Mary  Shall, 
of  Belleville,  daughter  of  Jacob  Shall,  an  old  resi- 
dent of  the  city,  occurred  on  the  20tli  of  October, 
18.55,  and  their  union  has  been  blessed  by  the 
birth  of  eight  children,  who  are  in  the  order 
of  their  births  as  follows:  Amy,  Mina;  Jacob,  now 
clerk  in  the  Western  Brewery,  married  Miss  Ida 
Barth;  Edward  S.,  Louis  M.;  Anna  S.,  teacher  in 
the  city;  Otto,  learning  a  trade  in  Belleville;  and 
Ferdinand  F.,  attending  school.  Mr.  Weber  is  one 
of  the  excellent  citizens  of  the  county,  and  in 
every  walk  of  life  has  conducted  himself  with  up- 
ri<^htness,  justice  and  fairness  to  his  fellow-citi- 
zens. To  show  his  appreciation  of  secret  organiza- 
tions, he  has  joined  the  Odd  Fellows'  lodge. 
Knights  of  Honor,  Knights  and    Ladies  of  Honor, 


KjRTRait  and  btograpiitc'al  record. 


311 


the  Ancient  Order  of  Druids,  and  the  I'liilhai- 
monics.  He  resides  at  No.  1002  West  Main  Street. 
He  lias  been  Street  Inspector  of  the  city  for  (me 
year,  for  ten  years  w;is  City  Trustee,  and  for  four 
years  w.as  I'resident  of  the  Board,  and  is  now  serving' 
liis  seveiileentli   \ear  mi    tlie   Hoard  of   Iviiicnlioi). 


^i^il-^i"i^ii^#i#i= 


lT(;rs'r  FAlLHAUAr.  v.  S.    The  scientific 
attainments    of    tiie    veterinary    surgeon 
li:i\e  so  advanced,  that  the  dumb  animals 
^1  now  liave  their  sufferings  relieved  equally 

witii  the  liuuinn  race.  It  reciuires  constant  study 
on  the  part  of  tlie  veterinary  student  and  profes- 
sors, however,  to  attain  these  results,  and  the  aii- 
atonij'  of  the  domestic  animals  is  studied  as  closely 
.as  that  of  man.  Among  those  holding  a  liigh  po- 
sition in  this  profession  in  JJelleville  is  l)i-.  Faul- 
liauiii.  wlio  has  been  a  resident  of  the  city  since 
IMdl.  lie  was  born  in  Saxony,  Prussia, November 
8,  1838.  and  received  Ids  literary  and  professional 
education  atlLanover,  M.agdeburgaiid  IlaUierstadt. 
After  a  long  course  of  stud3-,  he  practiced  his  jiro- 
fessioii  one  year,  during  which  time  he  had  tiie 
lieiielit  of  the  instruction  and  experieiiee  of  liis 
fatlier.  (Iiiistiau  Faiilbauni,  who  was  for  many 
years  a  veterinary  surgeon  in  the  Pru.ssian  army. 
In  September,  18.")7,  Dr.  August  Faulbaum  came 
to  the  I'nited  States  and  first  located  in  Milwau- 
kee, Wis.,  but  at  the  end  of  two  years  he  removed 
to  Chicago.  Wiien  the  war  cloud  which  had  hov- 
ered over  the  country  for  so  long  a  time  burst  in 
all  its  fury,  he  enlisted  from  Milwaukee,  August 
1(1,  18(!1.  Not  wishing  to  wail  for  the  whole  regi- 
ment, he  was.  witii  tlie  other  niemliers  of  Com- 
pany   M,    transferied    liy   the  (iovcrnmeut  to  the 

lienton    A-    Fre lit    lliLssars,  and  later  became  a 

part  of  the  Fourth  Missouri  Cavalry,  the  consoli- 
dation taking  place  at  Helena,  Ark.  They  were 
sent  to  Pea  Ridge  and  Cotton  Plant,  and  were  in 
many  different  localities  in  Kentucky  and  Missis- 
sippi engaged  in  cavalry  raiding.  Dr.  Faulbaum 
received  his  discharge  from  the  service  in  October, 
1864,  after  three  and  a-half  years  of   faithful   ser- 


\  i(e  in  the  cause  he  so  warmly  espoused.  Soon 
afterward  he  came  to  Belleville,  and  at  once  re- 
sumed the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  has  be- 
(•ome  the  leading  veterinary  surgeon  of  this  sec- 
tion. While  ill  the  army  he  was  on  special  service 
as  veterinary  surgeon  to  look  after  contagious 
diseases,  and  h.as  been  very  successful  in  his  treat- 
ment of  many  of  the  most  fatal  disesises  known  to 
lioises.  His  practice  extends  all  over  the  country, 
for  he  devotes  his  entire  time  to  this  occupation, 
.•viul  he  has  won  more  than  a  merely  local  reputa- 
tion. 

On  the  -iOth  of  Deeeniber.  18i;."),  Dr.  Faulbaum 
was  married  to  Miss  Ida  Daneiskc,  of  Belleville, 
wiio  was  born  in  West  Prussia,  (iciniany,  and 
was  brought  to  Aineriea  by  lier  parents  when  ten 
years  of  age.  Of  eiglit  children  born  to  them,  the 
following  are  living  at  the  present  time:  Minna, 
wife  of  Nicholas  Thome;  .Justus  D.;  Lena,  Mrs. 
George  Bracke;  Adolph,  a  successful  and  experi- 
enced druggist;  Hellmann,  Emma  and  Otto.  Au- 
gusta became  the  wife  of  George  Bracke,  and  upon 
her  death  left  an  infant  named  Charles. 

Dr.  F'aulbaum  is  well  supplied  with  worldly 
goods,  and  beside  his  [ileasant  and  very  comfort- 
able residence  at  No  220  East  Avenue,  where  his 
liome  has  been  for  the  past  twenty  years,  he  is  the 
owner  of  a  fertile  fnirn  of  ninety  acres  near  Mar- 
issa.  His  career  Ihioiigh  life  has  remained  un- 
tarnished, and  he  rejoices  in  the  respect  and  esteem 
of  a  large  circle  of  friends,  whose  good-will  he  has 
won  by  his  straightforward  course,  generosity  and 
natural  kindness  of  heart. 


^^^,F20RGE  FAHNE.  Si!.,ownsaiid  operates  two 
[|[  (-—  hundred  and  sixly-iiine  acres  of  land,  upon 
^^^i\  which  he  has  resided  since  18.')9.  This  farm 
in  O'Fallon  Township  is  situated  on  .section  2,  and 
is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  well  im- 
proved. The  owner  was  born  in  I.angate,  Lorraine, 
France,  in  1828,  and  is  a  son  of  .lean  Nickolas 
Faline.     The    father,  beiim'  an  only  son,  was  thus 


312 


PORTRAIT  AND  RIOGRARHICAL  RECORD. 


exempt  from  militiiiy  duty,  and  in  June,  1832,  he 
came  with  his  family  to  America,  landing  in  New 
Orleans,  whence  he  went  up  the  river  to  St.  Louis. 
He  was  there  offered  a  block  of  land  just  south  of 
the  court  house,  but,  preferiing  to  live  in  the 
country,  he  removed  to  Belleville,  and  securing 
forty  acres  of  land  established  a  brickyard.  He 
afterward  came  to  this  township,  where  he  purchased 
fifty-nine  acres  and  began  farming,  which  he  fol- 
lowed until  his  death  in  1878,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  eighty-one  years.  His  wife,  Maria  Magdelena 
Faline,  died  in  O'Fallon  Townshij)  in  1833. 

The  family  of  this  worthy  coui)le  numbered  six 
children:  Peter,  who  married  Elizabeth  Remmel, 
died  February  7,  1878,  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven 
years.  They  had  two  children:  a  daughter  who 
died  in  childhood,  and  George,  of  JIurfreesboro, 
Tenn.  Mary  became  the  wife  of  Christoph  Baggy, 
and  removed  to  Belleville  and  afterward  to  Car- 
lyle,  where  she  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years, 
leaving  four  daughters  and  one  son :  John,  Mary, 
Rosa,  Annie  and  Isabel,  all  of  whom  live  in  Car- 
lyle.  ISIargaretha  was  married,  and  both  she  and 
her  husband  died  of  cholera  in  1849,  she  being 
about  twenty  years  of  age.  The  next  child  died 
in  infancy.  George,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
is  the  next  >ounger.  Nicholas,  born  in  1818,  died 
April  8,  1869. 

Our  subject  was  only  four  years  old  when  he 
came  to  America.  Upon  his  father's  farm  he  was 
reared,  there  working  until  1852,  when  he  started 
out  in  life  for  himself  as  a  farm  hand,  being  thus 
employed  until  his  mairiage  in  1854.  He  wedded 
Phillipine  Loyd,  who  was  born  in  1833  and  died 
November  26,  1869.  Eight  children  were  born  of 
tiiat  union:  John,  born  July  18,  1854,  wedded 
Mary  .Siegel,  daughter  of  George  and  Louisa  Siegel, 
and  is  a  farmer  of  this  community.  They  have  had 
(ire  children:  Mary,  twelve  years  of  age;  Louisa,  a 
maiden  of  ten;  Celia,  who  died  in  infancy;  Philli- 
pina,  four  years  old,  and  Clara,  ten  months  old. 
Elizabeth,  the  second  child  of  the  Fahne  family 
died  in  infancy.  Mary,  born  April  27, 1858,  is  the 
wife  of  William  Schaefer,  a  resident  farmer  of 
O'Fallon  Township, by  whom  she  has  six  children: 
Phillipina,  George,  Linda,  William,  Anna  and 
Louisa.     Conrad   died  in   infancy.     George,  born 


April  3,  1861,  was  married,  in  March,  1886,  to 
Lizzie,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Ann  Rock,  and 
they  have  tliree  children:  Annie,  five  years  of  age; 
Johnnie,  who  died  in  infancy, and  Phillipina;  they 
reside  on  a  farm  near  the  old  homestead.  Philli- 
pina, born  April  14,  1863,  was  married  February 
17, 1887,  to  Adam  .Seiiildknecht  and  they  have  two 
children,  George  and  Lilly,  aged  respectively  four 
and  two  years.  Margaretha,  born  September  24. 
1865,  was  married,  April  11,  1888,  to  William 
Siegel,  a  farmer  of  Madison  County,  and  they  have 
two  children,  George  and  Louisa.  INIichael,  born 
February  7,  1868,  is  at  home  and  completes  the 
family. 

After  the  death  of  his  first  w  ife,  Mr.  F'ahne  mar- 
ried Mrs.  Catherine  (Krug)  Meyer,  widow  of  John 
S.  Meyer;  she  was  born  December  21,  1824,  in  Ba- 
varia, Germany,  landed  in  New  York  August  23 
1845,  and  thence  went  to  St.  Louis.  By  her  first 
marriage,  she  had  two  children.  The  elder,  John 
N.  Meyer,  born  July  12,  1853,  resides  on  his  fa- 
ther's farm;  he  married  Lizzie  Ensinger  and  they 
have  five  children:  John,  Emma,  William,  Annie 
and  Caroline.  Henry  W.,  born  December  1,  1859, 
lives  with  his  brother. 

Mr.  Fahne  of  this  sketch  has  engaged  in  the 
operation  of  his  present  farm  for  a  third  of  a  cen- 
tury. He  is  industrious  and  enterprising  and  is 
numbered  among  the  substantial  agriculturists  of 
this  community.  In  religious  views,  he  was  form- 
erly a  Catholic,  but  at  this  writing  is  connected 
with  no  church.     In  politics,  he  is  a  Democrat. 


llERNARD  TWENHAFEL.  The  career  of 
this  gentleman  has  been  one  of  persever- 
f»J)))l);  ance  and  integrity,  and  has  been  crowned 
with  the  success  which  those  meet  who  stead- 
ily pursue  their  way,  doing  always  that  which  tiieir 
hand  findeth  to  do.  Mr.  Tweuhafel  is  an  exponent 
of  the  fact  so  frequently  stated,  and  which  so  many 
young  men  seem  to  doubt,  "that  in  acting  well 
one's  part  there  all  the  honor  lies." 

Herman    Twenhafel.  the   father  of    our   subject. 


PORTRAIT  AND  lUOGRAPmCAL  RECORD. 


.ii;i 


was  a  native  of  G!«rmany,  born  in  tliat  coun- 
try in  the  year  1800.  He  veceived  a  good 
education  in  the  (iernian  eoninion  scliools,  and, 
after  tiiiishin<>'  his  course  in  school,  learned  the 
trade  (if  liaktr.  which  h»'  followed  for  a  liveli- 
hood all  ills  life.  After  serving  the  customary 
five  j-ears  in  the  German  army,  Herman  Twen- 
hafel  returned  to  his  trade  and  married  Miss 
Regina  .Sticnker,  also  a  nativeof  ( ierraany.  He  was 
blessed  with  a  family  of  six  children,  three  of  whom 
are  yet  living:  Bernard  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Hannah,  wife  of  Conrad  Lautenschlager;  and  Caro- 
line, who  is  yet  in  Germany.  Herman  Twenhafel 
and  his  wife  were  always  active  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church. 

liernard  Twenhafel,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  in  Germany  in  the  year  1826.  He  received  a 
good  education  in  the  common  .schools  of  his  na- 
tive country,  and,  after  leaving  school,  learned 
the  trade  of  a  cigar-maker,  wliich  pursuit  he  fol- 
lowed for  a  number  of  years  while  in  Germany. 
The  fever  of  emigration  seized  him  in  the  year 
1843,  and  he  accordingly  set  sail  for  .\nierica  in 
that  year.  After  arriving  in  this  country,  he  lo- 
cated at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he  soon  found 
work  at  his  trade,  and  remained  there  for  three 
\ears.  Louisville,  Ky.,  was  his  next  place  of  resi- 
dence, and  for  seven  yeai-s  he  remained  in  that 
city  working,  and,  by  economy  and  industry, accu- 
mulating a  small  sum,  the  nucleus  of  the  prosper- 
ity and  fortune  he  now  enjoys. 

In  the  year  18o.'5,  .Mr.  Twenhafel  dropped  his 
trade,  and,  haying  become  impressed  with  the  po.s- 
sibilities  to  be  derived  from  a  residence  in  Darm- 
sUadt,  St.  Clair  County,  111.,  he  accordingly  moved 
to  that  spot,  invested  his  earnings  in  propeitv 
there,  and  has  ever  since  been  identified  as  one  of 
the  leading  citizens  of  the  county.  His  first  busi- 
ness venture  in  this  vicinity  was  the  opening  of  a 
general  merchandise  store,  of  which  he  made  a 
great  success,  and  from  which  he  retired  only  a 
few  years  ago,  having  become  known  .as  one  of  the 
most  reliable  and  upright  merchants  in  this  part 
of  the  State,  his  active  business  career  in  this 
community  having  extended  over  a  period  of 
twenty-six  years. 

One  year  after  his  migration  to  Darmstadt.  Mr. 


Twenhafel  married  Miss  Appolonia  Fruth,  daugh- 
ter of  Adam  and  Mary  E.  (Peter)  Fruth,  and  lu 
them  were  born  six  children:  Anna,  wife  of  F.  S. 
Weckler;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  William  Ruemmler; 
Mary  (deceased);  Appolonia,  wife  of  Charles  Mar- 
lock;  Philip  R.  and  Gustave  (deceased). 

Politically,  iVIr.  Twenhafel  is  a  Rei)ublican,  and 
one  of  the  stanchest  adherents  of  his  part}-.  He 
has  always  given  the  heartiest  support  to  the  partv 
of  his  choice,  and  he  never  hesitates  to  cast  his 
vote  for  the  nominee  set  forth  as  the  leader 
thereof.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Lodge  No. 
11«.  A.  F.  A-  A.  M.,  of  Freehui-g,  and  cariies  a  life 
insurance  in  the  same  oi'der. 

Mr.  Twenhafel  has  increased  his  first  purchase 
in  Darmstadt,  St.  Clair  County,  from  time  to  time, 
and  is  at  present  the  possessor  of  three  hundred 
acres  of  choice  land  here,  in  addition  to  his  other 
accumulations.  He  has -made  a  success  of  life  in 
every  sense  of  the  word.  By  judicious  invest- 
ment and  careful  management,  he  has  acquired  a 
goodly  amount  of  property,  and  his  record  in  all 
the  relations  of  life  and  in  the  duties  devolving 
upon  him  as  an  honorable  man  and  faithful  citi- 
zen is  of  the  highest.  He  is  now  leading  a  retired 
life  and  enjoying  the  fruits  of   his  labor. 


^>^^<-^=^ 


'OIIN  M.  SULLIVAN.  Among  the  varied 
and  extensive  business  operations  carried 
on  in  the  thrifty  and  progressive  cit_v  of  East 
St.  Louis,  there  is  none  that  meets  with 
iiKjre  general  recognition  than  that  of  general  mer- 
chandising. Among  those  actively  engaged  in  it 
is  .lohn  M.  Sullivan,  who  has  one  of  the  finest,  if 
not  the  finest,  stores  in  the  city  and  has  established 
an  enviable  reputation  not  only  as  a  wide-awake, 
thorough-going  business  man,  but  as  a  citizen  whose 
honesty  and  uprightness  have  never  been  ques- 
tioned. 

.Mr.  Sullivan  was  born  in  St.  Louis.  Mo.,  on  the 
6i\\  of  May,  1859,  and  inherits  tlie  quick  wit  and 
active  brain  of  his  Hiliernian  ancestors.  His 
father.  Michael   Sullivan,  was  a   native  of  County 


314 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Cork,  Ireland,  and  was  reared  to  the  pursuit 
of  farming.  When  still  a  single  man,  ho  came 
U)  America  and  settled  in  St.  Louis,  where 
he  was  emijloyed  as  foreman  of  a  brewery  and 
took  charge  of  the  delivery  department.  Later, 
he  removed  to  Leavenworth,  Kan.,  filled  the  same 
position  in  a  brewery  tliere,  and  tliere  received  his 
final  summons  in  1866.  The  last  year  of  his  life 
he  was  engaged  in  the  dairy  business  in  tiiat  city. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church,  as 
was  also  his  wife,  Mary  Cogan,  who  was  a  native 
of  Ireland,  born  in  County  Cork.  Mrs.  Sullivan 
came  with  her  parents  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where 
lier  father  tilled  the  soil  until  his  death.  After 
the  death  of  her  husband  she  resided  in  Leav- 
enworth with  her  children  until  1879,  when  she 
moved  to  East  St.  Louis,  and  there  died  when 
sixty-eight  years  of  age.  Five  children  were  born 
to  her  marriage,  one  daughter  being  deceased. 

Our  subject  was  but  a  babe  when  his  parents 
moved  to  Leavenworth,  Kan.,  and  he  was  the  eldest 
child.  He  was  reared  in  that  city,  where  until  the 
year  1876  be  attended  the  public  schools.  "When 
lifteen  years  of  age  he  served  an  apprenticeship  at 
the  painter's  trade,  and  on  the  6th  of  July,  1876, 
he  moved  to  East  St.  Louis,  where  he  was  employed 
in  a  foundry  as  painter  for  one  year.  After  this 
he  was  on  the  railroad  as  foreman,  and  later  ac- 
cepted a  position  as  night  car  inspector  for  the 
Chicago,  Burlington  *  Quincy  Railroad.  Shortly 
afterward  he  began  attending  the  St.  Louis  Business 
CoUeo'e  and  graduated  from  that  institution.  On 
the  19th  of  August,  1884,  he  embarked  in  the 
grocery  business,  under  the  firm  name  of  J.  M.  Sul- 
livan &  Bros.,  and  has  continued  business  under 
this  title  ever  since.  Although  he  began  life  at 
the  bottom  of  the  ladder,  by  good  management 
and  naturally  fine  qualifications  he  has  attained  a 
position  of  which  any  man  might  be  proud.  He 
added  to  his  grocery  a  meat  shop  etc.,  and  carries  a 
fine  line  of  nearly  everyth'ing  except  dry  goods. 
'I'his  is  the  largest  establishment  of  the  kind  in 
the  city,  and  is  located  at  Nos.  100  and  102  South 
Fourth  Street.  The  building  is  46x70  feet  in 
dimensions  and  two  stories  in  height. 

In  the  year  1888,  Mr.    Sullivan  was  msu-ried  to 
Miss  Maggie  A.  Muri)hy.a  native  of  East  St.  Louis 


and  the  daughter  of  Michael  Murphy,  who  was 
Alderman  and  for  a  number  of  years  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Education.  The  latter  died  in  this 
city.  Mrs.  Sullivan  was  educated  here  and  for 
several  j'ears  was  Principal  of  the  Franklin  School. 
Two  children  have  been  given  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sulli- 
van, Mary  and  .lay  Martin.  In  1885,  Mr.  Sulli- 
van was  elected  a  member  of  the  Board  of  I^Uica- 
tion  and  for  the  last  three  years  he  was  President 
of  the  Board.  In  1887,  he  ran  for  the  office  of 
Mayor  on  the  Labor  ticket  but  was  defeated  by  a 
small  majority.  He  was  at  that  time  a  member  of 
the  Knights  of  Labor.  In  1890,  he  was  appointed 
a  memljer  of  the  Board  of  Election  Commissioners 
of  East  St.  Louis  by  Judge  Boenau  and  was  made 
chairman,  which  position  he  has  held  ever  since. 
Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Knights 
of  Illinois.  He  is  a  member  and  Director  of  St. 
Patrick's  Building  and  Loan  Association,  and  is  a 
worthy  member  of  St.  Mary's  Catholic  Church.  In 
politics,  he  is  a  Democrat. 


^HEO.  VOCtT  is  a  wholesale  litpior  dealer 
of  East  St.  Louis.  In  this  age  of  gross  and 
almost  universal  adulteration,  it  is  a  pleas-" 
ure  to  be  able  to  refer  to  those  reliable  houses 
where  the  public  are  assured  of  obtaining  only  the 
purest  and  best  goods  and  where  no  imposition  is 
practiced  upon  credulous  patrons.  Of  such  is  tlie 
responsible  establishment  of  Mr.  ^■ogt,  of  which  he 
has  had  the  management  since  1888,  his  house  of 
business  being  located  on  Broadw.ay.  He  was  born 
at  Huelschotten,  near  Attendorn,  Westphalia,  Ger- 
many, November  28,  1849,  to  Peter  and  Elizabeth 
Vogt,  the  former  of  whom  w.is  a  worker  in  iron 
and  a  farmer  by  occupation.  He  was  in  an  artillery 
regiment  in  the  Prussian  army  and  died  in  1H71, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years.  His  widow  died  in 
1877,  when  about  seventy  years  of  age. 

Theo»  Vogt  is  one  of  two  surviving  members 
of  the  family  of  five  children,  born  to  his  parents, 
his  sister  Marguerite,  Mrs.  Schulte,  being  a  resident 
of  St.  Louis,  Mo.     He  was  reared  to  a  farm  life  in 


PORTRMT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RKCORD. 


315 


Germany,  obtained  a  com  in  on -school  education, 
and  at  llie  ajjeof  eigliteen  years  went  to  Kadevorin- 
wald  in  tlic  Riiine  country,  wliere  lie  learned  the 
tanner's  trade,  at  which  he  worked  until  18t!',t.  In 
tlie  fall  of  that  year,  he  took  passas^e  at  Hreinen 
on  the  sailwig-vessel  "C'osmus"  for  America,  and 
reached  the  city  of  New  Wnk  after  a  voyage  of 
thirty-eight  days.  After  working  a  short  time  in 
tlie  metropolis  of  the  New  World,  he  cauie  to  St. 
l.ouis,  !Mo.,  ill  .lanuary.  1870,  and  for  ten  months 
thereafter  worked  at  his  trade.  In  1870,  he  entered 
Fiona  College,  St.  Francis,  Jlilwaukee  County, 
Wis.,  completing  the  cinirse  after  an  attendance 
of  two  years  and  six  iiHuitlis.  lie  then  came  to 
(J'Kallon,  111.,  wliere  he  taught  in  the  parish  school 
for  one  term,  then  came  to  KastSt.  Louis,  and  for 
six  yeai-s  thereafter  was  a  teacher  in  the  ))ultiic 
schools  of  this  city. 

For  eighteen  months  our  subject  traveled  over 
several  .States  for  the  linn  of  Harold  dcs  Glaubens, 
which  experience  was  very  valuable  to  hini.  He 
then  started  in  the  grocery  business  at  No.  1601 
.Morgan  Street,  St.  Louis,  but  three  years  later  pur- 
chased a  retail  licjuor  house  in  that  city.  In  1888, 
he  sold  his  establishment  there,  and  bought  the 
wholesale  litjuor  establishment  of  Paul  Abt,  in  East 
.St.  Louis,  which  was  located  on  Jlissouri  Avenue, 
and  was  a  brick  building,  two  stories  high,  with  a 
frontage  of  forty  feet.  In  1891,  he  built  his  pres- 
ent line  brick  establishment,  whicii  lias  a  sixteen- 
foot  frontage  on  Broadway.  It  is  a  two-story 
building,  very  finely  furnished,  has  an  elevator 
and  is  heated  by  furnace.  'rhi>  is  considered  the 
handsomest  lilock  on  Broadway  and  is  a  credit  to 
the  town. 

Mr.'Vogt  is  interested  in  mines  iu  (  oUiradd.  lias 
an  exceptionally  handsome  residence  at  \o.  120 
North  .Seventh  .Street,  which  was  erected  at  a  cost 
of  110.000,  and  is  the  owner  of  other  valuable 
property,  lie  was  married  in  E.ast  .St.  I,<uii>.  in 
1878,  to  Miss  Lizzie  de  Haan,  who  was  horn  in 
Coin,  Germany,  a  daughter  of  Capt.  .lolin  de  Haan. 
She  was  reared  and  educated  in  St.  Limis,  Mo.,  and 
has  borne  her  husband  the  following  children:  Kate; 
Ida;  (iertrude,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three  yejirs; 
Theo;  Fmil;and  Margaret.  .Mr.  N'ogt  and  his  fam- 
ily attend  St.  Henry's  Church.     He  belongs  to  the 


Catholic  Knights  of  America,  and  in  politics  is  in- 
dependent, casting  his  \ote  for  the  one  he  consid- 
ers the  best  man.  He  is  a  pushing,  enterpris- 
ing young  merchant  and  is  deservedly  popnljir 
witli  all  with  whom  lie  lias  dealings.  His  goods  are 
of  the  liiiesl  (luality  and  are  (juoted  at  the  lowest 
))  rices. 


KN.IAMIN  I'AI.'KF.H  CKKKN.  There  arc 
very  fcwcountii's  in  the  Fiiited  States  that 
do  not  contain   men    who  have  prosecuted 

3^  a  successful  career,  rising  from  poverty  to 
competence  by  dint  of  energy  and  industry,  coup- 
led with  good  manageinent.  An  example  of  this 
kind  in  .St.  Clair  County  was  found  in  the  jjerson 
of  the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  these 
paragraphs  and  whose  home  was  located  on  .section 
28,  IMarissa  Township.  There  he  owned  a  good 
estate,  which  was  supplied  with  every  needful  out- 
building and  a  substantial  residence.  His  life  was 
brought  to  a  close  April  11,  1800,  when  sixty-eight 
years  of  age. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  born  in  County  An- 
trim, Ireland,  in  1822.  He  wa.s  the  son  of  Sir 
Francis  and  Rebecca  (ireeii,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tivesof  the  Fnierald  Isle,  and  on  coming  to  America 
were  pioneers  in  St.  Clair  County.  Henjaniin  P. 
of  this  sketch  being  reared  to  farm  pursuits,  when 
ready  to  choose  an  occupation  in  life  followed  that 
line  of  business,  and,  being  a  man  of  more  than  or- 
dinary push  aiul  enterprise,  was  very  successful  in 
his  undertaking. 

The  lady  to  whom  Mr.  (Irceii  wa.-,  married  in 
18(5.5  was  Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of  .lames  and 
Elizabeth  (Kilpatrick)  Gitty,  and,  like  herhu.sband, 
was  al.so  born  in  County  Antrim,  Ireland,  in  the 
year  18;V2.  Her  fatheV  was  a  linen  weaver  in  that 
couiilrv,  which  occupation  he  followed  until  his 
decease.  Mrs.  (ireeii  is  the  only  ineinber  of  the 
family  of  seven  children  who  came  to  America, 
liirce  of  her  bifithers  and  sisters  dying  when  young. 
Her  paternal  grandfather,  Henry  (Jitty,  Sr.,  was 
born   in   the  same  house  in   Ireland  where  his  son 


316 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


James  was  born.  Mrs.  Green  came  to  America 
when  twenty-eight  _years  of  age,  in  company  with 
her  cousin,  William  Gipson,  and,  locating  in  this 
county,  was  married  the  following  year  to  our  sub- 
ject. Their  union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of 
ten  children,  of  whom  those  living  are:  Thomas  L.; 
Jane  R.,  wife  of  Edward  Johnson;  Charles  M.  and 
Robert  J.  (twins);  Henry  E.;  William  P.;  Herbert 
G.;  and  Josephine,  Mrs.  Charles  Edminson. 


e^^-^ 


^tj  YJMAN  T.  CARR.  The  gentleman  whose 
11  ((^  name  stands  at  the  opening  of  this  short 
|IL-^  sketch  has  the  honor  to  be  the  Justice  of 
the  Peace  for  Smithton  Township,  in  which  he  has 
a  tine  farm,  he  being  one  of  the  most  influential 
farmers  of  his  locality. 

Mr.  Carr  is  the  son  of  William  Carr.  who  was 
born  in  St.  Clair  County,  February  24,  1809.  The 
latter  was  the  son  of  Abner  Carr,  who  came  to  this 
coiraty  from  Virginia  and  settled  in  this  township, 
where  he  entered  land  from  the  Government. 
Here  his  son  William  grew  to  manhood  and  mar- 
ried Miss  Sarah  Miller,  daughter  of  Reuben  Miller, 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  Monroe  County.  After  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Carr,  he  located  in  Prairie  Du 
Long  Township,  where  he  continued  to  live  until 
1861,  when  he  went  to  Randolph  County  and  en- 
tered land  and  continued  to  live  for  six  years. 
This  gentleman  was  a  brave  soldier  in  the  Black 
Hawk  War,  defending  his  county  from  the  en- 
croachment of  the  savage  Indian.  He  and  his  es- 
timable wife  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  five 
of  whom  are  still  living. 

Our  subject  first  saw  the  light  of  day  December 
29,  1839,  in  St.  Clair  County,  in  the  old  home- 
stead, and  here  he  was  reared  and  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  the  period,  remaining  with  his 
father  until  his  marriage  in  1862,  when  he  settled 
on  a  farm  in  Randolph  County,  and  there  re- 
mained for  fifteen  years.  In  1876,  he  came  to  St. 
Clau'  County  and  located  at  Douglas,  where  he  re- 
mained for  three  years  and  then  went  further 
south,  but  after  a  short  residence  came  to  the  place 


he  now  occupies,  on  section  15,  Smithton  Town- 
ship, where  he  has  a  tine  farm  of  two  hundred  and 
twenty  acres,  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  which 
are  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  cm  which  he 
raises  corn  principally'. 

Mr.  Carr  was  married  in  1862  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Adams,  the  accomplished  daughter  of  Andrew 
Adams,  of  Randolph  County,  where  he  was  an  ex- 
tensive farmer.  This  lady  departed  this  life  in 
1870,  leaving  two  children,  Clara  and  Corn.  In 
1881,  Mr.  Cai'r  was  again  married,  this  time  to 
Mrs.  Redenhouse,  whose  maiden  name  was  Ellen 
AVoods.  She  has  borne  him  three  children,  Rupert 
L.,  Flora  E.  and  Paulina,  all  bright,  interesting 
children. 

ISIr.  Carr  belongs  to  Lodge  No.  418,  A.  F.  k  A. 
M.,  of  Freel)urg,  111.  Politically,  he  upholds  the 
principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  by  whom  he 
was  eUcted  to  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace 
three  3'ears  .ago,  which  oHice  he  still  holds  in 
a  manner  entirely  satisfactory  to  all  parties  con- 
cerned. 


•^^^[^•©^i^i^^^*- 


I/.  ENRY  KNOBELOCH,  a  prosperous  farmer 
on  section  27,  Shiloh  Valley  Township, 
was  born  on  the  same  farm  where  he  now 
resides  in  1860.  He  is  a  son  of  Balthazar 
and  Elizabeth  (Leibrock)  Knobeloch.  His  father 
is  still  living  and  resides  also  on  section  27.  He 
was  born  in  Darmstadt,  Germany,  in  181 9,  and  was 
a  son  of  John  W.  and  Mary  (May)  Knobeloch, 
natives  of  Olmstadt,  Germany.  The  grandfather 
of  our  subject  was  born  in  1777,  and  his  grand- 
moth'er  in  1781.  He  was  a  fanner  by  occui)ation 
in  the  Fatherland,  and  brought  his  family  to  the 
United  States  in  1832.  He  at  once  set  out  for  Il- 
linois and  purch.ased  a  farm  in  St.  Clair  County, 
the  identical  farm  now  owned  IVy  his  son.  lie  had 
a  large  farm  in  Germany,  wliich  he  sold  before 
emigrating  to  the  New  AV^orld.  Thus  provided 
with  several  thousand  dollars,  he  was  enabled  to 
purchase  about  t'oui'  hundred  and  twenty  .acres  of 
fertile  pri)pert.N-.     He  reared  a  family  of  four  sons 


rORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL,  RECORD. 


3i; 


and  one  daugliter,  all  of  whom  have  since  passed 
away,  with  tiie  exception  of  our  subject's  f.ither. 
They  were  .ill  reared  in  the  Protestant  religion 
and  had  fair  school  advantasres.  Molm  Knobeloch 
died  in  1H;15,  and  liis  wife  survived  him  until  she 
loti  was  called  to  the  Better  Liuid,  in  18.")7. 

The  father  of  our  subject  received  a  i!:(.)od  com- 
mon-school education  in  the  Old  Country,  ;uul 
lived  with  his  mother  until  his  marriage,  which  oc- 
curred when  he  was  twenty-nine  years  of  age. 
The  lady  of  his  choice  was  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Lawrence  and  Eve  Leibrock.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Knobeloch  were  born  nine  children:  Margaret, 
the  wife  of  J.  C.  Koska;  .Sophia,  .Tulius,  Ceorge, 
Henry;  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  ,1.  C.  Hacket;  Mol- 
lie,  now  dece.'i>ed:  Emma  and  Kudolpii,  also  de- 
ceased. The  father  carried  f>n  tlie  occupation  of 
farmini;-  i>\\  the  honu'stend  with  his  brothers  for 
seventeen  years,  when  his  father's  estate  was  di- 
vided and  he  is  now  tiie  owner  of  about  sixteen 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land. 

Henry  Knobelocli,  whose  name  heads  tiiis  sketch, 
passed  his  lioyhood  days  on  the  farm  and  grew  to 
manhood  under  the  i)arental  roof.  His  education 
was  received  in  the  district  schools  and  in  the 
town  of  I'icllcviMc.  AVhen  twenty-four  years  of 
age.  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Elizabeth  M. 
Meyer,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Conrad  and  Barbara 
(Bergan)  Meyer.  Mr.  Meyer  was  a  native  of  Baden, 
flerinany,  where  he  was  born  in  \H-2',\.  He  was 
reared  to  city  life  and  learned  the  stone-cutter's 
trade.  When  twenty  years  of  age,  he  enlisted  in 
the  army  and  served  there  for  a  period  of  about 
c>ne  year,  lie  tlien  left  his  Eatherland  and  cros.sed 
the  l)roatl  Atlantic  to  the  I'nitcd  States,  wIkm'c  lie 
remained  about  three  years.  lie  then  lunih' 
a  visit  to  1m>  native  country,  was  there  mar- 
ried, and  after  a  siiort  time  again  sailed  for 
the  New  World.  Arriving  in  this  country  with 
his  bride,  lie  went  to  St.  Louis,  and  there 
made  his  home.  In  IHilLhe  entered  the  liiited 
States  army,  in  (dmpany  V.  Thirty-fourtii 
Illinois  Heginient.  .\fter  his  discharge  fioni  the 
service,  he  went  to  Maseoutah,  where  he  ran  a  saw- 
mill, and  in  addition  carried  on  the  labors  of  a 
farm.  He  and  his  wife  reared  a  family  of  ten 
<  hildroi],  of  whom  the  wife  of  our  subject   is   the 


fifth  in  order  of  birth.     Mr.  and   Mrs.  Knobeloch 
have  one  daughter,  Ciussie. 

-Vfter  the  marriage  of  our  subject,  he  continued 
to  live  with  his  father  on  the  home  farm  for  two 
years,  and  then  removed  to  Maseoutah,  where  he 
resided  for  about  a  year.  .\t  the  expiration  of 
tliat  time,  he  returned  to  his  father's  farm,  where 
lie  has  since  made  his  home.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Farmers'  Mutual  Benefit  Association,  and  also 
holds  membership  with  the  I).  O.  II.  Politically, 
he  is  a  stanch  advocate  of  Democracy.  Though 
comparatively  a  young  man,  he  has  already  shown 
marked  business  ability,  and  has  shown  great  en- 
terprise and  industry  in  his  care  of  the  homestead. 
He  is  widely  and  favorably  known  in  this  county, 
where  he  has  resided  since  iiis  liirtii. 


X'  MSON  BAKU,  of  Bacr  Bros., dealersin  horses 
and  mules,  is  one  of  the  enterprising  busi- 
ness men  of  the  township  where  he  lives. 
He  is  a  native  of  (lermany,  having  been 
born  in  AVurtemberg,  .\ugust  8,  1851.  He  was 
reared  and  educated  in  his  native  land,  where  he 
remained  until  he  had  reached  the  age  of  seventeen, 
when  ho  crossed  the  ocean  and  came  to  this  town  in 
1869,  his  brother  ,Varon  having  preceded  him.  He 
wiis  engaged  in  the  same  busjiios.  that  of  dealing 
in  horses,  from  the  first. 

The  first  partnersiiip  which  our  subject  formed 
was  tlial  of  Lowenstein  and  Baer  Brothers,whicli  did 
business  at  the  same  place  they  now  occupy.  In 
l.sH->.  the  name  was  changed  to  Baer  Brothers,  and 
they  have  done  a  heavy  business  ever  since.  Their 
stables  and  olHce  are  at  High  and  Washington 
Streets,  Belleville,  111.  Tiiey  have  a  large  brick 
barn,  411x101)  feel,  with  an  ailditi(Mi  in  the  rear  of 
one  liundreil  and  fifty-two  feet.  They  do  a  very 
large  business,  handling  from  five  to  six  hundred 
mules  and  horses  a  month,  lieing  the  exclusive 
sellers  and  exchangers  of  hor.ses. 

Mr.  Baer  was  married  in  this  town  to  Miss  .Sadie 
Sanger,  who  is  a  native  of  the  place,  having  been 


318 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RfX'ORD. 


born  here  February  6,  1865.  The  ceremony  took 
place  November  4,  1885.  They  have  three  bright 
intelligent  children,  Harry,  Eugene  and  Ilerschel. 

Mr.  Haer  is  a  member  of  the  Schar  Emcth  Con- 
gregation at  St.  Louis.  He  is  a  good  business 
man  and  has  established  and  built  up  a  fine  busi- 
ness that  yields  a  good  income.  He  and  his  charm- 
ing wife  are  highly  respected  throughout  the  town- 
ship, and  resides  in  a  fine  brick  home  on  Wash- 
ington Street,  which  Mr.  ISaer  built. 


Ih.^\  OSES  M.  STOOKEY.  The  gentleman  to 
whom  we  call  the  attention  of  our  readers 
is  a  prominent  and  influential  farmer  of 
St.  Clair  Township,  where  he  operates  an 
excellent  estate  of  eighty  acres,  all  well  improved. 
He  is  serving  his  third  term  as  Township  Supervi- 
sor, which  position  he  has  filled  with  credit  to 
himself  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  cons'.ituents. 
Our  subject  was  born  November  23,  1839.  His 
father,  who  also  bore  the  name  of  Moses,  was 
born  in  Hardy  County,  Va.,  in  1798,  being  a  son 
of  Daniel  Stookeyanda  brother  of  Elijah  Stooke}' 
(for  whom  see  skctcii).  Moses  Stookey,  Si-.,  married 
Elizabeth  Anderson,  a  native  of  the  Keystone 
State,  who  was  born  in  1805  and  died  sixt3'-three 
years  later,  in  1868.  They  were  the  parents  of 
eleven  children,  but  only  three  beside  our  sub- 
ject are  living.  They  are  as  follows:  Elizabeth, 
now  Mrs.  Wood;  John  D.,  who  resides  on  a  farm 
adjoining  that  of  our  subject;  and  Dr.  L.  P.,  of 
Belleville,  whose  sketch  will  be  found  on  another 
page  of  this  volume. 

In  his  bo3'hood,our  subject  received  a  common- 
school  education  in  his  district,  attending  school 
during  the  winter  term  and  working  on  his  father's 
farm  in  the  summer.  He  grew  to  a  stalwart  man- 
haod,well-fitted  to  bear  his  part  as  an  intelligentag- 
riculturist  and  a  public-spirited  citizen.  Thought- 
ful by  nature,  he  prefers  to  deliberate  over  matters 
of  importance  rather  than  express  an  opinion 
hastily,  but  his  ideas  when  presented  are  worthy  of 
due  consideration.     Besides  his  flue  farm,  he  owus 


forty  acres  in  Smithton  Township  and  fort3'  acres 

in  Millstadt  Township. 

In  1862,  Mr.  Stookey  married  Miss  Mary  Adams, 
wiiO  lived  to  bless  his  home  for  twelve  years,  and 
was  then  taken  awaj'  b^'  the  dread  angel,  Death, 
February  27,  1874,  leaving  two  children,  Alonzo 
and  Barbara,  who  are  unmarried  and  at  home.  Mr. 
Stooke3'  was  again  married,  in  1879,  the  lady  of  his 
choice  being  Miss  Mahala,  daughter  of  John  and 
Nancy  Little.  Mrs.  Stookey  was  born  near  Mill- 
stadt in  1«.')().  Her  mother  is  still  living  and  re- 
sides in  Kansas.  Throughout  the  community  where 
she  resides,  Mrs.  Stookey  is  well  known  for  her 
sweetness  of  disposition  and  kindly  consideration 
of  all  with  whom  she  comes  in  contact. 

Mr.  Stookey  is  one  of  the  representative  men  of 
the  township,  in  which  he  has  been  very  promi- 
nent, espeeiall3-  in  political  matters.  He  upholds 
the  principles  of  Democracy  with  vigor  and  enthu- 
siasm, and  uses  his  influence  in  behalf  of  the  party 
of  his  choice.  Alike  devoted  to  public  and  private 
interests,  his  career  as  citizen  and  farmer  is  one  (if 
which  he  and  his  ma3'  well  be  proud. 


=S24£^sit^: 


■^l-l^l 


.■i^i  ONRAD  AULEHS,  who  represents  Lenzburu' 
(II  Township  on  the  Count3^   Board  of  Super- 

y^(.'  visors,  also  operates  a  fine  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres,  part  of  which  was  left  him 
by  his  father,  and  which  is  pleasantly  located  on 
section  12.  lb;  is  a  thorough  tiller  of  the  soil, 
having  been  reared  to  that  occupation,  and  has 
carried  it  on  successfull3'  for  a  number  of  3'ears. 
His  propert\'  is  well  improved,  well  stocked,  and 
in  all  respects  an  attractive  and  valuable  piece  of 
land. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  in  1847, 
and  is  a  son  of  William  and  Cliristina  (Schultz) 
Aiders,  who  were  natives  of  Germany,  the  father 
being  born  February  1,  1801,  and  the  mother  in 
1807.  William  Aiders  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade, 
which  occupation  lie  followed  during  the  greater 
part  of  his  life.  Me  was  married  in  liis  native  land, 
soon    after  which  event  he  came  to  America,  in 


=..    ^ 


RESIDENCE  OF    CONRAD   AHLER5,5EC.  12  ,LENZBURG  TP,5T.  CLAIR  C0.,1LL 


RESIDENCE  OF  M.M.5T0OKEY,  SEC.52 ,  ST.  CLAI  R  TP  ST.  CLAIR  CO., ILL. 


Of   IHi 

(luivf (.'mTY    fit 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


o21 


\x:V.i.  iniikiiiir  111*  liist  location  in  Haltimore,  wliei-e 
lie  resided  for  several  years.  Tlience  lie  went  to 
Pitl*I)urgii.  Pa.,  later  to  St.  Louis.  Mo..  ;iiid  finally 
with  liis  family  came  to  Dutcli  Hill  I'r.iiiic,  this 
county,  wliere  he  engaged  in  fanning,  lie  was  re- 
garded witii  a  high  degree  of  res|)ect  by  his  neigh- 
Ikiis  and  aciiuaintances.  and  was  a  man  of  energy 
and  prudence. 

Oursiihject  is  the  fourth  in  orderof  birth  among 
five  children  who  grew  to  mature  years,  three  dy- 
ing in  infancy.  Those  first  mentioned  are:  ('harles. 
who  is  now  deceased;  Henry,  Loni.sa,  Conrad  and 
Fred.  In  religions  affairs,  the  father  was  a  mem- 
lier  <if  the  Lutheran  Cliiirch,  and  |iolitically  always 
voted  the  straight  Democratic  ticket. 

He  whose  name  heads  this  sketch  reinaineil  mi 
the  home  farm  until  after  iiis  marriage  with  Miss 
M.uy  lireadweiscr.  whicli  was  solemnized  in  18711. 
.Mrs.  -Milers  is  the  daughter  of  William  and  Doro- 
thea Hreadweiser,  tlie  former  a  carpenter  by  ti-ade. 
She  presides  with  dignity  and  etHciency  over  her 
home,  looking  carefully  to  the  welfare  of  the 
hou.sehold.  The  two  children  born  to  herself  and 
husband  are  deceased.  Mr.  .Vhlcrs  is  a  man  of  true 
religious  princi|)les,  and  belong-*  to  the  Lutheran 
Church.  lie  is  one  of  the  most  public-spirited  and 
progressive  men  in  his  townsliip.  wliicli  he  is  serv- 
ing in  the  capacity  of  Su|iervisor  ,iii«l  .lustiec  of 
the  Peace. 


i-^E*^*  y 


^SSsi  \i.  .M.KXANDKb'  S.  ILVL.s  TKAD.  a  mem- 
ber of  the  dental  linn  of  Halstead  d-  Woelk. 
is  justly  regarded  as  one  of  the  tiiorouglily 
reliable  and  ellicienl  masters  of  the  den- 
tal profession  in  Belleville,  111.,  and  has  won  an 
enviable  reputation  for  the  careful,  skillful  manner 
in  which  he  perforins  all  operations.  The  linn  is 
well  provided  with  every  new  improved  appliance 
for  making  the  extraction  of  teeth  as  ea.sy  and  pain- 
les-san  operation  as  possible,  and  they  also  preserve 
the  natural  toelh  and  fill  them.  Their  operating 
room  is  equipped  with  the  jalesl  improved  ojicrat- 


ing  chaii-s  and  with  the  best  instruments  known  to 
the  profession. 

Dr.  Halstead  has  practiced  his  profession  in 
lU'lleviile.Ill.. since  the  year  188(5,  and  lias  recently 
taken  his  former  student,  Robert  Woelk,  into  the 
business  with  him.  Mr,  Woelk  is  very  familiar 
with  the  dental  l)usiness,  is  highly  respected  in 
social  as  well  as  professional  circles,  and  isa^oung 
man  of  sterling  worth. 

Dr.  Halstead  was  born  in  Sliiloh  \alley  Town- 
ship, this  county,  on  the  L'jth  of  December,  1853, 
and  is  a  son  of  A.  S.  Halstead.  Sr.,  who  was  one  of 
the  early  settlers  here,  coming  from  Covington, 
Ky..  in  1808.  Tlu'  latter  married  Miss  Eliza  J. 
Scott,  of  St.  Louis.  Mo.,  but  a  native  of  Qnincy, 
HI.  Her  lather.  Dr.  William  Scott,  located  in 
Shiloh  Valley,  this  i-ounty,  in  the  year  1844. 
After  the  death  of  her  husband,  which  occurred 
when  our  subject  was  but  three  months  old,  Mrs. 
Halstead  made  her  home  with  her  father  for  many 
years.  She  is  now  residing  at  Santa  Barbara,  C'al., 
with  a  daughter,  Josie  A.,  wife  of  William  Rainey, 
formerly  of  Nashville,  111.  Our  subject  was  reared 
principally  in  his  native  count)-  and  was  educated 
in  MoKendree  College,  Lebanon,  later  teaching 
school  for  a  short  time.  He  passed  an  examination 
for  cadelship  at  Champaign,  but  instead  attended 
the  school  of  pharmacy  at  St.  Louis.  Later,  he  at- 
tended the  .St.  Louis  Medical  College  for  two-years,* 
after  which  he  jjiacticed  dentistry,  and  following 
this  he  attended  the  St.  Louis  Medical  and  the  Mis- 
souri Dental  Colleges,  graduating  from  both  insti- 
tutions. 

Our  subject  first  located  at  Mascoutah,  but  later 
came  to  Belleville,  as  above  inenlionetL  He  does 
not  practice  medicine  but  has  built  up  a  large 
practice  in  dentistry' and  is  one  of  tiie  leading,  act- 
ive dentists  of  the  da_v.  What  time  he  can  spare 
from  his  profession  he  devotes  to  horticulture,  an<1, 
as  he  owns  one  and  a-half  .acres  on  Sycamore  Street, 
the  most  of  this  is  utilized  in  that  occupation.  In 
connection,  he  also  owiis  a  retail  store  for  cut 
fiowers  and  candies  at  No.  1202  Olive  Street,  St. 
!>ouis.  He  owns  considerable  real  esliite  in  the 
county  near  the  city,  aliout  f(uir  hundred  acres,  or 
one.fourth  of  an  undivided  sixteen  hundred  acres. 
While  v^siding  in  Mascoutah.  he  wfts  engaged  Ij) 


322 


i'ORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   EECORD. 


general  merchandising  in  addition  to  his  pro- 
fession. He  is  a  member  of  both  the  Illinois  and 
Missouri  State  Dental  Societies,  and,  socially,  is 
identified   with  the  Knights  of  Honor. 

Dr.  Halstead  selected  his  wife  in  the  person  of 
Miss  Kate  Kunz,  of  Mascoutah,  daughter  of  Charles 
Kunz,  one  of  tlie  old  business  men  of  that  place, 
who  was  prominent  as  a  miller,  merciiant  and  dis- 
tiller. This  marriage  occurred  on  the  20th  of 
April,  1879,  and  tiiree  children  have  been  born  to 
them,  namel3':  Dora,  I.,ouisa  and  Charles  Koester. 
In  all  laudable  enterprises,  Dr.  Halstead  takes  a 
deep  interest,  and  he  and  his  admirable  wife  are 
classed  among  the  foiemost  citizens. 


[OHN  JACOB  EBKHHAKT  owns  a  farm  on 
section  3,  Caseyville  Township.  He  was 
born  in  Germany,  his  birth  liaving  occurred 
in  Wurtemberg,  in  1821.  He  is  a  son  of 
Ludwich  and  Barbara  Eberhart,  both  natives  of  the 
same  country  and  born  in  the  same  province.  Our 
subject  received  his  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  land  and  there  grew  to  man- 
hood. He  resided  under  the  parental  roof  until 
thirty  years  of  age.  When  about  eighteen  he  was 
apprenticed  to  a  balier  in  order  to  learn  thattrade. 
Tliis  occupation  he  followed  until  coming  to  the 
Ignited  States.  Leaving  his  parents,  friends  and 
country,  he  crossed  the  briny  deep  in  1850.  He 
(irst  located  iu  Massachusetts,  where  for  four  years 
he  engaged  at  worli  in  a  woolen  factory.  Tiien 
ijelieving  that  the  West  afforded  better  opportuni- 
ties for  advancement  and  for  making  a  fortune,  he 
came  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Coliinsville.  For 
seventeen  years  he  worked  at  his  trade  at  that 
point,  and  with  the  careful  savings  of  years  pur- 
chased land  in  Madison  County,  just  across  the 
line  from  where  lie  now  lives.  He  resided  on  tliat 
farm  for  many  years,  and  then  purchased  ninety- 
three  acres  iu  Caseyville  Township,  this  county, 
on  which  he  settled  in  1886.  His  i)roperty  has 
greatly  increased  in  value  and  has  been  brouglit 
under   a    liigli   stale  of   citlfiyatioii  since  coming 


into  his  possession.  To  achieve  this  result  he  has 
devoted  all  of  his  time  and  attention,  and  well 
merits  the  reward  of  his  labors. 

In  the  year  18.51,  i\Ir.  Kberhart  was  married  to 
Miss  Baibara  Muchler,  of  Ma.ssachusetts.  She  is  a 
daugliter  of  Andrew  and  Catherine  Muchler,  of 
that  State.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eberhart  have  three  liv- 
ing children:  Gottlieb,  who  married  Elizabeth 
Ambrosius,  and  has  two  children,  Herman  and 
Theodore;  Barbaand  Mary.  John  died  when  young. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Eberhart  is  non-partisan,  con- 
sidering it  always  best  to  vote  for  the  man  rather 
than  the  party.  He  fulfills  the  duties  of  citizen- 
ship with  fidelity,  and  is  much  interested  in  all 
measures  calculated  to  advance  the  best  interests 
of  the  community  and  State.  He  is  a  loyal  citi- 
zen of  his  adopted  country  and  takes  an  active 
part  in  everything  tending  to  advance  her  pros- 
perity. He  and  his  family  are  worthy  and  hon- 
ored members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 


^>-^r-<m^- 


fj  of  Caseyville  Township,  owns  and  operates 
a  farm  on  section  3.  He  was  born  in  this 
county,  in  the  same  township,  in  1838,  and  is  a 
son  of  Joshua  and  Mary  (Terry)  Begole.  The  fa- 
ther was  born  in  Maryland,  near  H.agerstown,  in 
1792.  His  wife  was  a  native  of  St.  Clair  County, 
where  her  birth  occurred  in  1808.  On  the  father's 
side  of  the  family  he  is  a  descendant  of  the 
Huguenots,  many  of  whom  came  to  America 
after  their  persecution  in  France.  Joshua  Be- 
gole was  reared  to  m.anhood  on  a  farm,  and  re- 
ceived liiit  a  limited  education  in  the  common 
schools.  When  young,  he  removed  to  Genesee 
County,  N.  Y.,  and  lived  there  for  a  number  of 
years.  At  about  thirty  years  of  age,  turning  his 
face  Westward,  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  located  in 
St.  Clair  County.  For  a  short  time  he  worked  by 
the  month  on  a  farm,  until  he  had  settled  where 
he  should  purchase  land.  He  then,  in  com|)any 
with  his  brother-in-law,  Eliva  Lankeste,  purchased 
about   ojie   hundred   and  sixty  seres  of  laud  on 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


^■2:i 


favorable  terms  and  long  time.  "When  lie  came  to 
the  AVost.  he  was  without  means,  hut  through  in- 
dustry and  ijood  busfness  investments  .accumulated 
about  eight  hundred  acres  of  fine  land. 

On  the  -id  of  March.  1824.  Mr.  Begole  wedded 
Marv  Terry,  a  daughter  of  George  and  Sarah 
Terrv,  of  this  county.  To  them  were  born  a  fam- 
ily of  twelve  children,  three  of  whom  died  when 
voung.  Those  who  grew  to  adult  age  were  AVilliam 
H.,  now  deceased;  Frank;  .Sarah,  the  wife  of  (iideon 
I.emen;  .\ndrew,  also  deceased;  Mary,  who  was  the 
wife  of  Levi  Piggott,  and  has  now  departed  this 
life;  .lames  M.,  deceased;  V.  M..  our  subject;  Cyrus 
S.;  and  Cynthia,  who  is  the  wife  of  Kdwin  Lemen. 
This  family  were  all  memlieis  and  supporters  of 
the  Hai>tist  Church,  where  they  were  highly  es- 
teemed. Politically,  the  father  belonged  to  the 
old  Whig  party,  and  later  was  a  siii)porter  of  the 
Republican  i)arty.  For  eight  years  he  was  Justice 
of  the  Peace,  the  duties  of  which  position  he  trans- 
acted with  ability  and  wisdom. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-three,  our  subject  rented 
his  father's  farm  and  proceeded  to  devote  his  at- 
tention to  agricultural  pursuits.  He  had  pre- 
viously received  a  good  education  in  the  common 
schools,  and  to  this  he  has  constantl}'  added  l)y 
study  and  good  reading,  and  is  now  a  well-in- 
formed man,  thoroughly  interested  in  the  great 
issues  of  the  day.  After  farming  for  .some  years, 
his  father  gave  him  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and 
fifteen  acres.  To  this  he  has  added  until  he  now 
has  six  hundred  and  forty-five  acres  of  as  fine  land 
as  can  be  found  in  the  county,  lie  has  devoted 
his  entire  time  and  care  to  the  development  and 
improvement  of  this  property,  and  his  efTorl*  have 
been  blessed  with  marked  success.  On  every  hand 
is  seen  the  evidence  of  the  thrift  and  progressive 
spirit  of  the  owner. 

On  the  2d  of  ]\Iarch,  1887,  Mr.  I'.egole  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Clara  Lemen,  daughter  of  Isaac  and 
Caroline  (Hogan)  Lemen.  To  our  worthy  subject 
and  his  estimable  wife  two  children  have  been 
born:  Charles  F.  and  Mary  F.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  IJegolc 
are  Haplist  in  religious  faith,  being  members  of  the 
Bethel  Chapel. 

In  politics,  Mr,  Begole  is  a  staiuli  supporter  of 
the  principles  of  the  Uepublican   party,  to   which 


he  gives  his  warm  support.  For  over  fifty  years 
he  has  lived  in  this  county,  ami  is  widely  and 
favorably  known  throughout  this  section.  His  in- 
fluence is  always  cast  on  the  side  of  right,  and  in 
all  local  affairs  lie  takes  an  active  part.  He  is  con- 
sidered to  be  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and  honor- 
able character,  and  has  won  by  these  qualities  many 
friends,  who  esteem  him  as  highly  .as  he  deserves. 


^;r(;rsT  n.vRriiKi..  m.  a.,  i.i..  b.    The 

@//-i    original   of  this  lirief   notice   is  the   City 
jf    lii    Attorney  for  Belleville,  and   one   of  the 
[1^'  funi   of    liarthel  A-    Farmer,  lawyers.     His 

parents,  Henry  :in(l  Anna  (Bumb)  Barthel,  were 
natives  of  (ierniany,  and  were  born  in  Hesse- 
Cassel  and  Bavaria,  respectively.  The  father's 
birth  took  place  August  28,  1828,  and  ten  years 
later  he  came  to  this  county.  He  still  lives  in 
Freeburg,  engaged  in  business,  but  his  wife  died  in 
1872.     . 

Our  subject  was  born  at  P'reeburg,  in  thiscount}', 
November  3,  186 Land  was  educated  at  the  college 
of  the  Christian  Brothers  in  St.  Louis,  and  was  grad- 
uated .as  a  Bachelor  of  Arts  in  1883, after  which  he 
was  a  year  in  the  law  office  of  Turner  cfe  Holder,  of 
this  city.  He  then  attended  the  law  department 
of  the  AV.ashington  Cniversity  in  St.  Louis,  and 
w.as  graduated  in  the  Class  of  "St!  as  LL.  B.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  Missouri,  in  May,  1886, 
and  w.as  admitted  by  examination  to  Mt.  Vernon  in 
.\ugust,  1886.  and  is  now  permitted  to  practice  in 
the  federal  courts  by  virtue  of  his  graduation.  lie 
located  for  jjractice  in  the  city  of  Belleville  with 
.Tames  M.  Hay  until  1888,  when  he  went  to  Kansas 
City,  Kan.,  and  remained  there  practicing  for  fif- 
teen months.  He  then  returned  to  this  city,  and 
in  188;i  he  again  went  into  (lartnersliip  with  .Mr. 
Il.ay.and  .-^o  continued  until  September,  1891.  when 
lie  formed  a  partncrsliip  with  .lames  .A.  Farmer, 
and  the  linn  ha'^  conlinncd  very  succes,sfully 
ever  since, 

Mr,  Barthel  was  cleclcd  City  .\tlorney    April   7. 
18'jl.  foi'  a  term  of  two  years,  and  ho  still  holds 


324 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  oflSce,  which  he  has  filled  to  the  satisfaction' of 
the  city.  He  was  the  Village  Attorney  of  Freeburg 
for  several  years,  and  was  also  the  Secretary  of  tlie 
Fair  Association  of  Belleville. 

Our  snhiect,  January  1."),  18i)0,  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Angelina  Keichert.  of  Freeburg, 
who  is  the  accomplished  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
]\Iaria  Reichert,  two  of  the  old  settlers  of  Free- 
burg. Botii  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barthel  are  highly  re- 
garded for  their  social  qualities,  and  Mr.  Barthel  is 
regarded  as  one  of  the  most  promising  of  the 
young  professional  men  of  the  flourishing  city  uf 
Belleville. 


(S[  lljlLLIAM  A.  DARROW,  who  owns  and  op- 
\/\///  crates  three  hundred  and  fiftj'-four  acres 
^^  of  land  on  sections  27,  28,  22  and  15, 
O'Fallon  Township,  was  born  Mardi  19, 1837.  His 
father,  Charles  B.  Darrow,  was  born  Septcrober  19, 
1806,  and  the  grandfather  was  born  in  Seneca 
County,  N.  Y.,  in  1872.  For  a  number  of  years, 
he  lived  on  a  large  farm  east  of  O'Fallon.  In 
connection  with  farming,  he  was  also  a  minister 
of  the  Baptist  Church  and  a  carpenter.  In  1848,  he 
removed  to  Collinsville,  where  his  death  occurred 
the  following  year  at  the  age  of  eighty-tno  years. 
His  wife  was  a  native  of  Vermont  and  died  on  the 
old  liome  farm  in  185^). 

Charles  B.  Darrow,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
married  in  Randolph  County,  N.  Y.,  Februar}^  12, 
182(5,  to  Sarah  Peach,  and  they  afterward  removed 
to  the  old  Darrow  homestead  near  O'Fallon,  where 
the  father  engaged  in  farming  until  his  death,  with 
the  exception  of  a  period  he  spent  in  the  lead 
mines  of  Iowa.  He  died  October  28,  1839.  His 
wife  long  survived  liim  and  died  at  tlie  home  of 
her  son,  Washington  Darrow,  December  27,  1891, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-seven  years.  Their  family 
numbered  six  children:  Lucinda,  born  January  2, 
1827,  is  the  wife  of  C,  J,  F,  Bridges,  who  resides 
lu'ar  Oak  Hill  C'iiiirch,  Of  their  seven  children, 
Jour   are    living:    Williaiu,  a  painter  of    Decatur, 


j  111.;  Hiram, a  painter  and  paper-hanger  of  Decatur; 
Leonard,  a  gardener  of  O'Fallon;  and  Alonzo,  a 
tinsmith,  wlio  resides  with  his  niotlier.  Oeorge 
Washington,  Iwrii  February  2fi,  1829,  is  farming 
near  O'Fallon.  He  married  Dricilla  A.  Stites.  and 
of  their  eight  children,  six  are  yet  living:  Alice, 
after  the  death  of  her  first  husband,  Theodore 
Peach,  married  Geoi'ge  Ogle, of  O'Fallon;  Lizzie  is 
the  wife  of  Walter  Lemon,  of  East  St.  Louis;  Heber 
is  married;  Lucy  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Wade,  a 
school  teacher  of  O'Fallon;  Aithur,  aged  eighteen, 
and  Maud,  fourteen  years  of  age,  complete  the 
family.     Lucy  Lord,  born   November  24,  1831,  is 

i    the  wife  of  Daniel  Donivan.  Slie  died  in  Diiquoin, 

j  in  1878,  leaving  eight  children:  Horace,  who  is 
married  and  resides  in  Montana;  Alonzo,  who  is 
married    and    makes    his   home    in    Washington; 

I  Amanda,  wife  of  Willard  Thing,  of  Duquoin; 
Ellen  is  living  with  Alonzo;  Charles  is  married 
and  resides  in  Gaylord,  Kan.;  Virginia  is  the  wife 
of  Eli  House,  of  Duquoin;  Herbert  is  married  and 
resides  in  Duquoin, and  John  is  living  near  O'Fal- 
lon. Mary  Amanda,  the  fifth  child  of  the  Darrow 
familj^,  was  born  July  16,  1834,  and  died  Sep- 
tember 4,  1853.  Charles,  born  March  23,  1840,  mar- 
ried Mary  Dwyer  and  is  living  on  the  old  home 
farm.  They  had  six  children,  four  yet  living: 
Oliver,  of  Denver;  Nellie.  Willard  and  Junctte, 
at  home. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  and  remained  on  the  home  farm 
until  his  marriage.  He  wedded  Malvina,  daughter 
of  Mary  and  William  Simmons,  their  union  being 
celebrated  near  O'Fallon  March  3,  1859.  Tiiey 
became  the  parents  of  eight  children,  as  follows: 
Elijah,  born  January  21,  1860,  was  married  March 
7,  1888,  to  Emma  Carter,  daughter  of  Harriman 
Carter,  of  Chicago,  and  is  engaged  in  farming. 
George,  born  Jul\'  30,  1862,  owns  a  creamery  in 
O'Fallon.  Mary  Addie,  born  January  22,  1865, 
became  the  wife  of  Charles  R.  Peach,  March  7, 
1889.  and  they  have  one  child,  Edna.  Mr.  Peach  is 
connected  with  the  Electric  Light  Company  of 
Denver.  Frank  B.,boru  October  20, 1867,  died  April 
14,  1868.  Fannie,  born  December  28,  1869,  is  at 
home,  Eva,  born  Januarys,  1873,  died  January 
jy,  }874,     Lora  Amanda,  borii    January-  4,  1875, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


325 


and  Joseph  Aui;ii.-l.  Ihuii  Deecmhor  31,  1887. com- 
plete tlie  f.amily. 

I'poii  liis  iiiani.ige.  Mr.  ]).itrow  located  upon 
the  farm  of  his  father-in-law,  where  he  lived  until 
1864.  He  then  removed  to  the  farm  whicli  has 
since  been  his  home.  He  now  owns  and  operates 
tliree  hundred  and  fifty-four  acres  of  highly  im- 
proved land  and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  pro- 
gressive and  prominent  farmers  of  this  community. 
In  politics,  he  is  a  Prohibitionist.  He  li.as  served 
as  Highway  Commi.osioner  and  School  Director, 
and  was  Trustee  of  the  schools  of  the  township  for 
thirteen  years.  Since  1854,  lie  has  been  a  member 
of  the  Kaplist  Church,  and  his  upright  life  and 
many  excellencies  of  cliaracler  liave  won  him  the 
high  regard  of  all  willi  whom  iie  lias  l)eeii  brought 
in  contact. 


l^+^i 


HJ>I.\M  1'..  I;N<;i:I.MANN  is  a  resident 
of  Eiigelniau  Townsliip,  where  lie  occu- 
jiies  a  position  as  one  of  the  best  and  most 
successful  fanners  of  the  locality.  His  excellent 
farm  is  located  on  section  20,  and  here  it  is  that 
this  honored  man  pursues  his  agricultural  life.  In 
addition  to  his  farm  duties,  our  subject  has  the 
honor  of  being  the  Township  Clerk,  which  posi- 
tion has  been  his  since  1884. 

Mr.  Engelniann  w.as  the  son  of  Theodore  Engel- 
mann,  who  was  born  in  Winnweiler,  Rhenish  Ba- 
varia, Germany,  .luly  l(i,  1808.  Mr.  Engelmann, 
Sr..  was  educated  in  the  best  universities  of  his 
native  land  and  studied  for  the  Bar.  In  the 
year  1833,  in  consequence  of  his  iilliliatioiis  with 
a  Revolutionary  movement,  he  was  forced  to 
leave  his  native  country  and  sought  a  hoiiic 
in  America.  The  liist  location  o'  this  gentle- 
man was  in  St.  Clair  County,  where  he  had  the 
honor  of  being  one  of  the  earliest  .settlers  of  this 
county.  After  remaining  here  for  s(>me  time,  he 
went  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  engaged  in  newspaper 
work  and  in  the  real-estate  business. 

In  1840.  Mr.  Engelmann    returned    to   St.   Clair 


W 


County  .and  located  in  Belleville,  where  he  was 
appointed  Deputy  Circuit  Clerk,  which  position  he 
held  until  elected  to  the  otlice  of  Circuit  Clerk. 
.\t  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office,  he  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  his  profession  and  continued  to 
reside  in  Belleville  until  1860.  when  he  removed 
to  Engelnian  Township,  which  bears  his  honored 
name,  and  settled  on  the  farm  our  subject  now  oc- 
cupies, and  here  this  respected  and  honored  citi- 
zen resided  until  his  death,  March  7,  1889.  In 
1845,  he  had  married  Miss  .Tohanna  Kribben,  of 
St.  Louis,  who  is  still  living. 

Mr.  Engelmann  had  four  children  who  grew 
to  maturity,  and  three  of  these  are  still  living. 
These  children  are:  Bertha,  wife  of  Henry  Kircher, 
who  resides  at  Belleville:  Emclia,  deceased;  Annie, 
who  lives  at  the  old  homestead,  and  our  subject, 
who  is  the  eldest  C)f  the  family.  When  Theodore 
Engelmann  came  to  this  county  he  w.as  a  Demo- 
crat, but  when  the  Republican  party  was  organ- 
ized, as  he  was  a  strong  Union  man,  he  espoused 
the  cause  of  the  new  party;  however,  when  the 
great  questions  which  had  caused  the  war  were 
settled,  Mr.  Engelmann  returned  to  the  Democratic 
liarty.  He  was  the  son  of  Frederick  Engelmann, 
who  came  to  this  country  from  (iermany  in  1833. 
In  his  native  land  he  held  the  position  of  Keeper 
of  the  Forest.  Frederick  F^ngelmann  w.as  the  father 
of  ten  children,  of  whom  but  one  is  now  living, 
Col.  Louis  Engelmann,  a  hero  of  the  Mexican  War. 
He  served  in  the  Mexican  War  as  a  Lieutenant 
and  in  the  late  war  as  a  Colonel.  He  was  promi- 
nent in  the  history  of  St.  Clair  County  until  his 
death,  in   Ix'.Hi. 

Our  subject.  William  iMigelmaiin,  was  horn  in 
Belleville,  HI.,  where  he  was  reared,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  private  schools.  He  makes  his  home  on  the 
old  homestead  with  his  mother  and  sister.  Here  they 
have  an  excellent  farm  of  four  hundred  and  twenty 
aires  of  very  line  land,  located  in  the  township 
that  bears  their  name.  On  this  faim  is  a  large 
residence  built  in  the  old  Southern  styU'.  In  po- 
litical matters,  our  subject  is  a  Democrat  and  ad- 
vocates the  jjrinciples  of  Free  Trade.  .So  promi- 
nent did  lie  become  in  politics,  that  at  the  organ- 
ization of  the  township  he  was  elected  Townshi|) 
Clerk,  in   1881.  and  so  creditablv  and  successfully 


326 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


(lid  he  fulfill  his  duties  that  the  people  felt  that 
they  had  the  right  man  in  the  right  place,  so  have 
continued  to  elect  him  U>  tlie  same  office  ever 
since. 


;RED  JUSTUS,  a  general  merchant  of  Mas- 
f)^  coutah,  has  engaged  in  business  in  his  line 
for  the  past  ten  jears,  or  since  1 882.  He  has  a 
well-stocked  store,  complete  in  all  its  appointments, 
and  carries  an  excellent  line  of  goods.  From 
the  beginning',  his  trade  has  constantly  increased 
until  it  has  assumed  excellent  proportions.  His 
courteous  treatment  and  fair  dealing  have  won 
him  a  liberal  patronage  and  he  ranks  among  the 
successful  merchants  of  this  city. 

Mr.  Justus  has  the  honor  of  being  a  native  of 
this  county.  He  was  born  on  the  old  homestead 
farm,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  northwest  of  Mas- 
coutah.  His  father,  Andrew  Justus,  was  a  native 
of  Germany,  and  came  to  America  in  1836,  locat- 
ing first  in  New  Orleans  and  afterwards  in  St.  Louis. 
Subsequently,  he  returned  to  Germany  and  married, 
after  which  he  brought  his  bride  to  this  countr3-. 
They  began  their  domestic  life  in  St.  Clair  County, 
upon  the  farm  which  has  since  been  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  famil3'.  There  Mr.  Justus  carried  on 
agricultural  pursuits  with  success  until  1874,  when 
he  came  to  Mascoutah  and  lived  retired  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  .5th  of  October, 
187.5.  His  widow  yet  survives  him  and  still  makes 
her  home  in  this  city.  She  owns  the  old  home 
farm.  In  their  family  were  seven  children,  but 
only  two  are  now  living.  Andrew,  the  brother  of 
our  subject,  also  resides  in  Mascoutah. 

Fred  Justus  was  born  on  the  5th  of  December, 
1854.  His  education  was  acquired  in  the  public 
schools,  and  he  later  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade, 
coming  to  Mascoutah  in  1870  for  that  purpose. 
For  eleven  3-ears,  he  followed  that  occupation  with 
good  success,  but  at  length  determined  to  give  his 
time  and  attention  to  other  pursuits,  and  in  1882 
bought  out  the  stock  of  his  uncle,  Adam  Breugel, 
a  general  merchant  of  this  place.  Since  that  time 
he  has  been  in  his  present  line  of  business. 


In  1883,  Mr.  Justus  married  Miss  Ella  Richter, 
daughter  of  Fred  Richter,  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Mascoutah.  By  their  union  have  been  born 
four  children,  three  of  whom  are  still  living: 
Matilda,  Adelia  and  Roland,  aged  seven,  four,  and 
a  j'ear  and  a  half,  respectively.  They  lost  one  son, 
Theodore,  who  died  in  1890,  at  the  age  of  seven 
years. 

Mr.  Justus  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  to  the  support  of  which  he  contributes 
liberally  and  is  one  of  its  faithful  and  active  work- 
ers. He  is  a  friend  to  all  moral  and  educational 
interests,  and  the  community  finds  in  him  a  valued 
and  respected  citizen.  In  his  social  relations,  he 
is  an  Odd  Fellnw.  and  in  political  sentiment  he  is 
independent,  supporting  the  man  whom  he  thinks 
best  qualified  for  the  office,  regardless  of  party 
affiliations.  His  fellow-townsmen,  recognizing  his 
worth  and  ability,  elected  him  to  the  office  of  City 
Treasurer  in  April,  188i),  and  on  the  expiration  of 
that  term  of  office,  in  1891,  he  was  elected  to  rep- 
resent the  Second  Ward  in  the  City  Council.  He 
discharges  his  public  duties  with  a  promi)tness  and 
fidelity  wliich    win   him    the    commendation  of  all. 


,OBKHT  S.  COULTER,  editor  of  the  Mar- 
issa  Messenger,  was  born  in  the  village  of  Old 
i4\\V\  Marissa,  March  15,1866.  As  the  eldest  son 
X^  of  ten  children,  Mr.  Coulter  assumed  the 
responsibilities  of  life  for  himself,  to  some  extent, 
at  the  early  age  of  sixteen,  and  after  making  his 
wa}-  through  the  schools  of  Marissa,  entered  Ew- 
iiig  College,  where  Ik;  spent  four  terras,  ranking 
during  that  time  as  a  high-grade  student.  After 
leaving  Ewing  College,  he  spent  two  years  at  the 
Marissa  Academy,  and  there  gained  the  honors  to 
which  his  natural  endowments  entitled  him. 

Mr.  Coulter's  career  as  a  printer  was  commenced 
under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  J.  W.Wells,  wiio  was 
at  that  time  editor  of  the  Marissa  Monitor.  He  was 
next  employed  as  compositor  on  the  Monitor  and 
Sun,  published  at  Pinckneyville,  111.,  at  which  town 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


32; 


he  reniaiiicd  une  vt-ar.  In  1887,  he  returned  to 
Marissii,  and  in  company  witli  two  others  started 
t!ie  Marissa  ^fpssel)(|e)■.  Few  men  of  liis  j-ears  have 
succeeded  in  carrying  on  an  enterprise  so  success- 
fully from  the  start,  as  the  present  editor  of  the  Mar- 
issa  Messenrier.  One  year  after  the  inception  of  his 
paper,  Mr.  Coulter  succeeded  in  buying  out  his 
partners,  and  since  then  has  managed,  edited  and 
conducted  the  paper  solely  on  his  own  account. 
Knter|)rise  coupled  with  ability  ever  seeks  new 
worlds  to  conquer,  and  in  connection  with  the 
Marissa  Messenger,  Mr.  Coulter  prints  a  religious 
payer  known  as  the  Advocate  and  Ensign.  This 
paper  is  edited  by  the  Rev.  R.  W.  Chestnut,  and 
published  in  the  interest  of  the  Reformed  Presby- 
terian Church.  It  was  formerly  published  in  Phil- 
adelphia. ,\  prominent  and  ardent  member  of  the 
Baptist  C  hurch.  Mr.  Coulter  exhibits  the  courage 
of  his  convictions  in  his  religious  belief.  Politically, 
lie  is  a  Republican. 

The  father  of  our  subject.  Dr.  Arthur  P.  Coulter, 
was  born  in  Washington  Countj-,  III.,  February 
24,  1836.  He  commenced  his  career  at  the  age  of 
nineteen,  as  teacher  iu  the  district  schools  of  his 
native  county.  He  pursued  the  duties  of  teach- 
ing for  two  years,  after  which  he  began  the  study 
of  medicine. and  graduated  in  his  chosen  profession 
at  the  Eclectic  Jledical  Institute  of  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  in  the  year  18.59.  After  graduating,  Dr. 
Coulter  practiced  in  his  native  count}-  one  year, 
and  in  18C0  removed  to  St.  Clair  County,  111., 
where  he  has  since  lived,  pr.acticing  most  of  the 
time  at  Marissa.  He  is  a  noted  member  of  the  Ill- 
inois State  P^clectic  Medical  Association,  and  also 
of  the  United  .States  Eclectic  Medical  Association. 

Dr.  Coulter  is  a  Mason  of  high  degree,  and 
is  also  an  adherent  of  the  Republican  party.  He 
is  the  father  of  ten  living  children,  seven  daugh- 
ters and  three  sons.  His  esteemed  wife  was  Miss 
Phieba  C.  Jackson,  .1  native  of  St.  Clair  County, 
and  daughter  of  .loel  and  Elsa  (Mason)  .lackson, 
who  were  also  the  parent*  of  ten  childien. 

Dr.  Coulter's  parents  were  Roberts,  and  Isabella 
Wiley.  Robert  S.,  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Brown  County,  Tenn.,  in  September,  1809. 
He  was  a  farmer  b}-  occupation,  and  came  with  his 
jiarents  to  Madison   ('Diinty.  111.,  about  1«18.     He 


married  at  the  early  age  of  twenty,  and  to  him 
and  his  wife  were  born  seven  sons  And  four  daugh- 
ters. Politically,  he  w.as  a  Whig,  and  in  religion 
a  Presbyterian.  He  died  M.ay  15,  1852,  his  wife 
surviving  him  until  J.anuary  12,  1890.  His  father 
was  also  Robert  S.  Coulter,  a  native  of  South 
Carolina,  who,  at  the  age  of  twelve  yeai-s, 
carried  a  musket  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  He 
was  of  Irish  i)arentage.  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
and  proud  of  tracing  his  family  back  to  the  house 
of  Stuart. 


'^^ 


"r^  ENIIAUI)  YUCH  is  one  of  the  oldest  and 
L>C^  most  successful  operators  in  coal  in  the 
r/^ J  Ij  country,  and  his  long  connection  with  this 
*^^^  industry,  his  intimate  acquaintance  with 
the  trade,  his  promptness  in  filling  orders,  and  his 
reliable  methods  of  dealing  have  made  him  not 
only  prominent  and  successful,  but  have  also 
secured  him  great  popularity  with  the  trade.  He 
has  been  a  resident  of  St.  Clair  County,  111.,  since 
he  was  six  months  old.  He  was  born  in  Prussia, 
(iermany-,  March  20,  1847,  to  Christian  and  Cath- 
erine Yoch,  who  brought  him  to  America  in  the 
latter  part  of  that  year.  The  father  turned  his 
attention  to  farming  and  mining  after  reaching 
this  country,  and  followed  both  occupations  on 
land  that  he  purchased,  his  mine  being  now  known 
as  Yoch  Station,  on  the  Air  Line  Railroad.  He 
was  one  of  the  earliest  miners  of  tliis  vicinity 
and  was  quite  extensively  engaged  in  that  uccupa- 
tion.  He  and  his  wife  became  the  parents  of  eight 
children,  four  of  whom  are  living  at  the  present 
time:  John,  a  successful  farmer  of  this  section; 
.loseph,  a  resident  of  California;  Benhard,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  and  Laura.  .Mrs.  Acker,  of 
Belleville. 

Benhard  Yoch  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
Belleville,  and  later  he  received  instruction  from 
a  private  teacher  in  his  own  home,  under  whom  he 
finished  his  scholastic  education.  He  then  began 
learning  the  business  of  coal  mining  with  his  fa- 
ther, with  whom   he  remained  associated,  in  con- 


:!2S 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


lu'ctiou  with  three  brothers,  until  the  former's 
deatii,and  during  this  time  lie  followed  his  calling 
at  Nashville,  111.,  Yocii  Station  and  Clyde.  The 
firm  was  known  as  Yoch  Bros,  until  1886,  at  which 
time  the}-  sold  out  to  the  Consolidated  Coal  Com- 
pany, after  which  Benhaid  Yoch  became  connected 
with  the  Crescent  Nail  Company,  but  of  recent  years 
lias  again  devoted  liis  attention  to  mining  coal.  He 
remodeled  a  shaft  on  the  Ohio  &  Mississippi  Rail- 
road, near  Lebanon,  which  mine  has  a  capacity  of 
fort}'  car-loads  of  coal  daily;  but  it  is  not  running 
to  its  full  extent  at  the  present  time,  as  the  mine 
is  being  remodeled  and  new  and  improved  machin- 
erj-  is  being  introduced.  Mr.  Yoch  has  long  been 
prominent  in  connection  with  the  coal  interests  of 
tliis  section  and  has  secured  success  as  the  conse- 
()uence  of  the  superior  quality  of  the  coal  produced 
from  his  mines  and  the  uniformly  honorable  and 
correct  methods  which  have  ever  characterized  his 
dealings  with  the  trade. 

He'  iias  been  interested  in  the  Y  improved  nail 
for  the  past  two  3'ears,  which  became  an  incorpor- 
ated company  with  a  capital  stock  of  §25,000,  of 
which  Mr.  Yoch  is  President,  Manager  and  Treas- 
urer, and  Lawrence  j\Iuren  Secretary.  Mr.  Yoch 
is  an  enterprising  business  man  and  is  held  in  high 
favor  in  commercial  as  well  as  social  circles 
throughout  this  section.  His  business  career  has 
been  marked  b}'  justice  and  fairness,  and  lie  has 
ever  been  the  soul  of  honor  in  his  dealings. 
Throughout  the  many  years  covered  by  his  busi- 
ness history,  he  has  alwaj's  been  considered  reliable 
and  accurate,  and  as  a  natural  consequence,  his  pa- 
trons are  his  friends  and  place  implicit  confidence 
in  his  word.  He  has  resided  in  Belleville  since 
1884,  and  has  a  handsome  and  statelj'  brick  resi- 
dence at  No.  301  South  Illinois  Street.  He  vras 
married  in  this  cit}-  Februaiy  25,  1868,  to  Miss 
Agnes  Acker,  by  whom  he  has  seven  children : 
l^aura,  wife  of  Lawrence  Muren ;  Emma;  Maggie, 
Agnes,  Jane,  Jacob  and  Edward. 

In  addition  to  the  other  important  enterprises 
in  which  he  has  been  engaged,  Mr.  Yoch  is  the 
patentee  of  the  machine  for  the  manufacture  of  a 
nail  that  is  entirely  new,  and  he  is  the  only  one  to 
put  his  product  on  the  market  in  this  countiy.  It 
has  all  the  good  points  of  the  wire  nail  with  super- 


ior holding  power  to  a  steel  nail.  This  nail  lias 
already  come  into  prominent  notice  and  gives 
every  promise  of  being  very  extensively  used 
throughout  this  country.  ]\Ir.  Vocli  and  his  family 
attend  St.  Peter's  Cathedral. 


•  =^#^M»'^"i^ii^#i 


(^)ALENTINE  WASEM.  The  prosperity  of 
St.  Clair  cannot  be  attributed  entirely  to 
the  efforts  of  Americans,  for  much  has  been 
accomplished  b}-  those  of  foreign  birth  who  iiave 
sought  a  home  in  the  Land  of  the  Eree.  (Germany 
has  contributed  of  its  thrift,  England  of  its  vigor, 
France  of  its  economy  and  Holland  of  its  patient 
perseverance.  Among  the  natives  of  Germany 
who  have  sought  a  home  in  this  county  and  have 
here  attained  independence  and  prosperity,  ma>'  be 
mentioned  Mr.  Wasem,  Postmaster  of  Fayetteville. 
With  reference  to  the  parents  of  our  subject,  the 
following  may  be  noted:  His  father,  ^'alentine 
Wasem,  Sr.,  was  born  near  the  River  Rhine,  Ger- 
many, May  17,  1818,  and  was  reared  to  manhood 
in  a  village,  although  liis  occu[)ation  was  from 
youth  that  of  farming.  In  his  native  land  he  was 
married  to  Catherine  HiipiK'rrich,  and  unto  them 
were  born  nine  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fanc}'.  The  others  were  as  follows:  A^alentine, 
the  subject  of  this  biographical  sketch;  George 
P.,  Catherine,  Philabena,  August,  Adam,  and  Isa- 
bella, who  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years. 

Accoin))anied  by  his  family,  Mr.  Wasem,  Sr., 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1851,  and  located 
in  Belleville,  but  only  remained  there  a  short  time, 
removing  thence  to  a  tract  of  land  which  he  [nii- 
chased  near  Fayetteville.  On  that  place  lie  re- 
mained, industriously  laboring  as  a  tiller  of  the 
soil,  until  1874;  when  he  sold  his  farm,  removed  to 
Belleville,  from  there  to  Marissa,  and  after  the 
death  of  his  wife  came  to  Fayetteville,  his  death 
occurring  in  1888  at  this  place.  Ilis  wife  died 
about  eight  years  prior  to  his  demise.  In  his  po- 
litical views,  he  was  a  Republican,  and  served  as 
Justice  of  the  Peace  for  several  years. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  m  Germany, 


c^i 


^/(J'J&V 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


331 


:iii(l  wa.-i  six  years  old  when  be  came  to  Ainei-ioa, 
and  here  acquiied  liis  t-ducatiou.  After  emisria- 
tinsr  to  this  country,  lie  aided  his  father  on  the 
farm  until  he  was  twenty-four  years  old,  when  he 
established  a  home  of  his  own.  He  was  then  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Lottie  Karch.  a  native  of  Mascoutah. 
and  the  daughter  of  Charles  and  (hristeua  Karch. 
Nine  children  liave  been  born  to  them,  who  are: 
Isabella,  Charles.  .lulius  V..  Edward,  .\melia.  Emma, 
Josephine,  Louisa  and  ^latilda. 

During  the  Civil  War,  ]Mr.  Wascm.  who,  al- 
tlKJugh  not  a  pative  of  this  country,  was  neverthe- 
less loyally  devoted  to  the  Union,  enlisted  in 
1864  a.s  a  member  of  Company  E,  Fifty-ninth  Illi- 
nois Infantry,  Oen.  Thomas  commanding.  Among 
the  important  eng.agement.s  in  which  he  participa- 
ted may  lie  mentioned  the  battles  of  Resaca,  Kene- 
saw  Mountain,  .\tlanta  and  Nashville.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  his  term  of  service,  he  was  mustered 
out  at  lirownsville,  Tex.,  in  1866,  and  w.as  hont>r- 
ably  discharged  in  Springfield.  111. 

After  operating  a  rented  farm  for  a  few  years. 
Mr.  Wasem  removed  to  the  village  of  Fayetleville. 
where  for  .some  time  he  was  engaged  as  engineer 
of  the  gristmill,  and  also  oiierated  a  threshing-ma- 
chine. In  188!t,  he  was  appointed  Postmaster  of 
the  village,  and  his  service  in  that  direction  is  in- 
variably pleasing  and  satisfactory  to  his  fellow- 
townsmen.  In  his  i)olitical  opinions,  he  is  a 
Hepulilican,  and  socially,  is  identilied  with  ^las- 
coutah  Lodge  No.  286,  I.  ().  ( ).  1'..  mimI  llecker 
I'ost.  (;.  A.  K.,  at  Belleville. 


ihM  ADISON  T.  STOUKEY.  Superintendent  of 
the  City  Water  Works,  has  attained  to  a 
place  in  the  regard  of  the  people  second 
perhaps  to  no  other  citizen  of  Belleville. 
The  story  of  his  life  proves  that  the  successful 
7nan  is  he  who  employs  his  powers  with  the  great- 
est industry  and  most  perscvei-ance.  An  energetic 
business  man.  he  has  been  the  source  of  benefit  to 
his  community,  and  has  aided  its  material  progress 
in  no  small  degree. 


A  brief  mention  of  the  ancestors  of  our  subject 
will  not  be  without  interest  to  the  reader.  His 
grandfather.  Daniel  Stookey,  was  born  near  Ha- 
gerstown.  Md..  in  the  year  1770,  and  came  of  Ger- 
man descent.  In  1800.  he  came  to  this  county 
and  settled  in  what  is  now  St.  Clair  Township, 
taking  up  a  claim.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers,  following  his  brother-in-law  Abraham  fly- 
man, who  had  come  here  in  1798.  They  made  an 
examination  of  the  lands  during  a  horseback  trip 
in  1797,  and  were  pleased  with  the  appearance  of 
the  country.  Daniel  Stookey  was  a  prominent 
man  in  his  cominnnity  and  the  owner  of  consider- 
able land.  He  was  the  father  of  nine  children,  of 
whom  the  only  survivor  is  Elijah,  father  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  He  was  born  and  reared 
in  St.  Clair  Township,  and  still  lives  within  tuie- 
half  mile  of  his  old  home.  lie  married  Miss  Eleanor 
McGuire. 

Our  subject  was  born  at  the  old  homestead  No- 
vember 26,  1837.  In  boyhood,  he  first  attended 
the  district  schools,  later  was  a  student  in'  the 
Belleville  schools,  and  then  went  to  Shurtleff  Col- 
lege, Upper  Alton.  Afterward  he  engaged  in 
farming,  in  which  he  met  with  success.  His  first 
marriage  united  him  with  Miss  America  (iooding, 
of  Millstadt  Township,  and  the  child  born-  of  this 
union  now  resides  in  Belleville.  The  present  wife 
of  Mr.  Stookey  was  formerly  Miss  Mary  Cooper, 
of  St.  Louis,  and  is  a  lady  of  rare  worth  of  char- 
acter. 

Mr.  Stookey  is  well  known  throughout  llliuoi>. 
having  served  in  various  public  capacities.  For 
six  j'ears  he  was  a  member  of  the  State  Board  of 
.\gricidture,  and  in  1879-80  served  as  General 
Superintendent  of  the  State  Fair,  having  charge  of 
the  State  Fair  at  Springtield,  and  the  Fat  Stock 
Show  at  Chicago.  He  was  a  member  of  the  first 
Fat  .Stock  Show  held  in  the  Exposition  Build- 
ing in  Chicago.  He  is  President  of  the  Belleville 
A-  Carondelet  Railroad,  which  is  now  leased  to  the 
Cairo  Short  Line.  His  fellow-citizens  elected  him 
County  Treasurer  on  the  Democratic  ticket  and 
re-elected  him  three  times,  his  term  of  service  ex- 
tending from  December.  1879,  to  December,  1886. 
After  retiring  from  that  oftice,  Mr.  Stookey  be- 
came connected  with  the  Water  Works  as  Su[)erin- 


332 


POUTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


tendent,  in  which  position  be  has  since  served  effi- 
ciently. The  Water  Works  were  established  in  this 
place  in  1885,  and  now  there  are  fourteen  miles 
of  mains,  three  reservoirs  and  stand-pipes.  The 
water  comes  from  Richland  Creek  and  tributaries, 
and  the  pumps  have  a  capacit}'  of  about  two  mill- 
ion five  hundred  thousand  gallons  per  day.  In 
1880,  Mr.  Stookey  removed  to  Belleville,  but  he 
still  owns  his  farm,  although  his  personal  attention 
is  given  almost  exclusively  to  his  cit^'  business. 
Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen. 


y^IIILIP  SKAER.  The  owner  and  occupant 
of  an  excellent  farm  situated  in  section 
18607,  lot  14,  Prairie  du  Long  Township, 
St.  Clair  County,  111.,  is  a  man  of  large 
experience  in  the  community"  where  he  has  made 
his  home  for  so  many  j-ears.  His  estate  is  the  re- 
sult of  hard  labor,  and  his  farm  is  well  improved 
and  forms  a  comfortable  .and  attractive  spot  in 
this  part  of  the  State. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  born  in  Ger- 
many, and  located  in  this  State  about  the  year 
1836,  near  Smith's  Village.  George  Philip  Skaer, 
the  father  of  Philip  Skaer,  was  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful merchants  of  the  early  period  of  his  loca- 
tion here.  His  family  consisted  of  eight  children, 
seven  of  whom  are  living.  He  was  a  man  of 
strong  characteristics  and  sterling  worth,  one 
whose  friendship  was  worth  gaining,  and  whose 
integrity  could  be  relied  on. 

Philip  Skaer,  whose  biography  we  are  writing, 
was  born  in  Hesse-Homburg,  on  the  19th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1823.  He  was  thirteen  years  old  when  his  par- 
ents emigrated  to  the  United  States.  He  grew  to 
manhood  in  tiiis  county,  and  was  married  in  1849, 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  Moser,  the  daughter  of  Henry 
INIoser,  one  of  the  early  settlers  and  most  respected 
citizens  of  this  county.  Mrs.  Skaer's  parents  came 
from  Germany  in  1830,  and  were  married  in  Belle- 
ville, this  county,  the  same  year.     The}'  had  eight 


children,  all  of  whom  are  deceased  but  two,  Mrs. 
Skaer  and  her  brother,  who  lives  in  Kans.as  at 
Wellington. 

After  his  marriage,  Philip  Skaer  located  at  High 
Prairie,  two  and  one-half  miles  from  George- 
town, where  by  industry  and  thrift  he  soon  ac- 
cumulated enough  to  purchase  a  farm.  He  later 
sold  this  and  moved  to  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  and  later  to 
Mankato,  where  he  helped  to  erect  the  first  hotel. 
On  his  arrival  at  the  latter  place,  he  found 
plenty  of  Indians.  It  was  about  the  j'ear  1861 
that  he  purchased  the  farm  on  which  he  now  re- 
sides. At  the  commencement  of  our  late  Civil 
War,  Mv.  Skaer  was  drafted  in  the  army,  and  served 
his  country  to  the  best  of  his  ability.  His  union 
with  Miss  Moser  was  blessed  by  eight  children,  six 
of  whom  are  living.  The^'  are  Wesley,  who 
resides  in  this  township;  Peter;  Mary,  wife  of 
Louis  Miller;  li^meline,  wife  of  Charles  Miller; 
Henrietta,  who  lias  not  yet  left  the  paternal  roof, 
and  Louis.  Mr.  Skaer  has  buried  a  son  and  daugh- 
ter. 

The  Skaer  farm  covers  a  territory  of  three  hun- 
dred and  three  acres,  all  of  which  is  well  improved 
and  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  showing  keen 
management  and  most  excellent  skill  on  the  part 
of  its  owner.  Although  the  educational  advan- 
tages accorded  Mr.  Skaer  in  early  life  were  very 
limited,  his  possession  of  the  faculties  which  can 
be  educated  by  observation  places  him  among  the 
most  intelligent  men  of  this  community.  The 
hardships  of  his  own  early  life  have  influenced 
him  to  make  the  gaining  of  an  existence  easier  for 
those  who  have  nlaims  upon  him,  and  he  has  there- 
fore given  each  of  his  children  a  part  of  his  own 
accumulations,  with  which  to  set  themselves  up  in 
the  pursuits  most  agreeable  to  their  tastes  and 
abilities. 

Mr.  Skaer  favors  the  Republican  party  with  his 
political  support,  and  although  never  occupying 
office,  he  is  known  in  the  community  as  one  whose 
help  can  always  be  relied  on  by  the  paity  of  his 
choice,  and  his  strong  belief  in  the  principles  of  his 
party  gains  the  confidence  of  those  wavering  be- 
tween the  two  great  leaders  of  our  political  parties. 
His  religious  belief  and  spiritual  hopes  are  cen- 
tered in    the    Lutheran    Church,   of  which  he  is  a 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


33.1 


member  ami  lienity  ^upjwrter.  He  is  a  man  of  in- 
telligent and  pr()gres:«ive  ideas,  a  practical  and 
successful  agriculturist,  and  one  who  in  every  de- 
partment of  life  lias  fuKilled  the  duties  that  he 
before  him  in  a  creditable  manner.  The  (pialities 
of  a  sturdy  manhood  are  frequently  developed 
amid  pioneer  scenes,  and  as  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers in  this  township,  Mr.  Skaer  can  look  over  a 
lapse  of  fifty-six  years  of  labor,  from  wiiich  to-day 
lie  is  reaping  tiie  benefit,  and  enjoying  the  com- 
mendation of  all  who  have  known  him  through 
the  vicissitudes  of  life. 

Mrs.  Skaer  was  a  devoted  wife  and  mother,  a 
kind  neighbor,  and  a  faithful  friend.  She  assisted 
largely  in  tiie  growth  of  all  her  husband's  enter- 
prises, and  by  that  patient  skill  which  forms 
so  large  a  part  of  the  feminine  char.aeter,  watched 
over  her  family,  and  iusti-ucled  them  in  the  paths 
of  honesty  and  viitue.  which  never  fail  to  shed  a 
radiance  of  hinmr  on  the  urngeniturs  of  a  race. 


Jl  OHN  SAUTER,  a  retired  business  man,  re- 
sides in  the  cit\'  of  Mascoutah.  this  county. 
I  He  was  the  son  of  t'onrad  S.  Sauter,  who 
'  w!is  born  in  the  Rheinpfalz,  in  Bavaria, 
Germany,  April  t!,  18(l!t,  where  he  was  reared  and 
educated  and  learned  the  trade  of  a  cabinet-maker. 
He  was  married  in  Germany,  to  Miss  Magdalena, 
daughter  of  Christopher  Gross,  who  l)ore  iiim 
twelve  children,  two  of  whom  grew  to  manhood, 
.John  and  Conrad,  the  latter  being  scalded  to 
death  in  the  mill  at  Lebanon,  .\pril  I,  KSd;"),  while 
following  the  milling  business. 

Conrad  Sauter  came  to  America  in  1  Ml."), arriving 
in  Belleville,  III.,  .lune  4,  of  that  year,  and  later 
came  to  Mascoutah.  which  was  at  that  time  called 
Meciianicsburg.  He  bought  a  farm  about  two 
miles  east  of  Mascoutah,  and  after  farming  here 
three  years,  he  moved  into  the  city,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  working  at  his  trade  for  five  3'e.ars. 
Then  he  bought  a  farm  about  one-half  mile  north 
of  the  city,  where  he  remained  until  18.57,  when 
he  returned  to  Europe  and   spent  nine  months   in 


the  Fatherland.  Upon  returning  to  this  country, 
he  engaged  in  the  distillery  and  sawmill  business 
in  Mascoutah,  which  he  followed  until  1862, 
his  wife  dying  December  3,  of  that  year.  Retiring 
from  this  business  and  forming  a  partnership  with 
Mr.  G.  Anderson,  he  engaged  in  the  milling  bus- 
iness at  Lebanon.  Three  years  later,  he  retired 
from  this  business,  turning  it  over  to  his  sons, 
.lohn  and  Conrad. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  in  1864,  took  for  his 
second  wife  Mrs.  Mary  Melvin,  an  English  ladj', 
and  continued  to  make  his  home  in  Lebanon,  until 
his  death,  February  Id,  1889.  Two  children  were 
born  of  this  union,  one  of  whom  grew  to  woman- 
hood and  married  Mr.  Raleigh  Horner. 

Our  subject  was  born  September  I,  18-J6,  on  the 
old  homestead  in  Lachen,  by  Xenstadt  on  the  Hardt 
(ierinany.  lie  received  some  education  in  his  native 
land,  but  upon  coming  to  this  county  his  oppor- 
tunities for  an  education  were  limited;  however, 
l)cing  of  an  observing  disposition,  he  acquired  a 
practical  knowledge,  which  served  him  to  a  good 
purpose  in  his  after  life.  In  1864,  he  returned  to 
Germany,  where  he  married,  June  19,  Miss  Mar- 
garetta,  a  daughter  of  .John  George  and  Barbara 
(Schwartz)  Trieb,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  farmer. 
Upon  returning  to  America,  he,  in  partnersiiip 
with  his  brother,  succeeded  his  father  in  the  mill- 
ing business,  which  they  continued  to  operate  for 
two  years,  when  his  brother  met  his  death  by  the 
explosion  of  a  boiler.  Our  subject  then  sold  out  his 
share  in  the  mill,  moved  to  Trenton,  111.,  and  form- 
ing a  partnership  with  an  uncle,  Andrew  Eisen- 
mayer,  bought  another  mill  which  he  operated  until 
1870,  when  he  sold  out  and  retired  from  business. 
In  1875,  in  comi)any  with  his  family,  Mr.  Sauter 
made  a  trip  to  the  Old  Country,  where  they  spent 
one  year. 

He  whose  name  heads  this  sketch  has  two  chil- 
dren, Henry  and  Lisette.  The  former  was  ed- 
ucated in  the  schools  of  Mascoutah,  and  took  a 
course  at  McKendree  College,  at  Lebanon,  and 
also  a  business  course  in  Johnson's  Commercial 
College,  at  St.  Louis.  He  married  Miss  Minnie  E., 
daughter  of  Ernest  Hagist,  of  this  city,  and  resides 
in  Mascoutah.     Lisette  is  living  at  home. 

Our  subject  owns  one  thousand  acres  of  land  in 


334 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPmCAL  RECORD. 


this  county,  with  the  exception  of  ei,ht3-  acres, 
which  lies  in  Washington  County,  all  of  which  he 
rents  out  to  reliable  tenants,  from  whom  he  re- 
ceives an  excellent  competency.  He  is  a  public- 
spirited  citizen,  a  true  husband,  an  induls^eut 
father  and  a  generous  friend.  His  presence  among 
us  is  an  honorable  addition  to  this  community. 
The  family  are  all  members  of  the  Evangelical 
Protestant  C'luuch,  and  politically,  ISIr.  Sauter  is  a 
stanch  upholder  of  the  Hepuhlican  party. 


i^l^:i^^i 


...,  LEX.  WOODS,  M.  D.  Among  the  people  of 
WIL\\  St.  Clair  County,  as  well  as  the  surround- 
(i  ing  counties,  the  name  of  Dr.  Woods  is 
almost  a,  household  word.  He  was  born 
November  14,  1845,  and  traces  his  ancestry  back 
to  his  great-grandfather,  .Tohn  Walker,  who  was 
horn  in  Nova  Scotia  and  was  there  pressed  into 
the  English  service,  coming  with  the  British 
soldiers  to  tiie  United  States  during  the  Revolu- 
tionary War.  His  sympathies,  however,  were  with 
the  Colonial  army,  and  the  first  opportunity  that 
presented  itself  he  deserted  from  the  British  army 
by  knocking  down  the  guard,  taking  forcible  pos- 
session of  his  pass,  and  assuming  his  name  of  Woods. 
He  succeeded  in  reaching  the  American  lines,  and 
enlisted  in  the  Patriot  army  just  before  the  battle 
of  Eong  Island,  in  which  he  participated.  After 
the  war  was  over  he  I'emoved  to  Cleveland,  in 
which  city  his  son  John,  the  grandfather  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born. 

John  AVoods  was  reared  to  farm  life,  which  occu- 
pation he  always  followed,  and  about  1800  removed 
to  Illinois  and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Turkey 
Hill  Piairie.  He  was  quite  a  sporting  man,  and 
besides  being  an  enterprising  tiller  of  the  soil,  in- 
dulged in  hunting  and  horse-racing.  He  was  a 
Democrat  of  the  Jackson  iau  school,  and  was  called 
from  life  in  18,55,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty 
years.  Dr.  Alex.  Woods'  father,  John  Woods,  was 
named  after  his  lather  and  was  born  in  the  Turkey 
Hill  settlement,  near  Belleville,  March  14,  1813. 
He  was  brought  up  on  a  farm  and  was  a  partici- 


pant in  the  Black  Hawk  War  of  1831-32,  it  being 
said  of  him  by  James  Glasgow  that  he  was  the 
only  man  that  killed  an-  Indian  from  their  vicin- 
ity. Dr.  Alex.  AVoods  has  in  his  possession  the 
frame  of  a  pocket  mirror  that  was  taken  from  the 
pocket  of  this  Indian.  January  5,  4833,  our 
subject's  father  was  married  to  Miss  Catherine 
Carr,  who  was  born  on  Turkey  Hill  Prairie  Sep- 
tember 23,  1812,  after  which  he  began  farming  on 
Prairie  du  Long,  but  removed  to  near  Belleville 
in  1851,  becoming  the  owner  of  two  hundred  and 
twent}'  acres  of  fertile  prairie  land  four  and  a-half 
miles  south  of  the  town.  He  greatly  improved 
his  home  place,  l)ut  at  various  times  owned  other 
farms.  He  became  wealthy,  and  died  May  19,  1875, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years,  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church. 

The  maternal  grandfather  was  Henry  Carr,  who 
was  born  in  Randolph  Countj',  A'a.,  June  2,  1788, 
where  the  grandfather,  Joseph  Carr,  was  also  born. 
Both  were  farmers,  and  in  1793  removed  to  New 
Design,  Monroe  County,  111.,  but  a  year  later  went 
to  Turkey  Hill,  St.  Clair  Count}-.  In  the  f.all  of 
the  same  year  they  were  comijelled  to  return  to 
New  Design,  owing  to  an  Indian  outbreak,  but 
after  the  Indians  had  left  the  war-path  they  re- 
turned to  their  former  home,  where  Joseph  Carr 
spent  tlie  remainder  of  his  days.  Henry  Carr  was 
a  soldier  in  the  AVar  of  1812,  being  with  Gov. 
Reynold's  Rangers.  He  died  in  1868  and  his  wife 
in  1865,  when  past  seventy-nine  years  of  age.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Mary  Arnett,  and  she  was  reared 
and  educated  in  this  section  of  the  country,  being 
a  sister  of  Rev.  Nathan  Arnett,  a  |)ioueer  Baii- 
tist  minister  of  the  country. 

The  brothers  and  sisters  of  Dr.  Alex.  AVoods  are 
as  follows:  James  A.,  who  was  a  farmer,  enlisted  in 
Company  E,  Fifty-ninth  Illinois  Infantry,  August 
2,  1861,  during  the  Civil  AVar  and  served  until 
January,  1866.  AVhile  fishing  in  the  Gasconade 
River  at  Hartwell,  Mo.,  a  water-spout  burst,  and 
before  he  could  leave  the  island  on  which  he  was, 
the  water  rose  so  rapidly  that  he  was  drowned,  to- 
gether with  his  youngest  son.  This  sad  event  oc- 
curred in  the  year  1885.  Joseph  resides  at  Ne- 
vada, Mo.,  engaged  in  farming.  Ellen,  his  only 
sister,  also  survives.     Dr.  Alex.  Woods  was  reared 


PORTRAIT  A^' I)  BIOGKAl'IIICAL   RECORD. 


335 


(»n   a  farm   lu'ar    Belleville,  but  his  early  advant-   j   has  conducted  a  drug  store  liere  since  April,  1888. 
ages    (or   acquiring   an    education    were    limited.    |   He  has  lield  eight  liundred  and  seventy  inquests 


He  was  compelled  to  walk  one  and  one-half  miles, 
had  to  cross  a  large  creek  on  a  foiit-log,  and  the 
schoolhouse  was  a  very  primitive  log  structure, 
where  the  most  elementary  of  instruction  was 
given. 

At  the  age  of  lifteen  years.  Dr.  Wocids  went  to 
St.  Louis.  Mo.,  and  enlisted  in  the  same  regiment 
as  his  brother,  but  about  three  days  later  his  fatiier 
came  for  him  and  took  him  home,  where  lie  re- 
mained about  a  year  longer,  when  his  patriotic 
feelings  could  no  longer  be  repressed,  and  in 
.\ugu»t,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company  II,  One 
Hundred  and  Seventeenth  Illinois  Infantry,  and 
was  mustered  in  at  Camp  Butler.  He  was  in  the 
engagements  at  (Juccn's  Hill  (Miss.),  Ft.de  Hussy 
(I,a.).  rie.asant  Hill  and  Tupelo  (Miss.),  Nash- 
ville. Ft.  Blakely.  and  thirty-three  skirmishes.  He 
was  never  otT  duty  nor  in  tlie  hospital  until  the 
day  he  was  mustered  out  of  service,  .August  R, 
186.5,  when  he  remained  there  for  a  few  days  only. 
He  held  the  rank  of  Corporal  and  was  the  young- 
est man  in  his  coini)any. 

Upon  his  return  home,  he  began  attending  Bry- 
ant it  Stratton's  Commercial  College  of  .St.  Louis, 
and  after  a  short  time  spent  on  the  farm  he  began 
teaching  school.  November  2!i.  1866,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Marv  C.  Mctiuire,  a  native  of  this 
county  and  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  JIcGuire,  a 
Pennsylvanian  by  birth.  After  his  inarri.age.  Dr. 
Woods  farmed  on  eighty  acres  of  land  near  Belle- 
ville until  1870,  when  he  sold  out  and  located  in 
Freeburg,  entering  in  the  fail  of  that  year  the  St. 
Louis  Medical  College,  from  which  he  graduated 
Mardi  i:?.  187.3.  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  During 
1872.  he  jiracticed  in  Fayetleville,  but  after  his 
graduation  he  located  at  Freeburg,  where  he  was 
also  engaged  in  the  drug  business.  From  1879  to 
1881,  he  w.as  located  at  Benton,  Franklin  County; 
and  from  1881  until  he  was  elected  County 
Corimer  in  1H81,  he  was  in  the  drug  business  at 
Freeliurg.  He  was  elected  to  his  iiresent  oflice  on 
the  Democratic  ticket  with  a  majority  of  twelve  hun- 
dred .and  fifty-four  votes,  and  in  1888  was  re-elected 
by  six  hundred  and  sixty-  two  vofps,  He  has  been  a 
>-esi<lent  of  East  St.  Louis  since  January,  1888, and 


since  he  has  been  in  ottice  and  has  successfully  fol- 
lowed u))  several  clews  in  murder  cases. 

P'or  three  years  he  was  Secretary  of  the  .State  Cor- 
oners' Association;  is  Past  Post-Surgeon  of  the 
(irand  .\rni\-,  of  Belleville;  is  a  member  of  the 
I'll  ion  \'eteran  Le.ague,  and  is  a  niember  of  Lodge 
No.  4 1 8,  .\.  F.  it  A.  M.,  of  Freeburg;  and  is  a  member 
of  Belleville  Chapter  No.  106,  R.  A.  M.  His  chil- 
dren are  .as  follows:  Silas  E.,  a  graduate  of  the  St. 
Louis  .School  of  Pharmacy,  is  in  the  drug  business 
at  .Jackson,  5Io.,  and  now  a  student  of  medicine; 
Alonzo  B.  is  a  clerk  for  Nelson  Morris  it  Co.;  Car- 
rie, Mary  C,  and  Alex.  Stephens.  The  Doctor  re- 
tired from  the  office  of  Coroner  of  St.  Clair  Coun- 
ty December  5,  1892,  after  holding  the  office  for  a 
term  of  eight  years,  being  the  first  physican  to  hold 
the  otlice  in  his  county,  and  bringing  a  quiet  dig- 
nity to  bear  in  the  fulfillment  of  his  duties,  which 
commanded  the  respect  of  all. 


J 


^»^  III  LI  r  lUKSTKIJ.  Could  the  biographies 
of  the  best  residents  of  St.  Clair  County  be 
written  in  detail,  a  large  and  most  interest- 
ing volume  might  be  compiled.  It  is  our 
pleasure,  however,  to  select  the  principal  facts  in 
their  lives,  and  record  them  for  the  perusal  of  com- 
ing generations.  The  gentleman  with  whose  name 
we  introduce  this  sketch  is  at  present  residing  in 
the  village  of  Lenzburg,  where  he  is  doing  a  good 
business  as  a  saddler  and  harness-maker. 

Our  subject,  who  is  a  native  of  this  county, 
was  born  April  1.  1858.  Ilis  parents,  John  and 
Catherine  (Bearrach)  Huester,  were  natives  of 
Cermany,  the  father  being  born  in  1816,  and  the 
mother  in  181.">.  .lohn  Kuester  w.as  given  a  good 
ediieatiim  in  his  native  land,  where  he  in  later  life 
owned  and  operated  a  linseed-oil  factory.  After 
locating  in  the  Cnited  States,  however,  he  turned 
his  attention  to  \Torking  in  a  mill,  which  occupa- 
tion he  fujlowed  for  a  number  of  years.     By   his 


336 


PORTKAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


union  with  Miss  Bearrach  were  born  twelve  chil- 
dren, seven  of  whom  died  when  young.  Tliose 
who  grew  to  mature  3'ears  were  Louisa,  Margaret 
(deceased),  Valentine,  Martin  and  Philip.  (Jur 
subject's  parents  were  both  members  of  the  Luth- 
eran Church,  beirg  people  of  true  religious  prin- 
ciples. The  father,  who  was  a  true-blue  Republi- 
can in  politics,  died  in  1892,  when  seventy-six 
years  of  age,  while  his  wife,  who  lived  to  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  seventy-three  years,  departed  tliis 
life  in  1888.  John  Ruester,  the  paternal  grandfa- 
ther of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and 
on  coming  to  the  United  States  located  on  a  farm 
near  Belleville,  this  county,  in  1853. 

Beginning  life  for  himself  at  the  early  .ige  of 
fourteen  years,  our  subject  learned  the  trade  of  a 
saddle  and  harness  maker  under  ihe  instruction 
of  Anton  Kelirer,  of  New  Athens,  this  county. 
After  remaining  with  him  for  three  years,  he  went 
to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  where  he  spent  a  twelvemonth, 
and  in  1878  we  find  him  in  New  Athens,  this 
State,  where  he  opened  a  shop  on  his  own  account. 
He  was  successfully  engaged  in  that  place  for  five 
j'ears,  when  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Lenzburg, 
where  he  lias  since  been  identified  with  its  best 
residents. 

Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Conrad  and  Cath- 
erine (Deitz)  Spitz,  became  the  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject in  1881.  To  them  have  been  born  four  chil- 
dren, only  two  of  whom,  Lena  and  Gustav.  are 
living.  In  his  political  relations,  Mr.  Ruester  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  socially,  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pvthias  of  Belleville.  His  name  is 
among  the  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  in 
which  body  he  is  an  active  worker. 


E^^ 


ARTMANN  KOCH.  Biographies  of  suc- 
cessful, and  especially  of  good,  men  are 
most  useful  as  incentives  to  others,  teach- 
ing noble  thinking  and  energetic  action 
their  own  and  the  world's  good.  He  who 
gives  others  an  example  of  industry,  sobriety  ftnil 
consistent  honesty  of  purpose  in  life,  has  a  present 


as  well  as  a  future  influence  upon  the  well-being 
of  ills  community,  for  his  life  and  character  affects, 
unconsciously  though  it  maj'  be,  the  lives  and 
characters  of  others,  and  thus  the  influence  is  un- 
ending until  time  itself  shall  cease.  Too  much 
])raise  cannot,  therefore,  be  given  to  those  who  by 
their  worthy  lives  are  entitled  to  more  than  pass- 
ing mention. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  review  was 
born  in  Germany  in  1883,  and  is  the  son  of  .lustus 
and  Catherine  (Schneider)  Koch.  His  parents 
were  also  born  in  tJie  Fatherland,  the  father  in 
1811,  and  the  mother  in  1818.  .lustus  Koch  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  land,  where  in  his  3'outh  he  learned  the 
tiade  of  a  blacksmith,  and  was  thus  occupied,  in 
connection  with  the  business  of  a  wagon  man- 
ufacturer, throughout  his  entire  life.  His  death  oc- 
curred in  the  prime  of  life,  when  our  subject  was 
only  two  years  of  age.  After  his  death,  a  posthum- 
ous son  was  born  to  the  mother  of  our  subject,  who 
was  named  Henry  Philip  and  is  now  deceased. 
Mrs.  Catherine  Koch  came  to  the  United  States 
many  years  afterward  and  died  at  the  home  of  her 
son  Ilartmann,  in  Darmstadt. 

The  early  years  of  Ilartuiiinn  Koch  wore  un- 
eventfully passed  in  his  native  land,  where  he  at- 
tended the  common  schools  and  learned  the  trade 
of  a  blacksmith  with  an  uncle.  In  ]8.'')4,  he  left 
the  Fatherland,  and,  crossing  the  Atlantic,  for  a 
few  months  after  landing  made  his  home  in  the 
city  of  Baltimore.  Later,  he  removed  to  St.  Louis, 
where  for  seven  years  he  worked  steadily'  at  his 
trade.  Coming  thence  to  the  village  of  Darmstadt, 
he  opened  a  shop,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged 
at  his  trade.  In  connection  with  this  occu[)ation, 
he  is  Ihe  owner  of  three  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  valuable  land,  whereon  he  conducts  farming 
operations  with  skill  and  success. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  Mr.  Koch  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary,  (laughter  of 
.Joseph  and  Clara  (Aple)  Dierburger,  and  they 
have  become  the  parents  of  nine  children,  three  of 
whom  died  in  infancy  and  George  and  Clara  in 
their  youth.  The  surviving  children  arc  Mary, 
Elizabeth,  Amelia  and  Matheas,  U\  his  relig- 
ious coiiiieclions,  Mr.  K(jc1i    is  ;i    jni-Mnber  of  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


:VM 


Presbyterian  Church,  while  his  wife  is  a  Catholic. 
His  political  preferences  have  brought  him  into 
sympathy  with  the  Republican  party,  and  he  is  one 
of  the  pulilic-spirited  and  progressive  members  of 
that  party  in  the  county. 

Mr.  Koch  is  a  man  who  stands  liigh  in  the 
esteem  of  all  who  know  him,  and  his  honorable 
life  and  uniform  kindness  of  heart  endear  him  to 
his  acquaintances.  In  writing  of  him,  one  is  re- 
minded of  the  picture  drawn  by  the  poet  Long- 
fellow, of  the  village  blacksmith: 

Week  in,  week  out,  from  morn  till  night, 

You  can  hear  his  bellows  blow; 
You  can  liear  him  swing  his  heavy  sledge, 

With  measured  beat  and  slow. 
Like  a  sexton  ringing  the  village  bell 

When  the  evening  sun  is  low. 

Toiling,  rejoicing,  sorrowing. 

Onward  through  life  he  goes; 
Each  morning  sees  some  t.ask  begun, 

Each  evening  sees  it  close; 
Something  attempted,  something  done, 

Has  earned  a  night's  repose. 

Thanks,  thanks,  to  thee,  my  worthy  friend. 

For  the  lesson  thou  lias  taught; 
Thus  at  the  flaming  forge  of  life 

Our  fortunes  must  be  wrought. 
Thus  on  its  sounding  anvil  shaped 

Each  burning  deed  and  thought. 


<S^  MILK  HKBIIAX.  a  pr(.si)erous  farmer  of 
\f^,  section  5,  Shiloh  ^'alley  Township,  i>  a  na- 
/i — -^  tive  of  (Germany,  his  birth  having  occurred 
in  Coburg,  in  1K17.  He  is  a  sou  of  Louis  and  Lou- 
isa Rebhan,  the  fatiier's  birtli  occurring  in  France 
and  the  mother's  in  Mciningen,  Germany.  Louis 
Rebhan  grew  to  manhood  in  a  city,  received 
a  good  education,  and  was  reared  in  the  Catholic 
religion.  lie  was  an  attorney-at-law,  and  occupied 
a  position  in  the  otticial  department  of  tiie  coun- 
try, lie  was  sent  as  a  minister  to  Coburg,  (Jer- 
many,  which  position  he  occupied  until  his 
death.  When  a  young  man  ho  left  France,  and 
at  that  time  spelled  his  name  Rohu,     By  permis- 


sion of  the  King,  the  spelling  of  the  name  was 
changed  to  Rebhan.  which  liis  descendants  have 
since  adopted.  He  and  his  wife  reared  a  family  of 
four  children:  Louis,  deceased;  Emile;  .\delina 
L..  now  decease<l,  who  w.as  the  wife  of  (J.adloi)  M\ild- 
rop;  and  ,Iohn,  who  still  lives  in  the  Old  Country. 
Of  this  family  our  subject  is  the  only  one  who 
came  to  the  United  States. 

Our  subject  received  a  good  common-school  ed- 
ucation, and  in  addition  took  a  collegiate  course, 
lie  then  continued  his  studies  and  commenced  the 
reading  of  law.  He  next  learned  the  trade  of  an 
architect  in  the  (iovernment  department.  In  181!l, 
Mr.  Rebhan  was  united  in  marriage  with  Louisa 
Fensline.  Some  time  afterward,  on  account  of  the 
Revolution,  he  came  to  America,  his  wife  having 
died  just  before  his  departure,  leaving  three  chil- 
dren: .lohn,  dece.ased;  Edward,  who  hiis  since  come 
to  the  L'nited  States;  and  Anna,  also  dece.ased. 
After  arriving  in  the  New  World,  our  subject  first 
settled  at  New  Orleans,  where  he  worked  at  his 
trade  for  a  perioil  of  about  two  years.  He  then 
came  to  Belleville,  and  has  lived  in  this  county 
since  that  time.  He  has  been  a  civil  engineer,  and 
surveyed  all  of  the  plank  roads  of  the  county.  He 
also  followed  agricultural  pursuits  quite  exten- 
sively. At  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war,  Mr. 
Rebhan  raised  Coini>any  F,  Second  Missouri  In- 
fantry, which  was  under  Gen.  Lyons.  He  partic- 
ipated in  the  battles  of  Wilson  Creek  and  Bearge. 
On  account  of  sickness,  he  returned  home  at  the 
end  of  the  first  year,  and  located  at  Shiloh,  where 
he  has  since  resided. 

In  Belleville,  Mr.  Uebliaii  w:is  united  in  marriage 
with  Catherine  .Miller,  daughter  of  George  Chris- 
ti.in  and  Elizabeth  ililler.  To  this  worthy  couple 
four  chiUlren  have  been  born:  George  C.,  an  at- 
torney of  Belleville,  a  sketch  of  whom  will  be 
found  on  another  page  of  this  work;  Edward; 
Amelia,  the  wife  of  Louis  Shmisour,  who  is  now  de- 
ceased; and  Louisa. 

Our  subject  is  a  rrotesl.-mt  and  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  Church.  Socially,  ho  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  order,  and  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  F'ellows,  but  has  his  pass  from  each.  He  takes 
an  active  part  iii  all  local  political  affairs,  and  is  a 
supporter  of  the  Republican  party,  He  is  a  roan  of 


338 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


good  education,  and  well  informed  on  all  the  lead- 
ing questions  of  the  (\ay.  For  over  fort)'  years  he 
has  been  a  resident  of  this  county-,  and  is  accounted 
one  of  its  most  public-spirited  and  representative 
citizens.  As  a  farmer,  he  is  considered  a  man  of 
enterprise  and  ability,  and  lias  acquired  a  compe- 
tence through   years  of    industry  and    hard  labor. 


--^^^ 


e 


IIRISTIAN  ET'l'LING.     The  subject  of  this 
I  sketch  resides  on   survey   607,  Prairie   du 

^^J  Long  Township,  St.  Clair  County,  111.  His 
father,  Conrad  Ettling,  was  born  in  II.ainl)urg, 
Germany,  in  the  year  180',),  on  the  21st  of 
Octolier.  The  early  part  of  the  latter's  life  was 
spent  in  his  native  village,  where  he  learned 
and  afterward  plied  tlie  vocation  of  a  stone- 
m.asun.  His  wife  was  a  Miss  Caroline  Iluck,  a 
native  of  the  same  place.  In  the  year  18.'?7,  Con- 
rad Ettling  emigrated  with  iiis  faniil\-  to  the 
United  States,  and  on  his  arrival  in  this  country 
located  at  Detroit,  where  he  lived  Initashort  time, 
moving  from  there  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  worked 
at  his  trade  for  several  mouths,  and  then  moved 
to  St.  Clair  County,  111.  He  rented  a  farm  three 
miles  south  of  Belleville,  and  lived  tliere  about  six 
years,  afterward  renting  several  other  places,  on 
which  he  spent  about  four  years,  when  lie  bought 
wiiat  was  then  known  as  the  old  Reding  House 
l)lace,  on  whieli  he  resided  for  over  twenty-two 
years.  He  had  been  in  this  country  over  thirty 
years  when  he  moved  to  Ereeburg,  tins  county, 
wiiere  lie  still  lives.  His  cash  possessions  on  his  ar- 
rival in  America  consisted  of  *5,  and  his  life  is  one 
of  the  best  exemplifications  of  thrift,  industry,  and 
perseverance,  the  biographer  can  possibly  depict. 
In  his  family  were  si.x  children. 

Cliristian  Ettling,  with  whose  name  we  introduce 
this  sketch,  was  born  in  Hamburg,  Germany,  on 
the  4th  of  December,  IS:MI  He  w.as  only  one 
year  old  when  his  parents  came  to  America,  and 
Ids  whole  life  has  been  spent  on  a  farm.  He  re- 
ceived a  fair  education  in  the  common  schools  of 
St.  Clair  County,  svi>d  upon  arriving  at  inanhoptl'a 


estate,  received  from  bis  father  fifty  acres  of  land 
with  whicii  to  start  the  life  of  a  farmer,  which  he 
had  chosen  as  his  life  pursuit. 

On  the  29th  of  February,  1860,  our  subject  mar- 
ried Miss  Catherine  Moeser,  daughter  of  Henry 
Moeser,  one  of  the  picmeer  settlers  in  this  part  of 
the  State.  After,  his  marriage,  he  located  at 
Prairie  du  Long,  where  he  lived  two  years  on 
his-  own  farm.  After  his  two  years'  residence  at 
Prairie  du  Long,  he  went  back  to  his  father's  farm, 
wliere  he  stayed  six  months  and  then  located  on 
the  fifty  acres  which  his  father  had  given  him,  and 
which  was  situated  in  Smitliton  Township,  .\fter 
a  period  of  eighteen  years,  Mr.  Ettling  sold  the 
last-mentioned  farm,  and  liought  the  place  on 
which  he  now  lives. 

Catherine  (Moeser)  Ettling,  the  first  wife  of  our 
subject,  died  August  21,  1882.  She  was  a  wo- 
man of  most  estimable  traits  of  character,  and  her 
loss  was  mourned  by  a  large  circle  of  friends.  Some 
time  after  this  bereavement,  Mr.  Ettling  married 
his  second  wife.  Miss  Catherine  Bretsch,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Philip  Bretsch,  who  was  a  resident  of  New 
Athens  Township.  The  first  Mrs  Ettling  was  the 
mother  of  twelve  children,  and  the  second  wife 
has  borne  our  subject  five,  making  a  family  of  sev- 
enteen children,  fourteen  of  whom  are  still  living, 
and  are  as  follows:  Peter,  who  follows  the  trade 
of  a  carpenter  at  Freeburg;  Mary,  who  lives  in 
Montgomery  County,  and  is  the  wife  of  .Tacob 
Klein,  a  farmer;  .l.acob,  who  lives  in  Monroe 
County;  Willie,  a  resident  of  Freeburg;  (ieorge, 
Katie,  Lizzie,  Christopher  and  Emma,  wlio  all  live 
at  home.  One  of  the  saddest  incidents  in  this 
family's  history  was  the  drowning  of  one  son, 
Philip,  a  boy  who  gave  most  excellent  promises 
for  future  manhood.  In  addition  to  the  children 
above  mentioned  are:  liertie,  Hilda,  Gustav, 
Johnnie  and  Elsa.  Three  members  of  this  family 
died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Ettling  is  the  owner  of  one  hundred  :uid 
thirty-eight  and  one-half  acres  of  land,  well  im- 
proved and  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  He 
raises  wheat,  corn  and  oats,  but  his  principal  crop 
is  wheat,  lie  is  a  well-known  and  active  member 
of  the  Lutheran  Church,  to  which  body  he  has 
always  given  hearty  support,  ant]  botl(  ^le  aiul  liis 


/ 


crd     o^no/i^^^  ^^  r\^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


.'Ml 


wife   iirc  among  the  sincere  workers  and  standi 
inemher>  of  that  organization. 

Mr.  l-".Uliiig's  political  syinpatliics  extend  to  the 
DeiiKiirntic  party,  and  he  is  a  linn  believer  in  the 
strength  of  its  principles  and  the  ellicaev  of  its 
platform.  He  has  held  the  ollice  of  'I'nistee  in  his 
townshii)  for  the  past  six  years,  and  h.as  served  as 
School  Director  for  three  terms.  With  an  intelli- 
gent conception  of  his  duties  as  a  citizen,  a  fec^ling 
of  good-will  toward  mankind,  and  a  deep  regard 
for  his  own  family,  the  sul)ject  of  this  sketch  en- 
deavors to  honoratily  fulfill  all  the  duties  wliicli 
devolve  upon  him,  and  in  so  doing  lie  has  gained 
the  respect  of  all  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact. 


-?s^?" 


MOS  THOMPSON,  a  well-known  and 
prominent  citizen  of  Helleville,  is  now 
retired  from  the  active  duties  of  life  and 
is  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his  early  labors. 
He  was  horn  fifteen  miles  northeast  of  Portland, 
Me.,  April  26,  1807,  a  son  of  Abel  Thompson. 
His  grandfather,  Ainos  Thompson.  Sr.,  was  born 
in  1749,  and,  with  his  biother  .Tonathan,  accom- 
panied Col.  Arnold  and  his  army  through  tlie 
wilderness  from  Maine  to  Quel)ec  in  the  fall  of 
177.'),  and  participated  in  the  battle  of  (Juebec, 
where  (ieii.  Montgomery  was  killed  and  Col.  Arn- 
old wounded. 

Aljel  Thompson,  the  eldest  child  of  Abel  Thomp- 
son, Sr.,  was  born  in  the  spring  of  177.').  It  is 
said  he  was  the  second  child  born  in  Lincoln 
(now  Sagadahoc)  County,  Me.  In  the  war  with 
JMigland  in  1H12-1;!,  he  was  a  Lieutenant  in  a 
military  company,  and  was  called  into  active  ser- 
vice in  that  war.  He  was  a  shii)  carpenter,  mill- 
wright and  I'armt-r.  He  married  Mary  Haynes  in 
17!tG,  or  17il7.  and  had  nine  children,  two  of 
whom  dieci  in  infancy;  the  remaining  seven  were 
Elizabeth,  Hannah.  Mehetal)el.  .Vinos.  ICleaiior. 
Haynes  and  Abel.  When  he  left  .Maine  for  the 
West,  the  two  eldest  children,  Klizabeth  and  Han- 
nah, did  not  accompany  him,  they  having  mar- 
ried  and    settled    in    Maiiu'.      In     \x\:,,  he    drove 

16 


.across  the  country  from  Maine  to  Cincinnati,  but 
was  unfortunate  in  having  his  horse  stolen  by 
Imlians.  ^^■hile  absent  on  his  trip  to  the  Far 
West,  his  mill  w.as  burned,  and  oir  his  return 
East  he  determined  to  take  advantage  of  the 
larger  opportunities  which  the  Ear  West  afforded. 
In  the  fall  of  1816.  he  commenced  his  long  jour- 
ney Westward,  and  at  the  head  of  the  Allegheny 
River,  built  a  Hat-boat,  on  which  he  floated  down 
to  Cincinnati.  Then  he  embarked  on  a  keel-boat 
for  Kaskaskia,  III.  It  was  his  intention  to  start  a 
mill  six  miles  south  of  IJelleville,  where  lie  located 
with  that  object  in   view. 

However,  before  hi-^  plans  were  completed,  JMr. 
Thompson  was  taken  ill  with  malarial  fever  and 
died  September  17,  1«18.  his  wife's  death  oc- 
curring two  days  before  his  own.  Mehetabel 
became  the  wife  of  Samuel  l'liillii)s  and  died  .'it 
an  advanced  age.  One  of  her  sons,  Daniel  T. 
Philips,  resides  in  Cornelius,  Ore.,  and  another 
in  St.  Clair  County.  J^leauor  married  .John 
Alexander,  of  St.  Clair  County,  and  both  are 
deceased,  her  death  occurring  at  the  age  of  forty- 
two  years,  .\liel  married  and  became  the  father 
of  a  large  family  of  cbildreii  and  died  at  the  age 
of  sixt3'-eight. 

The  memory  of  our  subject  carries  him  back 
many  years,an(l  he  well  remembers  the  earthquake 
of  181 1,  although  at  that  time  lie  was  only  four 
years  old.  He  also  recalls  the  naval  battle  between 
the  "Boxer"  and  the  "Enterprise"'  in  September, 
1813,  when  he  could  hear  the  noise  of  the  conflict, 
although  some  fifteen  miles  distant.  IJoth  the 
commanders,  Boyle  and  Brocke,  were  killed  in  the 
battle,  and  Mr.  Thomp.son  has  since  visited  their 
graves  at  Portland,  Jle.  Our  subject  visited 
Maine  in  1.^21),  and  after  an  absence  of  fiftj-three 
ye.'irs  again  returned  to  Maine  in  1882,  and  vis- 
ited his  aged  sister  Hannah,  who  was  then  living 
at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years,  luit  Is  since  de- 
ceased. 

Early  oiplianeil  by  the  death  of  his  |)arents, 
.\nios  Thomiison  found  .i  home  with  a  neighbor 
named  Fowler,  willi  whom  he  remaiiied  one  year. 
During  the  suiiiiner  of  the  ensuing  year,  he 
cooked  for  .Mr.  I'ouler.  who  was  at  that  time  build- 
ing .a  mill.      After  se\ cral  severe  spells  of  sickness, 


342 


PORTRAIT  AND  BlOGRAPmCAL   RECORD. 


he  was  bound  as  an  apprentice  to  John  Stuntz,  a 
tanner  and  furrier,  whose  father  was  one  of  the 
Hessian  soldieis  sent  here  to  fight  for  George  III 
of  England,  but  who  deserted  in  the  first  engage- 
ment and  joined  the  Americans  and  fought  for 
them  during  tlie  American  War.  Mr.  Stuntz 
agreed  to  send  the  lad  to  school,  a  promise 
which  he  faithfully  kept.  With  this  noble  old 
German  our  subject  remained  until  he  was  twenty- 
one  years  of  age,  and  until  he  was  twenty  attended 
the  district  schools  during  the  winter  months.  He 
then  began  learning  the  cariicnter's  trade  with 
Mr.  Fowler,  and  worked  at  that  trade  for  about 
twenty  years.  In  1829,  he  assisted  Mr.  Fowler  in 
building  the  County  Court  House  in  Belleville. 

In  1830,  Mr.  Thompson  made  his  first  purchase 
of  real  estate,  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  upon 
which  he  resided  for  a  period  of  thirty  years, 
and,  as  lie  had  hardly  enough  money  to  pay  for 
it,  he  borrowed  $50  for  forty  days  through  the 
influence  of  a  good  friend,  Edward  Tate.  The 
loan  of  S50  which  he  made  fell  due  on  a  Sunday, 
and  he  promptly  paid  it  that  day,  thus  relieving  to 
some  extent  his  obligation  to  his  warm  friend,  Ed- 
ward Tate;  that  was  the  first  money  borrowed  for 
which  he  had  to  give  security,  and  since  then  he 
'  has  been  enabled  with  only  his  own  name  to  get 
what  money  he  has  needed.  Early  in  life  he  learned 
the  important  lesson  that  a  punctual  man  com- 
mands his  neighbors'  purse  strings. 

May  15,  1831,  our  subject  was  married  to  Miss 
Irene  Moore,  a  descendant  of  Shields  Moore,  who 
settled  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  in  1732.  After  his  mar- 
riiige,  Mr.  Thompson  settled  on  his  farm,  and 
here  resided  until  about  eight  years  after  the 
death  of  his  wife,  which  occurred  in  1852.  While 
living  on  the  farm,  he  dealt  largely  in  stock,  and 
after  his  removal  to  Belleville  in  1860  he  became 
an  extensive  property-holder.  In  connection  with 
his  son  Alonzo,  he  at  one  time  owned  seven  thou- 
sand acres  in  Barton  County,  Mo.,  where  he  still 
owns  twelve  hundred  acres.  As  this  land  was  pur- 
chased some  thirty  years  ago,  it  has  since  greatly 
increased  in  value. 

In  company  with  his  son  Alonzo  and  his  son- 
in-law,  Mr.  Harrison,  our  subject  has  purchased 
l:ir"C  tracts  of  land  in   Missouri,  all  uf  which  have 


proved  good  investments,  and  with  them  he  has 
speculated  extensively  in  Illinois  land.  He  was  a 
Democrat  up  to  1856, and  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Legislature  in  the  sessions  of  1842-44, 1844-46, 
also  1866-68,  including  two  called  sessions,  and 
proved  an  able  and  incorruptible  Legislator.  Since 
1856,  he  has  been  a  Republican.  He  is  a  man  of 
exceptionally  fine  mental  powers  and  possesses 
business  instincts  of  a  high  order.  His  good  judg- 
ment and  honor  are  thoroughly  appreciated,  and 
he  has  been  administrator  of  a  great  many  estates. 
The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thompson 
were  as  follows:  Alonzo,  a  real-estate  agent  of 
Omaha.  jS'eb.;  Mary  Eleanor,  wife  of  T.Harrison, 
of  Colorado  Springs,  Colo.;  Josephine  (Mrs.  J.  1). 
Truett),  who  died  in  Indiana  in  1882;  Cyrus,  a 
manufacturer  of  Belleville;  Eugene,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  nine  years;  and  diaries  II.,  a  money 
broker  of  Portland,  Ore. 

In  taking  a  retrospective  view  of  past  events 
in  this  world  of  changes  during  his  long  life,  it 
is  with  pleasure  that  our  subject  calls  to  mind 
the  many  wise  admonitions  and  kind  treat- 
ment received  from  John  Stuntz  and  his  wife, 
Elizabeth  (Hill)  Stuntz,  during  the  eight  years 
and  seven  months  in  which  he  was  a  member  of 
their  family.  Our  subject  now  resides  with  his 
son,  Cyrus  Thompson,  in  Belleville,  111. 


(^)  BP]DFORD  CASH.  This  pleasant  gentle- 
man is  a  member  of  of  the  First  Christian 
Church  in  this  city,  and  is  a  business  rep- 
resentative of  the  firm  of  P>ans,  Snider,  Buel  * 
Co.  The  name  of  Cash  is  well  known  through- 
out Virginia,  and  from  that  family  came  J.ames 
Cash,  the  father  of  our  subject,  although  his  birth- 
place was  in  Kentucky.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm 
and  then  learned  what  was  a  very  important 
tcade — tanning;  after  he  had  learned  how  to 
1)repare  leather,  he  found  out  the  proper  way 
to  use  it.  He  appears  to  have  been  skilled  in 
many  ways,  for  he  also  learned  the  trades  of  car- 
penter and  stone  mason,     He  conducted    his    tan- 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


343 


nei  y  in  Morgan  County.  Ky.,  and  also  engaged  in 
farming.  He  also  gained  a  reputation  as  a  liun- 
ter.  Ill  l!^.')7.  he  concluded  to  remove  his  family 
to  AiMlr.aiii  County.  Mo.,  and  this  change  was 
made  with  wagons,  the  place  selected  for  the  new 
liuiiie  consisting  of  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  unimproved  land.  Here  Mr.  Cash  lived 
until  within  one  year  of  his  death,  when  he  re- 
moved tt)  Centralia,  Mo.,  and  died  there  in  18()7. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Sally  Cree,  a  Ken- 
tuckian  by  birth.  Her  death  occurred  April  1. 
1875,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  youngest  of 
eleven  children,  five  of  whom  are  living.  He  was 
born  August  27,  1851,  in  ^lorgan  County,  Ky., 
and  was  reared  in  Missouri  from  the  age  of  six 
years.  He  had  no  school  advantages  at  all.. as  this 
was  a  pioneer  country,  and  the  "  work  school" 
was  the  only  one  thought  of.  In  this  school  he  was 
pretty  thoroughly  disciplined,  as  his  father  died 
when  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age  and  he  had  to 
think  of  taking  care  of  himself,  whidi  has  often 
been  a  serious  undertaking  for  those  much  older 
in  life  and  experience  than  a  lad  of  sixteen. 
However,  he  soon  obtained  work  at  herding  cattle 
at  ^18  a  mouth,  and  continued  at  this  until  he 
came  to  St.  I>ouis,  in  1869.  Here  he  found  em- 
ployment in  the  old  North  Missouri  Yards  driving 
cattle,  and  there  he  remained  until  the  completion 
of  the  In  ion  Stock  Yards,  when  he  worked  there 
one  year  as  hog  accountant.  In  1875,  he  came  to 
the  National  Stock  Yards,  and  wiis  employed  there 
for  eighteen  months,  and  then  began  to  speculate 
in  hogs  for  himself,  and  did  mncii  in  this  line. 
In  1887,  he  became  hog  salesman  for  the  firm  of 
Hunter.  Evans  it  Co.  until  the  firm  of  Snider, 
Evans  it  Co.  wiUi  formed,  with  which  ((iiii)i;iiiy  he 
has  been  ever  since. 

Mr.  Cash  is  a  Democrat  <if  tlie  strongest  type, 
and  is  highly  regarded  in  his  part}'.  He  is  a 
member  in  the  National  I'nion,  and  has  been  the 
main  organizer  and  piUar  of  the  Christian  Church 
of  this  city,  which  he  has  supported  willi  lioth 
purse  and  inlhience. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Cash  took  place  in  Si. 
Louis,  in  1874,  with  Mis-*  Alice  Sutherland,  one  of 
the  fair  daughters  of  Kentucky,   and  two  iliilijicii 


have  blessed  this  union.  The  eldest,  Hugh  Em- 
met t.  w.as  removed  by  death,  but  Walter  S.  re- 
mains. He  will  not  be  ashamed  to  read  the  record 
of  dilHeulties  overcome  by  his  father,  for  the  trials 
of  early  life  very  often  form  character  and  make 
men  what  they  are.  Two  of  the  brothers  of  >[r. 
Cash  took  part  in  the  Civil  "War. 


W,^  ENKY  (  I..VV  i:(  KKKT.  an  enterprising 
Irjll  farmer  and  prominent  member  of  the 
Mi<^  Grange,  living  in  Smithton  Township,  was 
i^j  born  November  5,  1850,  of  (ierman-Amer- 
ican  parentage.  He  was  the  son  of  Michael  Eck- 
ert,  who  came  to  this  country  with  his  parents 
when  he  was  eleven  years  of  age.  This  was  in 
1837,  and  they  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of 
.St.  Clair  County.  The  birthplace  of  our  subject 
was  on  the  Drumhill  Farm,  near  Favetteville.  He 
received  a  good  education,  attending  the  free 
schools,  afterward  spending  one  year  at  McKendree 
College.  He  had  better  advantages  than  most  of 
the  boys  of  his  age  or  locality,  .\fter  the  death  fif 
his  brother,  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Belle- 
ville, 111.,  ill  1><75.  After  several  years  in  that 
city,  he  married  ^lary  L.  Jliller.  who  was  the 
daughter  of  Michael  Miller,  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  St.  Clair  County.  Our  subject  lived 
ill  Belleville  until  1879.  when  he  removed  to 
Hichview  Farm,  situated  on  the  Cairo  Short  l>ine, 
just  above  Wilderman  .Station.  He  has  been  a 
farmer  all  his  life,  and  has  followed  the  business 
intelligently,  using  the  latest  .agricultural  devices, 
and  l)uying  the  best  breeds  of  cattle,  sheep  and 
poultry,  lie  has  at  this  writing  live  hundred  young 
chickens  of  pure  blood,  and  sells  poultry  for  breed- 
ing purposes:  he  also  manufactures  on  his  place 
a  fine  article  of  gilt-edged  butter.  The  children 
are  AValtcr  V...  Eugene  A.  and  Alvin  Otis.  His 
only  daughter.  .Vmelia,  has  passed  away. 

Mr.  Eckert  has  two  farms,  one  containing  one 
Imndieil  and  eighteen  acres,  and  another  twohun- 
drcd  and  ten  acres.     The  land    where    he    lives  is 


344 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


underlaid  with  coal,  which  makes  it  very  valua- 
ble. The  large  brick  residence  which  Mr.  Eckert 
erected  in  the  course  of  time,  is  one  of  the  finest 
in  this  part  of  the  county,  and  cost  him  15,400. 
He  also  has  a  large  poultry  house,  built  after  the 
latest  models,  which  cost  him  $200.  His  land  has 
.all  the  latest  improvements,  and  is  well  tiled 
wiiere  that  was  necessary.  He  firmly  believes 
that  farming  can  be  greatly  improved  bj-  better 
methods,  and  that  the  breeding  and  raising  of  bet- 
ter stock  will  always  pay  in  the  end.  He  keeps  an 
account  of  all  that  he  buys  and  all  that  he  sells, 
and  at  the  end  of  the  year  has  as  clean  a  balance 
sheet  as  any  merchant. 

Mr.  Eckert  is  a  Republican,  and  has  always  been 
one,  and  is  a  strong  believer  in  the  protection  of 
American  industries,  and  an  advocate  for  an  hon- 
est American  dollar.  He  belongs  to  the  Grange, 
and  at  one  time  took  an  active  part  in  its  meet- 
ings, but  lately  a  hardness  of  hearing  has  pre- 
vented his  attendance.  He  believes  in  the  Grange 
principles,  and  is  truly  one  of  the  most  enterpris- 
ing farmers  in  tiie  county,  and  has  endeavored  to 
place  agriculture  upon  a  proper  footing  in  his 
county.  Men  of  his  stamp  will  soon  give  a  quietus 
to  those  who  look  at  the  farming  community  as  a 
necessary  part  of  a  State,  but  to  be  regarded  as 
rather  out  of  the  rapid  march  of  progress. 


lEORGE  W.  SHIPMAN,  proprietor  of  the 
,  Western  Keg  Works,  near  the  Louisville  ifr 
1  Nashville  passenger  depot,  is  one  of  tlie 
successful  men  whose  historj-  forms  the  glory  of 
St.  Clair  County.  One  of  the  i)rominent  features 
of  the  business  men  of  Belleville,  111.,  is  their 
energy  and  pusli.  Mr.  Shipman  is  no  exception 
in  tliis  respect,  but  affords  a  striking  example  of 
the  truth  of  the  assertion.  He  is  a  man  of  excel- 
lent business  (lualifications  and  good  habits,  and  a 
citizen  who  h.as  tiie  highest  regard  of  all  who  know 
him. 

()nrsuliject    was  born   near   Si,.   ( 'hiirsvillc,    the 
(MMinty  seat  of  lielmont  (Juil)ily,  (J)iio,  on  the  lOlh 


of  September,  1821,  and  is  a  son  of  AValter  and 
Ann  (Wilson)  Shipman.  The  father  was  a  car- 
penter by  trade,  but  in  connection  was  also  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  was  the  owner  of  eighty 
.acres  of  land,  on  which  he  made  his  home.  He 
died  in  Belmont  County,  and  left  a  family  of  nine 
children,  all  but  one  now  living.  Our  subject  re- 
ceived his  early  education  in  the  log  schoolhouse 
of  pioneer  days,  but  as  the  schoolhouse  was  two 
miles  distant  from  his  home  and  in  the  woods,  his 
scholastic  liaining  was  limited  to  about  four 
months  in  nil.  However,  he  had  a  naturally 
bright  .and  active  mind,  and  by  observation  and 
study  later  in  life,  he  became  (piite  well  posted  on 
all  subjects  of  moment. 

Our  subject  was  only  about  eighteen  years  of 
age  when  his  father  died,  and  he  subsequently  be- 
gan learning  the  machinist's  trade  in  Miirlin  's  Ferry, 
Ohio.  He  was  the  first  man  who  ever  put  a 
threshing-machine  on  wheels  and  threshed  with  it 
in  that  position,  and  this  created  a  demand  for  his 
machines.  He  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Shipman,  Bales  (fr  Co.,  and  continued  in  this  bus- 
iness until  1860.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war, 
he  enlisted  in  Coiupanv  F,  Fiftieth  Ohio  Infantry, 
and  was  in  the  army  of  the  Cumberland  through 
Kentucky  and  Tennessee.  He  served  his  countiy 
faithfully-  for  three  years,  and  during  that  time  he 
never  received  a  wound  nor  was  he  taken  prisoner. 
He  served  as  wagon-master  for  about  twenty-Lwo 
montlis.  After  returning  from  the  war,  he  worked 
at  the  machine  business,  and  in  1869  established  a 
manufactory  of  nail  kegs  at  Martin's  Ferry,  which 
he  conducted  until  1871.  From  there  he  moved 
to  Port  Clinton,  Ohio,  thence  to  Wood  Countj-, 
Ohio,  in  1874,  and  in  1877  he  located  in  Belle- 
ville, 111.,  where  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
nail  kegs.  He  soon  established  a  manufactory  of 
his  own  near  the  Western  Nail  AVorks,  with  steam 
power  and  all  the  improved  m.achinery  for  the 
manufacture  of  kegs.  He  built  all  his  machines 
l)ut  two.  His  manuf.actory  has  a  capacity  of 
twenty-five  hundred  kegs  per  day,  and  he  employs 
about  sixty  hands,  making  a  pay  roll  of  about 
$1,200.  This  is  one  of  the  most  flourishing  insti- 
tutions of  the  city,  and  is  the  principal  keg  fac- 
tory,    Mr.   Shipman   is   thoroughly   alive    tu    the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


347 


business  interests  of  this  busy  city,  and  his  factory 
retlec-te  the  highest  credit  upon  his  management. 

On  the  2(Uii  of  .liiiy,  1873,  Mr.  .Sliipman  was 
united  in  maiiiage  to  Miss  Rebecca  Ann  IJrown, 
of  Coleiain  Township.  Belmont  County,  Ohio,  and 
she  now  presides  t)ver  his  fine  home  at  No.  522  D 
Street,  Belleville.  Tliis  is  one  of  the  loveliest 
places  in  the  city,  and  attracts  the  eye  of  all.  Mr. 
Sliipman  was  previously  married  to  Miss  Martha 
Smith,  of  St.  Clairsville,  and  six  children  were  the 
fruits  of  this  union:  William;  Martha,  wife  of 
George  Fowler;  Lillian,  wife  of  E.  J.  Smallwood; 
George  W.,  Charles  and  Stephen  E.  Mr.  Sliipman 
owns  several  lots  and  two  houses  in  the  city  and 
other  real  esUnte.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of 
Belmont  City  Lodge  No.  221,  I.  O.  O.  P.,  at  Mar- 
tin's Ferry,  Ohio,  and  the  Grand  Army.  Mr.  Ship- 
man  was  Alderman  of  the  First  Ward  for  one 
term.  By  his  l!i.st  union,  he  became  tlie  father  of 
one  son,  Jefferson  Brown. 


^-^N^ 


Ir^OBEHT  CrNMNCillAJI.  Ilisan  uiidenia- 
jLs^  hie  truth  that  the  life  of  any  man  is  of  great 
*  A\  benefit  to  the  community  in  which  he  icsides, 
^  when  all  his  energies  are  directed  toward  ad- 
vancing its  interests,  .and  when  he  lives  according 
to  the  highest  principles  of  what  he  conceives  to 
be  right.  Mr.  Cunningham  is  one  of  these  men. 
He  has  been  prominently  identified  with  every  en- 
terprise of  importance  in  the  county,  and  iiolaud- 
.  able  movement  is  allowed  to  fail  for  want  of  sup- 
port on  his  part.  At  present  he  is  serving  .as 
Alderman  from  the  First  Ward  of  East  St.  Louis, 
and  is  disoiiarging  the  duties  incumbent  upon  that 
l)osition  in  a  very  satisfactory  manner.  He  has 
been  a  resident  of  East  St.  Louis  since  186.5.  and 
has  been  with  the  AViggins  Ferry  Company  since 
1872.  Throughout  St.  Clair  County  he  is  well 
known,  and  i^  regnrded  as  one  of  its  re|in'scnta- 
tive  men. 

Like  many  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  East  St. 
Louis,  Jlr.  Cunningham  is  of  foreign  birth.  He  was 
born   in    County    Loiilli,   Ireland.  March    17.  18-1."). 


His  father,  John  Cunningham,  who  was  also  born 
in  that  county,  was  a  stonemason  and  contractor, 
contracting  for  stone  and  brick  work.  He  lived 
to  the  good  old  age  of  seventy-eight  years,  and 
died  in  1887.  Upright  and  honest  in  every  walk  of 
life,  he  won  and  held  the  respect  of  ail.  He  married 
Bridget  Gorman,  also  a  native  of  the  green  isle  of 
Erin,  and  her  death  occurred  in  1847.  Three 
children  were  born  of  this  union,  but  our  subject, 
the  youngest  child,  is  the  only  one  in  America. 
One  of  his  brothers,  Bernard,  resides  in  the  old  place, 
and  is  a  stonemason.  Patrick,  the  other  brother, 
is  a  machinist  of  Dublin. 

Robert  Cunningham  was  reared  niid  educated 
in  his  native  country'.  When  eighteen  years  of 
age  he  decided  to  cross  the  oce.in  to  America,  and 
in  July,  1863,  he  took  p.assage  at  Liverpool  witli 
his  uncle,  Patrick  Gorman.  Thirteen  days  later 
they  landed  in  New  York  City,  and  went  from 
there  to  Toledo,  Ohio,  where  our  subject  was  en- 
gaged in  different  occupations  for  two  years.  In 
December,  1865,  he  removed  further  West,  and 
engaged  as  a  steamboat  hand  between  St.  Louis 
and  New  Orleans.  He  was  on  different  boats 
until  the  spring  of  1867,  when  he  came  to  East  St. 
Louis,  and  made  a  trip  of  thirty-five  hundred 
miles  in  fifty-seven  days,  on  the  steamer  "St. 
Luke."  Later,  he  ran  on  the  Upper  IMississippi 
River,  on  the  steamer  "  Key  Cit^-,"  of  St.  Paul,  and 
was  thus  engaged  one  year.  Returning  to  East  St. 
Louis  he  was  with  the  Vandalia  Railroad  for  one 
year,  and  subsequently  w.as  engaged  in  driving 
transfer  wagons  for  the  St.  Louis  Transfer  Coni- 
l)niiy  two  years. 

In  1872,  Mr.  Cunningham  engaged  with  the 
Wiggins  Ferry  Company  as  deckhand,  and  worked 
his  way  u])  to  foreman,  which  he  has  held  since 
187.").  He  is  in  charge  of  a  set  of  men,  and  thor- 
oughly understands  his  business.  He  is  also  (juite 
exteiLsively  engaged  in  the  real-estate  business  in 
this  city.  In  187(1,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Mary  Hoey,  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  nine 
children  have  resulted  from  this  union:  IMaiy: 
who  is  a  teacher  in  the  Douglas  School;  John,  a 
time-keeper  for  tlie  Wiggins  Belt  Line;  Robert, 
Katie,  Agnes.  Joseph,  Edward,  Annie  and  Thomas, 
all  but  the  two  eldest  at  home. 


348 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


In  1883,  Mr.  Cunningham  was  elected  Alder- 
luini  from  what  was  tlien  the  Third  (now  the 
First)  Ward,  and  has  tilled  tliat  position  ever 
since.  He  has  served  on  different  committees,  and 
is  Chairman  of  the  Railroad  Committee.  Mr. 
Cunningham  is  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  im- 
provement and  advancement  of  the  city,  has  per- 
formed honorable  and  efficient  service,  and  is  en- 
titled, with  others,  to  feel  a  pride  and  satisfaction 
over  the  result  of  efforts  and  labor  that  have  cul- 
minated in  the  East  St.  Louis  of  to-day.  In  1876 
he  was  elected  School  Director.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  and  in  poli- 
tics, is  a  strong  Democrat.  He  has  frequently 
been  a  delegate  to  county  conventions,  and  has 
been  President  of  the  Democratic  convention  for 
years.  Mr.  Cunningham  is  a  member  of  the  first 
Building  and  Loan  Association  of  East  St.  Louis, 
and  has  been  a  member  of  the  Grand  .lury.  He  is 
a  member  of  St.  Patrick's  Catholic  Cliurch,  and 
contributes  liberally  to  its  support. 


-^^- 


Jl^  ON.  GUSTAVITS  KOERNER,  ex-Lieutcn- 
\l%  ant-Governor  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  is  a 
'JS^  distinguished  German-American  writer  and 
(^;  statesman,  and  was  born  at  Fraukfort-on- 
the-Main,  Germany,  November  20,  1809,  in  which 
country  his  fatiier,  Bernhard  Koerner,  was  a  book 
publisher  and  a  prominent  citizen  of  Frankfort. 
I'he  latter  was  repeatedly  elected  to  the  Legislative 
body  of  this  free  city,  in  which  he  became  conspicu- 
ous for  liberalism.  Gustavus  attended  the  academy 
(iivmnasium)  of  Frankfort  and  became  a  student 
at  .lena,  whose  university  was  then  the  center  of  the 
students'  association  known  as  "Burschenschaft." 
He  was  a  stanch  adherent  of  that  patriotic  body  of 
students,  and  became  imbued  witii  a  warm  and 
sincere  devotion  to  the  cause  of  German  liberty 
and  unity.  In  1830,  he  pursued  his  studies  at  the 
Universityof  Munich,  and  with  others  was  charged 
while  there  with  having  resisted  the  police,  and 
was  arrested  and  imprisoned  for  four  months. 
I'pcm  being  released  and  discharged  by  judgment 


of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Bavaria,  he  went  to  Hei- 
delberg, where  he  finished  his  studies,  being  grad- 
uated in  1832  and  receiving  the  degree  of  LL.  D. 
Soon  after  this,  he  was  admitted  to  the  Supreme 
Court  of  his  native  city  to  practice  his  profession. 
In  1833,  the  movement  to  i)lace  the  Govern- 
ment on  a  Repuljlican  basis  met  liis  iiearty  ap- 
proval, as  it  did  that  of  thousands  of  other  young 
professional  men,  and  he  became  involved  in  the 
uprising  at  Frankfort,  April  3,  1838,  and  in  the 
conflict  with  the  soldiers  was  wounded.  Upon  his 
recovery,  with  tiie  assistance  of  friends,  he  escaped 
to  France,  but  was  not  permitted  to  stay  in  that 
country,  and  was  sent  by  the  French  Government, 
under  escort,  to  Switzerland.  He  soon  after,  how- 
ever, returned  to  F'rance,  and  from  the  city  of  Paris 
went  to  Havre,  where  he  found  old  friends  in  the 
Englemann  family  about  to  embark  for  America. 
He  joined  them  and  .lune  18,  1833,  arrived  in 
New  York  City.  In  .Uily,  lie  reached  Belleville, 
St.  Clair  County,  where  lie  settled  and  where  he 
continued  to  reside.  He  e:itered  the  law  school  at 
Lexington,  Ky.,  and  in  1835  was  admitted  to  the 
Bar,  and  through  his  undeniable  ability  soon  at- 
tained a  reputation  that  called  him  into  many 
cases  of  importance  in  the  local  and  Supreme 
Courts.  In  1845,  his  reputation  as  a  clear  and  log- 
ical reasouer  and  a  sound  jurist  received  com- 
mendable and  honorable  recognition,  and  he  was 
appointed  by  the  Governor  of  the  State  to  a  posi- 
tion on  the  Supreme  Bench, and  the  next  year  was 
elected  to  the  same  position  by  tlie  Legislature. 
He  wore  the  judicial  ermine  with  dignity,  ability 
and  ease,  and  upon  retirement  from  the  Bench  in 
1849,  when  the  office  was  made  an  elective  one,  he 
bore  with  him  the  respect  and  good-will  of  all,  and 
the  consciousness  that  lie  had  done  his  duty  so  far 
as  he  saw  it. 

Our  subject  declined  to  be  a  candidate  for  re- 
election and  returned  to  Belleville  and  resumed 
his  practice.  His  judicial  opinions  while  on  the 
Bench  were  marked  by  great  clearness,  and  exhib- 
ited thorough  research  and  careful  analysis,  and 
are  j'et  held  in  high  esteem  by  the  Bar  of  the 
State.  Being  in  accord  with  the  Democratic  party, 
he  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  by  it  in  1842, 
and  ten  years  later  was  elected  to   the  honorable 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


349 


:iih1  ri'.-<i)<)iisibU'  position  of  Lieutenant-Governor 
of  the  State,  his  majoiitv  being  very  large.  He 
was  the  first  German  in  the  State  to  be  so  hon- 
ored. As  a  presiding  olHcer  in  the  Senate,  he  was 
distinguished  for  the  correctness  of  his  rulings, 
and  Ills  thorough  knowledge  of  parliamentary  law. 
In  1851,  he  took  a  decided  stand  against  the  ex- 
tiMision  of  slavery  and  made  it  a  point  to  be  in 
constant  touch  and  sympathy  with  the  advanced 
of  the  age,  who  abhorred  mental  or  physical  slavery 
in  whatever  form  it  appeared.  His  couise  was 
exceedingly  unpopular,  and  he  and  many  other 
able  men  found  themselves  outside  their  party  by 
their  refusal  to  subscribe  to  the  principles  and  up- 
hold the  tenets  as  represented  by  the  slave  oli- 
garchy of  the  South,  who  represented  the  domi- 
nant wing  of  the  partj'.  The  active  and  positive 
position  he  took  on  the  Kansas-Nebraska  ques- 
tion brought  him  in  sympathy  and  accord  with 
Abraham  Lincoln,  Lyman  Trumbull,  .John  M. 
Palmer,  and  all  the  great  leaders  of  the  progressive 
thought  of  that  da3',and  together  the}' constituted 
the  leaders  through  whose  agency  the  Republican 
part}'  was  formed  and  brought  into  organization 
and  power.  Mr.  Koerner  became  the  acknowl- 
edged leader  of  the^"party  throughout  Soutlioin 
Illinois, 

In  1858,  he  was  a  member  of  the  convention 
that  nominated  Lincoln  for  United  States  Senator, 
and  stumped  the  State  in  his  behalf.  In  1860,  he 
was  a  delegate-at-large  to  the  Chicago  convention, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  committee  that  wrote  the 
memorable  platform,  upon  which  committee  were 
also^ov.  lJoutwell,.Carl  Schurz  and  Horace  (iree- 
lej'.  In  1861,  he  was  active  in  raising  the  Forty- 
third  Illinois  In  fantr}',  but  was  appointed  Colonel  of 
\'olunteers  by  President  Lincoln  and  was  assigned 
to  the  staff  of  Fremont  and  later  to  the  staff  of 
Halleck.  Illness  compelled  his  resignation  in  INIarcli, 
1862,  but  his  influence  still  continued  to  be  fi'll 
and  he  did  much  to  induce  the  mass  of  (iernians  to 
remain  loyal  to  the  Government.  In  .lune,  l^t('>2, 
Lincoln  again  manifested  his  confidence  in  one 
who  had  remained  so  loyally  his  friend.  iukI  .Mr. 
Koerner  was  appointed  Minister  to  Si)ain,  which 
position  he  Riled  with  disTTfi'gurshed  ability  for  two 
and  a-half  vears,  when  he  resigned.   He  did  much  to 


maintain  a  strict  neutrality  on  the  part  of  Spain, 
and  his  services  to  his  country  were  very  valuable 
and  of  a  most  satisfactory  kind. 

In  1868,  he  w.as  Elector-at- Large  for  the  Stale  and 
presided  over  the  electoral  college  of  Illinois,  cast- 
ing the  electoral  vote  for  (!rant.  In  1871,  he  was 
appointed  by  the  Governor  of  Illinois  one  of  the 
newly-created  Board  of  Railway  &  Warehouse 
Commissioners,  of  which  body  he  became  Chairman 
and  did  much  valuable  services  in  working  and 
guarding  the  interests  of  the  people.  In  1872,  he 
became  a  Liberal  in  his  political  views,  and  in  that 
year  was  the  Liberal  Democratic  candidate  for 
Governor  of  the  State,  his  name  adding  much 
strength  to  the  new  party,  which  was  born  at  Cin- 
cinnati and  of  which  Horace  (ireele^  was  thecham- 
pion.  He  ran  eleven  thousand  votes  ahead  of  the 
Presidential  candidate.  With  a  record  untarnished 
and  integrity  and  honesty  of  purpose  unquestioned, 
he  again  assumed  the  duties  of  his  profession,  in 
which  he  still  continues  and  gives  every  evidence 
of  a  much  longer  period  of  usefulness.  During 
his  long  and  busy  life,  he  has  found  much  time  to 
devote  to  literary  pursuits,  and  in  18.33  he  wrote 
some  valuable  articles  for  a  monthly  magazine, 
Das  Ausland,  published  at  Stuttgart,  Germany, 
correcting  erroneous  ideas  of  this  country  which 
were  entertained  in  Germany.  He  has  contributed 
many  other  articles  of  note  to  leading  magazines 
and  periodicals,  all  of  which  show  the  workings  of 
a  scholarly  and  active  mind  that  has  been  strength- 
ened and  enriched  by  the  highest  culture.  His 
style  in  writing  and  speaking  is  smooth,  forcible 
and  convincing,  and  in  1840  he  translated  into 
(German  all  the  general  laws  in  the  revised  code  of 
Illinois  of  1833.  After  his  ministry  in  Spain,  he 
published  at  Frankfort,  (ieimaiay,  reminiscences  of 
"Alls  Spanien,"  and  in  1880  "Das  Deutsche  Kle- 
nieiit  in  den  Vereinigten  Staatcn  von  1X18-1848," 
a  large  and  exhaustive  work  whicli  was  printed 
III  Cincinnati. 

,lune  15,  1836,  he  niiuiied  Miss  Sophia,  (hiiigliler 
of  Frederick  Theodore  Kngelmaiin,  late  of  St. 
(lair  County,  and  his  union  resulted  in  the  biitli 
of  live  .sons  and  three  daughters,  one  son  and 
two  daughters  of  whom  are  living.  This,  in  brief, 
is  a  sketch    of  one  of   the   old  settlers  of  .St.  Clair 


350 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRArHICAL  RECORD. 


County  and  one  who   has   been    conspicuous  for 

half  acentuiy  in  the  political  affairs  of  his  adopted 
fountr^v.  Few  men  living  have  been  more  promi- 
nent in  the  State  or  have  extended  more  influence 
or  been  more  thoroughly  representative  than  has 
he.  He  has  grown  old  gracefully,  and  his  declin- 
ing years  arc  being  spent  in  the  bosom  of  an  affec- 
tionate family  and  in  the  circle  of  an  extended 
friendship. 


^^ 


OHN  S.  CARSON.     Prominent  among  the 

shining  lights  of  the  legal  profession  stands 

the   subject  of  this   brief   sketch,  who  has 

made  the  beautiful    little  city  of  Belleville 

his  home  for  several  years  past. 

Mr.  Carson  is  a  native  son  of  Illinois,  having 
been  born  in  this  State,  at  N.isliville,  June  10, 
1851,  the  son  of  Robert  and  Nancy  C.  (Mitchell) 
Carson.  The  last-named  persons  were  both  na- 
tives of  Todd  Count}',  Ky.,  who  came  to  Washing- 
ton County  with  their  parents,  and  married  soon 
after  arrival.  Here  they  entered  land  that  now  is 
a  part  of  the  subvirbs  of  Nashville,  and  lived  and 
died  on  the  farm  they  reclaimed  from  the  prairie, 
the  father  dying  February  10,  1889,  and  the 
mother  in  1860.  When  the  death  of  the  mother 
occurred,  there  were  two  children  left  the  sorrow- 
ing father:  our  subject  and  a  daughter,  Sarah  Jane, 
wife  of  Richard  Snead,  of  Nashville.  Mr.  Robert 
Carson  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Cliurch,  South. 

John  Carson  was  educated  at  McKendree  Col- 
lege, Lebanon,  111.  After  graduating,  he  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  business  at  Nashville,  but,  fuel- 
ing that  his  attainments  fitted  him  for  greater 
things,  he  abandoned  his  occupation  and  removed 
to  IJelleville  in  1884,  in  order  to  engage  in  the 
study  of  law  under  Mr.  Winkleman.  After  several 
years  of  hard  and  persistent  study,  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  practice  at  the  Bar  by  an  examination 
of  the  Appellate  Court  at  Mt.  Vernon.  Before 
taking  the  examination,  he  was  engaged  for  two 
years  in  the  real-estate  business,  but  finally  opened 


his  ofHce  for  practice  at  No.  18  South  Illinois 
Street  with  Mr.  Winkleman  as  a  partner.  Since 
that  time,  so  successful  has  he  been,  that  the  busi- 
ness is  in  a  flourishing  condition,  and  Mr.  Carson 
and  his  partner  have  more  practice  all  the  time 
than  they  can  possibly  attend  to. 

In  addition  to  his  professional  duties,  Mr.  Car- 
son has  served  in  several  public  capacities,  having 
been  United  States  Ganger  during  1885  and  188(); 
he  wiisalso  elected  a  member  of  the  City  Council  by 
the  Democratic  party,  to  whom  he  owns  allegiance. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Carson  and  Miss  Mar}-  J. 
Eckei't,  daughter  of  Leonard  Eckert,  of  Monroe 
Count}',  occurred  September  5,  1872,  and  there 
have  been  four  children  added  to  their  family 
since  then:  H(il)ert  L.,  .lessio,  Frank  Houston  and 
Joiin  Edward. 

Mr.  Carson  is  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  is  now  holding  one  of 
the  chairs  in  that  order,  lie  and  his  interesting 
family  occupy  a  comfortable  residence  at  No.  917 
Park  Avenue.  Mr.  Carson  is  one  of  the  most  re- 
spected business  men  of  Belleville,  much  of  whose 
prosperity  is  due  to  just  such  men  as  our  subject. 


^i^lO 


ri^,^  ANS  SCHWARZ,  editor  and  proprietor  of 
rfjVi  the  Tmjeblalt  und  ArbeUer  Zeitumj  at  Helle- 
/iv^  viile,  was  born  .\pril  23,  1851,  in  Neustadt, 
(^)  near  Nuremberg,  in  Bavaria.  His  educa- 
tion w.as  gained  in  the  schools  of  his  native  vil- 
lage, where  in  his  youth  he  learned  the  trade  of  a 
printer,  becoming  a  skillful  compositor,  and  famil- 
iar with  the  "art  preservative."  For  eleven  years 
he  was  editor  and  business  manager  of  a  paper  in 
'Germany,  in  which  he  gained  a  practical  exper- 
ience that  has  been  of  inestimnble  value  to  liiin  in 
this  country. 

In  the  year  1883,  Mr.  Schwarz  emigrated  to  the 
tfnited  States,  coming  West  to  St.  Louis,  where  he 
remained  for  one  year.  During  tiie  following  year 
he  came  to  Belleville,  of  which  city  he  has  since 
been  a  resident.  In  1885,  he  established  the  ylj-6erter 
Zeitung,  which  he  first  conducted  as  a  weekly  issue, 


&^i^i«^ 


'(TUytx^ 


^^2^^  ec 


(htnyi.^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIHCAL  RECORD. 


353 


but  one  year  later  added  a  daily  paper,  which  has 
since  been  under  his  personal  supervision.  The 
weekly  journal  i-ont-ains  eight  jjages,  devoted  to 
news  of  general  interest,  as  well  as  matters  of  local 
importance  only.  The  daily  paper,  which  is  a  four- 
page  sheet,  has  a  large  number  of  readers,  and  is  a 
favorite  among  tlie  citizens  of  Belleville  and  vi- 
cinity. It  is  published  in  (4ernian,  and  is  consid- 
ered autliority  by  the  people  of  thai  nalii>nality  "lid 
reside  in  St.  Clair  County. 

Although  he  retains  a  deep  regard  for  the  Father- 
land, Mr.  Schwarz  is  also  devoted  to  the  interests 
and  welfare  of  the  country  of  his  adoption,  and 
represents  our  best  type  of  German-American  cit- 
izens. He  is  identified  with  several  flernian  organ- 
izations, among  them  being  the  Harugari,  the 
Arbeiter  Untcrstuetzungs  Verein,  and  the  (ier- 
man-.\merican  Typographical  Union  No.  18,  and 
the  Treulnmd. 


V.\.  FATIIKH  CIIRISTOPIIKK  KOKNK;. 
who  has  been  a  well-known  and  public- 
spirited  resident  of  Kast  .St.  Louis  since 
V^@  .laiuiary  27,  18(!;i,  is  a  man  of  education 
and  refinement,  highly  respected  and  esteemed, 
not  only  by  his  congregation,  but  b\-  all  who 
know  liim,  and  he  has  ever  manifested  a  deep  in- 
terest in  the  noble  w^ork  in  which  he  is  engaged. 
He  w.n-s  born  in  Attendorn.  Westphalia,  Germany, 
()clol)er  6.  1842,  a  son  of  Christopher  and  grand- 
son of  Frank  Koenig,  the  latter  liaving  been  a 
tiller  of  his  native  soil  and  a  soldier  in  Honaparte's 
armv.  He  was  in  the  Russian  campaign  for  a  short 
time  but  was  taken  sick  and  returned  home.  He 
was  called  from  the  scenes  of  his  earthly  labors  in 
18.')4.  at  which  time  he  lacked  four  months  of  be- 
ing one  hundred  years  old.  His  mind  was  unim- 
paired up  to  the  day  of  his  death,  his  memory 
bright, and  in  his  latter  j-ears  he  showed  a  remark- 
ably vigorous  constitution,  for  even  at  the  age  of 
ninety-nine  j-ears  he  did  considerable  work. 

Christopher  Koenig.  the  fatlier  of  the  subject  of 


this  sketch,  was  tlie  owner  of  a  smiill  farm  in  Ger- 
many, but  the  prospect*  offered  to  men  of  enter- 
prise and  push  in  America  were  alluring,  and  in 
1863  he  came  to  this  country  with  his  wife  and 
two  children,  one  son  having  preceded  them 
hither.  They  embarked  on  the  sailing-vessel 
"Tiiesco"  at  Bremen  and  landed  in  New  York  at 
Ihc  end  of  twenty-eight  days.  They  at  once  pro- 
ceeded to  Columbia,  Monroe  County,  111.,  to  join 
their  son.  Their  father  died  in  1877.  at  the  age  of 
seventy-three  years,  at  the  home  of  our  subject,  in 
Kast  St.  Louis.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
F.lizabeth  Tillmann,  was  a  daughter  of  I'cter  Till- 
iiuum.  a  school  teacher  of  Germany,  and  died  in 
the  year  1882.  Father  William  was  educated  for  the 
priesthood  in  Germany,  came  to  America  m  186(1, 
and  died  in  Columbia,  111.,  where  he  was  p.astor  of 
a  cluiicli.  in  1864;  Elizabeth  is  the  widow  of  Mr. 
Goelz  and  resides  in  this  city  with  F'ather  Christo- 
pher Koenig,  her  brother.  Tlie  latter  attended  the 
common  schools  until  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age, 
after  which  he  remained  with  his  parents  and  .as- 
sisted them  on  the  farm,  being  compelled  to  give 
up  the  Latin  studies  which  he  had  commenced. 
He  became  a  resident  of  Columbia,  111.,  in  1863, 
and  at  once  resumed  the  study  of  Latin  under  his 
brother.  .\t  the  end  of  one  year,  lie  entered  St. 
Francis  Seminary  of  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1868.  He  w.as  then  ordained  by 
Archbishop  Hennis,  receiving  his  first  appointment 
to  East  St.  Louis  on  the  27th  of  January,  186[t. 
At  that  time  his  congregation  consisted  of  forty 
families,  and  services  were  held  in  a  frame  build- 
ing on  Collinsville  and  St.  Louis  Avenues,  which 
had  been  erected  in  1866  by  Father  Hinkcns. 

In  1873,  the  erection  of  the  i)resent  beautiful 
church  was  commenced  and  on  Christmas  morning 
of  the  same  year  the  first  services  were  held.  At  the 
.-ame  time  this  commodious  and  hands<ime  house 
of  worship  was  erected,  the  parochial  residence  was 
also  built,  and  in  1887  the  parochial  school  build- 
ings of  St.  HenrvV  Church  were  established.  Four 
te.achers  are  kept  constantly  employed,  and  the 
pupils  number  two  hundred  and  sixty.  The  church 
occupies  one  block  on  Broadw.ay,  between  Fifth 
and  Sixth  Streets,  the  congregation  of  which  now 
numbers   three  hundred  families,  and  when  this  is 


.•554 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


taken  into  consideration,  together  with  the  many 
expensive  impioveraents  that  have  been  made,  it 
indicates  a  praiseworthy  spirit  among  the  people 
and  earnest  and  persistent  efforts  on  the  part  of  the 
pastor.  St.  Mary's  Hospital  on  Missouri  Avenue, 
between  Eighth  and  Ninth  Streets,  was  erected  in 
1889,  it  being  a  two-story  brick  and  basement 
building  80x40  I'eet  in  dimensions.  It  was  opened 
in  1890  and  is  in  charge  of  nine  Sisters,  who  are  in 
everj'  way  fitted  to  care  for  those  who  maj'  come 
under  their  care.  Father  Koenig  in  a  Democrat,  is 
a  believer  in  America  and  Americans  and  advo- 
cates their  attendance  at  tlie  polls. 


Ir^EV.  C.  H.  A.  VAN  der  8MISSEN.  This 
IWT  prominent  and  mucli-esteemed  minister  of 
(4V  \V  the  Gospel  is  a  native  of  Germany,  and 
was  born  in  Predericksstadt,  Sclileswig-Hol- 
stein,  December  4,  1851,  and  is  a  son  of  C.  J.  and 
S.  C.  (van  der  Smissen)  van  der  Smissen,  the  latter 
being  the  second  cousin  of  her  husband.  The  fa- 
ther was  at  fiist  a  book-binder,  but  in  1837  he  be- 
came a  minister  in  the  Mennonite  Church  and 
continued  in  the  active  discharge  of  his  ministerial 
duties  until  1890.  He  came  to  America  in  1868, 
.as  Professor  of  Theolog}'  in  Wadsworth  Mennonite 
College,  Medina  County',  Ohio,  and  was  a  man  of 
much  more  than  ordinary  ability,  being  educated 
in  some  of  the  best  colleges  of  his  country.  He 
continued  in  the  above-mentioned  college  until 
1879,  when  he  went  to  Ilayesville,  Ohio,  where  our 
subject  had  a  charge.  While  a  resident  of  the  old 
country,  Mr.  van  der  Smissen  was  considered  one 
of  the  finest  preachers  in  the  province,  and  was 
noted  for  his  eloquence,  deep  reasoning  and  true 
piety.  His  death  occurred  on  the  29tli  of  May, 
1«9(),  when  seventy-eight  years  of  age.  The  mother 
was  born  on  the  15th  of  March,  1814.  Their 
children  were  as  follows:  Elizabeth,  who  married 
M.  D.  Homey,  a  Director  of  the  Idiot  Asylum 
at  Nassau;  Wilhelmina  F.  became  the  wife  of 
Henry  Scliwacke,a  school  teacher  in  the  Ft.  Wayne, 
Ind.,  schools,  and  thej'  reside  in  that  city;  Ciilbert 


Theodore  died  in  infancy;  Jacob  Theophil  died 
on  the  2d  of  February,  1850,  when  six  years  of 
age;  Helena  Dorothea  died  January  22,  1850,  at  the 
age  of  four  years;  Hillegonda,  single,  resides  with 
the  mother  in  Summerfield,  this  county;  Gysbert 
died  in  infancy. 

The  original  of  this  notice  remained  in  Fred- 
ericksstadt  up  to  1868.  He  was  educated  in  the 
best  schools  of  his  native  country,  and  was  a  stu- 
dent at  the  gymnasiums  in  Husum  and  Weilburg. 
In  1870,  when  the  Franco-Prussian  War  broke  out, 
he  went  to  the  ITniversitj'  of  Basle  and  remained 
there  two  years,  taking  one  3'ear  at  Tubingen  and 
half  a  year  at  Halle,  thus  completing  his  theological 
education.  He  traveled  over  Europe,  visiting 
Germany,  Switzerland,  Austria,  Italy,  France  and 
Holland,  and  took  this  trip  to  broaden  his  views 
and  his  education.  He  came  to  America  in  1874, 
landed  in  New  York,  and  went  from  there  to 
Wadsworth.  He  was  ordained  a  minister  of  the 
Mennonite  Church  October  15,  1874,  being  or- 
dained by  his  father  and  Rev.  E.  Hunsberger,  in 
a  church  near  Hayesville,  Ohio,  where  he  then  en- 
tered actively  on  his  ministerial  duties.  He  preached 
for  three  years  on  alternate  Sundays  in  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  from  1875  to  1878,  and  in  1880  went  to 
Coshocton,  Ohio,  where,  in  connection  with  preach- 
ing, he  taught  German.  There  he  remained  until 
June,  1881,  and  in  July  of  that  year  he  took  charge 
of  the  Mennonite  Church  at  Upper  Milford,  near 
Zionsville,  Lehigh  Count}',  Pa.,  where  he  remained 
nine  jears.  He  came  to  Summertield,  St.  Clair 
Count}',  III.,  as  minister  of  the  ]Mennonite  Church 
in  1890,  and  here  he  has  continued  since.  He  isan 
earnest  worker  in  the  vhieyard  of  the  Lord,  and 
much  good  has  he  accomplished  liy  his  earnest 
words  and  profound  reasoning. 

Mr.  van  der  Smissen  was  married  on  the  12th  of 
October,  1881,  to  iliss  Mary  E.  Knight,  a  native  of 
New  Castle,  Coshocton  County,  Oliio,  born  on  the 
19th  of  November,  1845,  and  the  daughter  of 
George  and  Keziah  Jane  Knight.  Her  fatlier 
was  a  farmer  and  tanner,  and  her  childhood  and 
youth  were  spent,  with  tlie  exception  of  a  few 
years,  on  a  farm  near  New  Castle.  In  this  home, 
around  which  cluster  so  many  cherished  memories 
of  happy  days,  she  received  her  early  training — a 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIUCAL  RECORD. 


training  tiiat  wus  in  evfiy  way  normal,  laying  a 
broad  foundation  for  iier  later  nncxceijtionable 
fitness  for  the  varied  duties  of  life.  Though  con- 
stitutionally weakened  hy  a  severe  attack  of  scarlet 
fever  when  six  years  of  age,  she  was  always  fond 
of  work,  and  her  naturally  skillful  hands  were  early 
trained  in  such  work  as  sewing  and  utiior  house- 
liold  duties,  while  at  tlie  same  time  her  intellectual 
and  religious  culture  were  with  equal  care  provided 
forhy  her  parents,  who  a[)preeiated  the  value  of  a 
good  educaliim  fnunded  in  a  knowledge  and  fear 
of  the  Lord.  At  ;iii  early  age  she  became  a  meni- 
Ihm'  of  the  I'reshytcriaii  Church,  of  which  her  f.Ttlicr 
w.as  an  Elder. 

Having  improved  all  available  school  advantages 
at  home,  Miss  Knight  afterward  attended  college 
at  Ilayesville,  Ohio,  and  still  later,  having  taught 
.several  terms  in  I'tica  and  Muskingum  County, 
she  took  a  full  course  in  the  Steubenville  Ladies' 
Seminary,  graduating  from  that  institution  with 
honor  in  1869.  Being  com|)elled  to  abandon  her 
Intention  of  becoming  a  missionary  on  account  of 
her  liealth,  she  again  turned  her  attention  to  teach- 
ing. She  taught  various  terms  in  the  academy  of 
her  brother.  Prof.  L.  Knight,  at  Ft.  Madison,  Iowa; 
in  the  academy  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  Iowa,  where  her 
brother-in-law.  Rev.  L.  M.  P)elden,  was  teaching;  in 
Morgantown,  W.  \a.;  and  in  the  public  schools  of 
Coshocton,  (Hiio.  While  teaching  in  the  last 
place,  during  the  winter  of  18«()-81,  she  became 
.acquainted  with  her  futiiic  husband,  who  came 
there  as  a  te.acher  of  (iermaii.  They  were  iiianieil 
in  October,  1881,  Mr.  van  der  .Smissen  having  in 
the  meantime  accepted  a  call  to  the  pastorate  of 
the  Ljiper  Milford  congregation  at  Zionsville,  Pa., 
and  entered  upon  his  ministr)-  there.  Immediately 
after  their  marri.age  she  was,  at  her  request,  received 
as  a  member  of  the  church  f>f  her  husband,  and 
from  that  time  until  her  death,  which  occurred  at 
Summerficid,  III.,  on  the  13th  of  February,  18!t2, 
she  was  his  devoted,  faithful  and  ellicient  helpmate 
in  his  p.astoral  labors. 

While  living  at  Zionsville,  two  ciiildren  were 
born  to  our  subject  and  his  wife,  a  son  named  Karl 
Christian, and  a  daughter  named  Jennie  Alida,  upon 
wliose  lives  tlie  motlier's  early  influence  will  always 
be  felt.     She   was  a  kiviutr.   faithful   anil    in  everv 


w.ay  accomplished  Christian  wife  and  motlier,  a 
true  helpmate  to  her^husband  in  Sunday-school, 
Christian  Endeavor  Society,  Ladies'  Missionary 
•Society  and  Young  Girls'  Mission  Band.  Her 
memory  will  be  blessed  by  Tuany  and  most  b\- 
those  who  knew  ber  best. 

Mr.  van  der  Smissen  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Endeavor  Society,  served  as  Secretary  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  recently  here.  In  politics,  he  adiliates 
with  the  Republican  party.  He  has  a  genealogical 
tree  extending  l>ack  to  the  year  1444.  and  a 
family  history  printed  in  pamphlet  form.  He  is  a 
man  of  line  intellect,  wonderful  reasoning  powers, 
and  one  who  lias  won  the  esteem  and  respect  of 
ever}-  one.  He  h.as  a  tine  and  complete  library, 
and  is  regarded  as  an  able  and  eloquent  preacher. 


^>-^^<m 


ELIJAH  CANNADY.  .1.   1'.     In    this    sketch 
we  present  to  the  .attention  of  our   readers 
.'  a  short  record  of  the  life  history  of  a  man 

who  is  well  known  in  the  city  of  lielleville.  His 
father,  Stephen  Cannady.  came  from  lii>  nathc 
State  of  Tennessee  when  only  ten  years  of  age, 
and  liecame  a  farmer  in  Washington  County,  tiiis 
State.  In  1867,  he  moved  to  J.asper  County,  Mo., 
and  in  1868  he  settled  near  Marionville,  in  Law- 
rence County,  Mo.  He  married  Miss  Tabitlia  Hairy- 
iiian  in  W.a.shington  County, and  nine  children  were 
born  to  them.  There  are  but  three  of  this  family  liv- 
ing: Charles,  the  Superintendent  of  School>:  our 
subject  and  Dongl.as.  At  the  home  in  .Marionville. 
Mo.,  the  father,  who  had  always  uplield  tin-  prin- 
ciples of  the  Democratic  part3',and  who  was  much 
respected,  passed  away  November  17,  1877;  the 
mother  also  ended  her  days  there. 

Our  subject  w'as  educated  first  in  the  district 
.schools,  and  later  embraced  the  opportunity  of  at- 
tending the  Normal  School  at  Normal.  HI.,  after 
which  he  liecame  a  teiicher,and  for  seventeen  vears 
was  an  efficient  instructor.  He  w.as  then  still  a 
}-oung  man,  his  l)irth  having  occurred  August  7, 
184i>,  in  Washington  County,  and  he  decided  to 
take  u[i  the  study  of  law.      For  this  purpose  he  en- 


356 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAnilCAL  RECORD. 


tered  the  office  of  Frank  Perrin,  of  Mascoulah, 
and  in  1887  lie  was  adniit'ted  to  the  practice  of 
his  profession  by  exaraination  at  Mt.  Vernon. 
His  first  location  was  at  Hutchinson,  Ivan.,  where 
he  practiced  four  months,  and  then  he  came  here, 
where  he  was  fuU^'  occupied  until  his  election 
to  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace,  January  2, 
IH'.ll.  He  has  engaged  in  some  real-estate  and  in- 
surance business  matters,  and  owns  property  in 
the  city.  He  has  a  fine  farm  in  AVashington 
County  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-six  acres,  and 
both  improved  and  unimproved  city  j^roperty. 

ISIr.  Cannady  was  married  September  4,  1873,  to 
Miss  Diana  M.  Sackett,  a  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Jane  Sackett,  of  Washington  County.  Four  chil- 
dren have  come  into  this  pleasant  household:  Jane; 
Stephen  Henry,  who  died  in  1881;  Elijah  and 
Philo.  Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Indepen- 
dent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  also  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Mutual  Aid.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cannady  are  pleasant 
people,  and  have  nian\  friends  in  the  city  and 
county. 


L«^$.rH^()DORF  J.  KI^\FI"r,  whose  residence  is 
;/(/^,  located  at  No.  22!)  High  Street,  Belleville, 
V^/  111.,  was  born  in  Rhenish  Bavaria,  January 
15,  1813,  a  son  of  Lewis  Job  Krafft,  Vicar  of  the 
parish  of  Alsenborn,  in  the  Rheinpf'alz.  The  moth- 
er's maiden  name  was  Margareta  Hilgard,  and  her 
brother  Theodore  was  a  Judge  of  the  Suiireme 
Court.  Theodore  J.  Krafft  w.as  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  the  land  of  his  birth,  and  from  his  early 
manhood  was  a  stanch  supporter  of  Republican 
principles.  He  entered  Heidelberg  University  at 
tlie  age  of  eighteen  years,  having  prior  to  that 
time  attended  the  Lyceum  at  Zweibrncken,  the 
home  of  an  uncle,  and  while  pursuing  his  studies 
in  Heidelberg  he  became  well  versed  in  law. 

In  1832,  after  a  family  consultation,  his  uncle 
sent  him  and  a  cousin,  Edward  Hilgard,  to  the 
I'liited  States  to  find  a  location  where  the  family 
might  settle.   They  stai'ted  on  their  journey  in  May, 


1832,  in  a  sailing-vessel  from  Bremen,  and  landed 
on  American  shores  the  following  July.  They  at 
once  went  to  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  on  the  Erie  Canal, 
where  the  cholera  was  at  that  time  raging,  but  left 
it  behind  them  at  that  city,  and  pursued  their 
journey  Westward.  They  remained  on  a  farm  in 
the  vicinity  of  Pittsburgh  the  following  winter, 
and  the  next  spring  they  traveled  over  lUinoLs  and 
Missouri,  and  finallj'  selected  St.  Clair  Count}-,  111., 
as  the  scene  of  their  fntuie  operations.  At  that 
time  there  were  a  few  scattered  German  settlers, 
but  no  regular  colon}-,  but  as  they  all  liked  the  out- 
look, they  here  located.  They  were  afterward 
joined  b}-  others  of  their  nationality,  among  whom 
may  be  mentioned  Gustavus  Heimberger,  and  Mr. 
Ledergerber,  whose  son  Frederick  is  a  distin- 
guished attorney  of  St.  Louis.  They  reached  this 
country  the  same  year  as  the  Englcmanns.  Edward 
Hilgard  afterward  returned  to  Germany  and  mar- 
ried his  cousin,  a  daughter  of  Judge  Hilgard,  and 
in  the  .year  1835,  returned  to  this  country  in  com- 
pany with  his  father-in-law  and  family.  IVlean- 
time,  Theodore  Krafft  had  selected  a  farm  for  the 
Judge  near  Belleville,  a  portion  f)f  which  is  now 
West  Belleville. 

l\Ir.  Krafft  engaged  in  general  merchandising, 
which  Inisiness  he  continued  until  1840,  when  the 
great  financial  crash  of  that  year  swept  his  prop- 
erty away.  Judge  Hilgard,  having  lost  his  wife, 
reared  his  family  in  this  country,  but  in  1865  re- 
turned to  the  Fatherland  and  made  Heidelberg  his 
home  until  his  death  in  1879,  at  af)0ut  the  age  of 
eighty-three  years.  He  w-as  a  land  speculator,  and 
was  a  man  of  exceptionally  sound  judgment  .and 
business  acumen.  Although  Mr.  Krafft  failed  in 
business  in  1840,  he  did  not  take  advantage  of  the 
bankrupt  law,  and  for  fifteen  years  thereafter  was 
busily  employed  in  paying  off  the  debts  which  his 
house  had  contracted.  For  six  years  succeeding 
his  failure,  he  resided  on  a  farm  south  of  Belle- 
ville, then  returned  to  the  city  and  began  the 
study  of  law,  which  he  began  [n-acticing  after  two 
years  spent  in  the  mercantile  business.  He  served 
as  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  twenty  years,  at  the 
.s.ime  time  continuing  his  law  practice.  Politi- 
cally he  is  a  liberal  Republican,  holding  Democratic 
ideas  on  the  tariff  question.     During  the  war,  when 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


357 


tlie  President  called  for  men  for  the  one  iiundred 
ila\s'  ^tM■^■il•e.  iiltliDUirh  lu  wns  ovur  sixty  years  of 
ajje.  lie  enlisted  to  give  younger  men  the  example, 
auTl  the  needed  courage.  lie  was  taken  sick  at 
Camp  Butler  and  returned  home.  Later  on,  he 
rcjoiiifd  his  regiment,  tlie  One  Hundred  and  Sev- 
cntccntli  Illinois,  at  AVhite  Station,  near  Memjjhis, 
Tcnn..  I)ut  on  acciniiit  of  his  age  was  not  mustered 
into  the  service. 

Mr.  Krafft  has  .-ince  conducted  a  law  and  insur- 
ance business  with  good  success, but  lias  liansfened 
the  heavy  part  of  the  work  to  the  shoulders  of  his 
sou.  Walter  Krafft.  Our  subject  was  married  Octo- 
ber.il,  1,h;}8,  to  Miss  ]\Iaiy  K.  Mitchell,  daughter 
of  Capt.  James  Mitchell,  but  June  16,  1890,  was 
called  upon  to  mourn  her  death,  she  having  borne 
him  five  sons  and  one  daughter:  James  F.,  of 
Minneapolis.  Minn.;  Lewis,  an  attorney  at  San 
.lose,  Cal.;  Walter,  who  is  associated  in  business 
with  his  father;  Theodore,  a  merchant  of  .Spring- 
Held,  Mo.;  (Jeorge,  a  manufacturer  and  painter  of 
Belleville;  and  Louise,  wife  of  I).  II.  Murray,  a 
grocer  of  Minneapolis,  Minn.  The  daughter  died 
in  California,  August  5,  1891.  F^dward  Ililgard, 
after  si)ending  five  or  six  years  in  this  country, 
returned  to  (iermany,  and  there  was  called  from 
life. 


ij^T^RA.NK  W.  AI5KKLE.  The  village  of  Fay- 
ijp^g);  etteville  is  indebted,  to  no  small  extent,  for 
Is  its  steady  progress  and  growth  to   the  in- 

defatigable labors  of  Mr.  Aberle,  well  known  as  the 
proprietor  of  the  Okaw  Hotel  at  that  place.  His 
entire  life  has  been  passed  there,  and  he  is  thor- 
oughly identihed  with  its  varied  interests, contrib- 
uting his  efforts  to  tlic  promotion  of  its  welfare 
and  doing  all  in  his  power  to  advance  its  material 
gi\>wth. 

As  stated  above,  Mr.  Aberle  was  born  in  Fay- 
etteville,  the  date  of  his  birth  being  January  18, 
I860.  He  is  the  son  of  Marcus  and  Margaret 
(Pfiffner)  Abcile.  tlic  fatliera  nali\('  of  Wurtem- 
berg,  Germany,  and  llir  mothei'  born   in   Switzer- 


land. Marcus  Aberle  sjient  his  bo3'hood  years  in 
a  village  of  Germany,  where  he  gained  a  limited 
education  in  the  common  .schools.  By  trade  he 
was  a  plasterer,  which  occupation  he  followed 
until  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  the  year 
18i.s.  Coming  to  this  country  and  locating  in 
St.  Clair  County,  he  was  here  engaged  at  his  trade 
until  the  opening  of  the  Civil  War.  At  that  time, 
he  embarked  in  the  fruit  distillery  liiisiness,  in 
which  he  continued  actively  engaged  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  at  Faj-etteville  in  \XS:].  In 
his  religion,  he  was  a  devoted  member  of  the 
Catholic  Church,  and  was  ever  ready  to  contriii- 
ute  generousl.y  of  his  means  to  forvj^ard  the  inter- 
ests of  his  church.  In  his  political  atliliations,  he 
was  a  strong  Republican  and  took  an  intelligent 
interest  in  .affairs  of  national  iinportancc.  His 
wife  passed  away  in  ISfi'.i,  at  the  family  hoiiie  in 
Fayetteville. 

The  [)atcrnal  family  consisted  of  six  children, 
as  follows:  Elizabeth,  Frank,  Amelia,  Marcus, 
Dena  and  Antone.  The  eldest  daughter  is  the 
wife  of  William  Brueckner;  Amelia,  Dena  and 
Antone  are  deceased.  Marcus  is  a  resident  of 
Fayetteville.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended 
the  schools  of  Fayetteville  in  his  boyhood,  and  the 
education  there  gained  has  been  of  great  a.ssist- 
ance  to  him  in  his  business  transactions,  as  well 
as  in  his  social  life.  When  twenty-one  3'ears  of  .age, 
he  commenced  in  the  world  for  himself  by  renting 
a  farm  of  Louis  Kuntz,  where  for  a  few  years  he 
conducted  agricultural  operations  with  fair  suc- 
cess. Afterward,  he  commenced  in  business  as  a 
fruit  distiller,  which  he  continued  until  he  oiiened 
his  hotel  in  1889.  He  still  owns  a  farm  of  sixty- 
six  acres  near  Fayetteville,  where  he  is  interested 
in  raising  fine  horses,  as  well  as  in  general  farm- 
ing. 

Ill  1881,  iSIr.  Al)erle  was  united  in  marriage 
with  ^liss  Mary,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Elizabeth 
(Laux)  Fietsam.  This  estimable  lady  was  liorn  in 
St.  Clair  County,  111.,  and  is  the  motlicu-  of  two 
children.  Frank  and  Theodore,  bright  and  intelli- 
gent lads,  ill  whose  training  and  education  the 
l)areiits  take  deep  interest.  The  Catholic  Church 
is  the  religious  home  of  the  family,  and  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Aberle  are  among   its   most    acti\e   members. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Our  subject  is  identified  with  the  Catholic  Knights 
of  Illinois,  and  is  othovwise  prominent  in  religious 
enter])rises.  Politically',  lie  is  a  Democrat,  casting 
ills  ballot  for  the  candidates  of  that  party. 


KNRY  HRUEGEL.  The  gentleman  whose 
name  appears  at  the  head  of  this  sketch  is 
one  well  known  in  the  citj- of  his  residence, 
as  his  father  was  in  business  tliere  many 
yeavs  and  he  now  holds  the  honorable  position  of 
Mayor  of  the  city. 

lleniT  Bruegel  is  Ihe  son  of  Valentine  Ihuegel. 
who  was  born  in  Germany  and  came  to  America 
about  1848  or  1849,  and  located  first  in  Missouri, 
after  which  lie  came  to  Belleville,  111.;  in  1856,  he 
located  in  Mascoutah  and  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  wagons.  He  was  married  in  Missouri  to 
IVIiss  Maria  Hohmann,  a  resident  of  that  State,  who 
was  also  a  native  of  Germany,  and  from  this 
union  came  seven  children,  of  whom  our  subject 
was  the  third  in  order  of  birth. 

Mr.  Hruegel  operated  the  w.agon  business  for  a 
long  time,  but  he  was  finally  induced  to  dispose  of 
this,  and  then  went  into  the  saloon  business,  which 
he  followed  until  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1872. 
The  mt)ther  of  our  subject  lived  until  five  \'ear> 
later. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  took  place  September 
1  J,  18.57,  in  the  city  of  Mascoutah.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  .schools  of  this  place  and  was  a 
bright  pupil,  being  one  who  easily  led  others  to 
think  .as  he  did.  After  his  father  thought  his 
education  had  gone  on  sutHcientl}',  he  took  him 
into  liusiuess  with  himself  and  taught  him  the 
principles  of  trade.  When  the  father  was  removed 
by  death,  the  whole  responsibility  fell  upon  his 
young  shoulders.  Every  lad  of  his  years  could 
not  have  discharged  his  duly  to  his  mother  .as  did 
this  young  man,  but  he  felt  the  necessity,  and 
until  the  death  of  his  lieloved  mother  he  remained 
her  stay  .and  support. 

After  the  death  of  his  mother,  which  took  place 
in    1877,  our  subject  went  to  St.  Louis  and  re- 


mained in  business  there  for  a  year.  He  then 
went  West  and  traveled  through  Colorado  for 
about  four  years,  when  the  old  homesick  feeling 
came  over  him  and  he  returned  to  Mascoutah. 
He  reopened  his  father's  place  of  business  and  has 
continued  there  ever  since. 

The  domestic  affairs  and  home  of  Mayor  Bruegel 
are  presided  over  b}'  his  charming  wife,  whom  he 
married  in  1883.  She  was  formerly  Jliss  Annie  E. 
Christ,  daughter  of  Henry  Christ,  of  St.  Josepb, 
^lo.,  and  her  father  still  resides  there.  3Hr.  and 
Mrs.  Brugel  have  one  little  lad,  Valentine  Theo- 
dore b}-  name. 

The  Evangelical  Church  is  the  one  in  which  ^Ir. 
Bruegel  finds  a  home,  and  in  this  connection  he  is 
regarded  with  much  respect.  His  purse  is  .always 
ready  to  assist  in  anything  looking  toward-  im- 
provement, and  many  of  the  best  enterprises  that 
have  been  carried  out  in  Mascoutah  were  put 
under  way  during  his  term  of  five  years  on  the 
City  Council.  His  election  to  the  honorable  and 
responsible  office  of  Mayor  of  the  city  of  Mascou- 
tah took  place  in  1890,  and  he  still  serves  his 
fellow-citizens  to  the  satisf.action  of  his  constit- 
vients,  and  covers  himself  with  glory  in  his  wise 
administration  of  the  affairs  of  the  beautiful  little 
city  of  Mascoutah,  where  the  name  of  his  family 
has  been  known  for  so  many  years. 

Mr.  Bruegel  is  a  man  who  takes  pride  in  being  a 
Republican  of  the  strongest  type,  and  .allows  noth- 
ing to  interfere  with  his  political  views.  He  sup- 
l)Orts  the  platform  of  his  party  with  pleasure  and 
is  considered  one  of  the  burning  lights  of  Repub- 
licanism in  Ma.scoutah.  No  local  party  measures 
can  be  carried  out  witliout  his  aid,  and  he  is  the 
first  man  to  be  consulted  in  all  such  niatteis. 


GiEORGE  EBERLEIN,  a  dealer  in  boots  and 
-,  shoes,  is  one  of  the  prominent  business  men 
of  Mascoutah,  111.  His  Inisiness  is  conducted 
under  the  firm  name  of  (ieorge  Eberlein  &  Son, 
the  father  of  our  sultject,  who  also  bears  the  name 
of    George    Eberlein,   being    the    senior   partner. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


359 


They  do  an  excellent  business  and  their  large  and 
constantly  increasing  trade  is  but  the  just  reward 
of  their  industrious  efforts. 

George  Klierlein,  Sr.,  is  a  native  of  Germany. 
lie  wa."!  born  in  Hesse-Darmstadt  on  the  14th  of 
.January,  1827.  was  reared  to  manhood  iu  the  land 
of  his  l)irlh.  and  in  1854  emigrated  to  Illinois,  lo- 
cating in  Lebanon.  He  soon  afterward,  however, 
removed  to  Mascoutah  and  began  woiking  at  his 
trade  of  shoe-making,  which  he  has  followed  con- 
tinuously since.  lie  began  here  by  working  as  a 
journeyman:  in  course  of  time  lie  became  proprietor 
of  a  shoj)  of  ills  own,  was  successful  in  his  under- 
takings and  his  financial  resources  having  increasc<l. 
he  opened  the  boot  and  shoe  store  in  1863.  He 
was  married  in  1852  to  Miss  Catherine  Engelter, 
and  unto  them  have  been  born  two  children,  a  son 
and  daughter:  George,  whose  name  heads  this 
record,  and  Anna,  wife  of  .Tolm  Rausch,  who 
travels  for  the  Pauly  .Jail  Building  Company. 
Mr.  Eberlein  is  a  supporter  of  the  Evangelical 
Church  and  is  a  prominent  and  intiuential  citizen, 
who  takes  an  active  part  in  all  that  pertains  to  the 
welfare  of  the  community  and  its  upbuilding. 
Eor  two  years  he  has  served  as  one  of  the  Alder- 
men of  the  First  Ward. 

George  Eberlein,  Jr.,  has  spent  his  entire  life  in 
this  city,  having  the  honor  of  being  one  of  its  na- 
tive citizens.  He  was  born  on  the  8th  of  August, 
1855,  and  acquired  his  education  in  the  public 
schools,  after  which,  under  his  father's  direction, 
he  learned  the  trade  of  a  shoe-maker,  and  to  that 
occupation  devoted  his  energies  until  he  went  into 
liusiness  with  his  father.  The  present  partnersliip 
of  P^berlein  Ar  Son  was  formed  in  March,  1881,  and 
has  existed  ever  since  without  an  interruption. 

In  1881,  Mr.  Eberlein  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Catherina  Mann,  daughter  of  .J.acob 
Mann,  who  resides  near  Mascoutah,  and  is  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  JSt.  Clair  County.  Two  chil- 
dren grace  the  union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife. 
Annie  and  Henry.  The  Kl)erleiii  family  is  one  of 
prominence  in  the  community  and  its  members 
rank  high  in  social  circles. 

Among  the  leading  business  firms  of  Mascoutah 
is  numbered  tliat  of  l->berlein  A-  .Son.  To  the  ex- 
perience aiul    maluic   jiidgincnt    of   hi?  father  our 


subject  added  the  enterprise  and  progressive  spirit 
of  a  young  man,  and  prosperity  lias  crowned  their 
efforts.  They  own  the  store  building  which  they 
occupy  and  which  is  well  stocked  with  everything 
in  their  line.  They  have  a  large  trade  and  by  cour- 
teous treatment  and  fair  dealing  have  secured  the 
confidence  and  high  regard  of  their  many  patrons, 
^[r.  Eberlein,  .Ir.,  is  a  member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Mutual  Aid,  and  is  also  Financial  Secre- 
tary of  the  lodge.  He  belongs  to  tiie  Fire  Com- 
pany and  is  at  present  a  meniber  of  the  Board  of 
Education.  In  politics,  he  is  a  supporter  of 
Kepublican  principles  but  has  never  been  a  politi- 
cian In  till'  >cnsc  of  oflicc-seeking.  Ills  high  repu- 
tation as  a  businessman  is  certainlv  well  deserved. 


/  *^*^-!' 


FRIES  was  born  across  the  se.as  In 
lesse-Darmstadt.  (iermany,  Feljruary  24, 
1837,  and  was  brought  by  his  parents  to 
this  country  when  but  an  infant  six 
months  old.  He  was  the  sou  of  George  Fries,  who 
.settled  on  Turkey  Hill,  where  he  remained  until 
1859.  wlien  he  moved  to  New  Athens.  At  Turkey 
Hill  our  subject  received  what  educational  ad- 
vantages the  public  schools  of  tiic  towiislii|i  af- 
forded. 

Adam  Fries  took  for  his  wife  Miss  Margaret 
Fries  in  IStil.  and  located  on  Turkey  Hill,  where 
lie  lived  two  years,  when  he  moved  on  section  12, 
Kngelman  Township,  and  there  still  makt^s  his 
liome.  The  farm  comprises  one  hundred  and  forty 
broad  acres  of  well-improved  land,  which  yield 
him  excellent  crops,  and  forty-seven  .acres  of  tim- 
ber land.  He  also  pays  considerable  attention  to 
stock-raising,  making  sheep  a  specialty.  He  has 
provided  his  farm  with  neat,  substantial  buildings, 
all  Indicating  that  he  is  a  thrifty,  careful  iiian- 
aizer  and  has  a  clear  understanding  of  the  best 
methods  of  conducting  his  work. 

By  the  union  of  our  sul)ject  and  his  estimable 
wife  three  children  have  l)een  horn,  who  are  as 
f<iliuws:  Adam   .1.,  who  is  ferNing  hl>  second  term 


360 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


as  Assessor  of  this  township;  Eliza,  wlio  is  the  wife 
of  John  Bisclioff  and  lives  in  Mascoutali;  and 
Loviisa,  wlio  is  yet  undei'  the  parental  roof.  Mrs. 
Fries  was  called  from  this  life  in  1878.  Our  sub- 
ject married  again,  this  union  being  with  JNIiss  Mary 
Lischer,  a  worthy  woman  and  a  daughter  of  Peter 
Lischer,  who  lived  in-  Mascoutali.  Two  children 
were  born  to  this  couple  to  gladden  their  lives, 
Anna  and  Johnny,  both  living  at  home.  3Ir.  Fries 
is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Si)eially, 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Farniers'  Mutual  Benefit 
Association.  Politically,  he  is  a  stanch  Republi- 
can, finding  the  breadth  of  the  platform  claimed 
liy  that  part}'  to  agree  with  his  views  of  equity 
and  freedom.  He  has  served  as  .School  Director 
twelve  years,  and  is  an  honored  member  of  the 
society  in  which  he  lives. 


]^+^l 


m 


\fl  OHN  BOHNEMEIER.  One  of  the  successful 
and  prosperous  farmers  of  this  ])ortion  of 
St.  Clair  County  is  tlie  subject  of  this 
sketch,  who  resides  on  his  fine  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  thirty  acres,  located  on  section  23, 
Sugar  Loaf  Township,  St.  Clair  County,  in  tlie 
State  of  Illinois. 

The  enterprising  and  thrifty  father  of  our  >ul)- 
ject  bore  the  name  of  Francis  Bohnemeier,  and  was 
born  in  AVest  Bohrdhouse,  in  Germany,  on  the 
(Jlh  January,  1821,  and  there  grew  to  stalwart 
manhood.  When  he  had  reached  the  age  of  ma- 
turity, he  left  tlie  country  of  his  birth,  resolved 
to  acquire  name  and  fortune  in  the  land  across  the 
sea.  He  reached  America  and  in  the  year  1842 
made  his  first  home  on  a  farm  near  St.  Louis, 
where  he  hired  out  to  work.  Here  he  remained 
for  three  years  and  then  went  into  the  city  and 
followed  teaming,  which  he  continued  for  .some 
three  years  longer,  during  which  time  he  acquired 
some  property.  He  was  united  in  matrimony  to 
Jliss  Erfman. 

After  marriage,  our  subject  made  the  city  of  St. 
Louis  his  home  for  a  space  of  .seven  busy  years  and 
tit  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  was  able  to  pur- 


chase the  farm  where  he  now  lives,  and  removed 
from  the  city  to  it.  He  has  made  this  place  his 
home  for  the  past  thirty-eight  years.  AVheii  he 
first  came  only  thirty  of  the  one  hundred  and  ten 
acres  of  the  place  were  cleared,  but  the  sturdy  owner 
went  right  to  work  and  in  an  astonishingly  short 
time  great  fields  of  grain  took  the  place  of  the 
wilderness.  He  was  the  father  of  four  children, 
Geoi-ge,  Fritz,  an  infant  deceased,  and  our  sub- 
ject; but  only  the  latter  remains  of  the  family; 
his  wife  was  taken  away  in  April,  1892.  lie  is  a 
member  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  as  was 
she,  and  both  have  long  been  highly  regarded 
members  there.  He  has  been  so  highly  regarded 
in  this  relation  that  for  eleven  years  lie  was  Trus- 
tee of  the  church;  he  has  also  served  his  district  for 
six  years  as  School  Director.  He  is  a  perfect  type 
of  a  self-made  man,  for  he  had  no  help  either  to 
get  to  this  country  or  after  he  came  here.  He  had 
to  work  to  pay  his  passage  money  after  his  land- 
ing on  American  soil,  and  now  he  owns  two  hun- 
dred of  as  fine  acres  of  that  soil  as  one  need  care 
to  see. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  took  [jlace  April  l.'i, 
1856,  in  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  and  he  was  brought 
into  St.  Clair  County  when  he  was  ten  days  old. 
He  was  reared  here  in  the  old  home  place, 
grew  up  an  industrious  lad  an()  attended  the  dis- 
trict schools,  and  when  old  enough  took  his  place 
as  a  farmer  and  h.as  continued  in  agricultural  life 
ever  since.  The  marriage  of  our  subject  took 
place  I^ecember  12,  1878,  to  Miss  Marj-  Young, 
who  was  the  daughter  of  Philip  Young,  who  came 
into  this  county  at  an  early  day  and  was  one  of 
the  pioneer  settlers.  The  birthplace  of  the  wife  of 
our  subject  was  in  St  Clair  County,  and  after  mar- 
riage neither  she  nor  her  young  husband  desired 
any  pleasanter  locatitm.  The}-  settled  on  the  old 
place  where  they  have  made  their  home  ever  since, 
and  plenty  and  contentment  reign  there.  P'our 
bright  little  children  cluster  around  their  fireside 
and  we  give  their  names,  feeling  sure  that  a  future 
record  will  give  them  notices  of  their  own, , as  from 
these  jieaceful  homes  comes  the  hope  of  the  coun- 
trj'.  BLary  has  .<een  eleven  years,  John  is  at  the  age 
of  ten,  William  is  six  and  Henry  is  ten  months  old. 

Our  subject  is  a  grain  I'armci-  and  cultivates  one 


PORTRAIT  AKl)  KIOGRAPU'CAL   RECORD. 


363 


liiiiidred  and  thirt_v  acres  of  land.  He  has  bis  farm 
in  a  line  state  of  cultivation  and  raises  good  croi)s. 
He  has  held  the  ottiee    of   School    Director,  and  in 

|i(ililirs  prefers  tlic  doct  rincx  nf  the  l\e|iulilican 
|iarty.  His  rclij;ious  ciinncctidn  is  with  the 
Kvaniiciica!    l.uUu'rau    Church. 


j?ALTKK  .1.  lilJODKRlt'K.  The  life  of  this 
\\\A///  gentleman  furnishes  an  example  of  what 
a  man  with  l)rains  and  l)usincss  abilitj* 
can  accomplish  by  persistence,  sagacity-  and  in- 
dustry. His  career,  in  its  practical  lesuUs.  is  an 
encouragement  to  every  struggling  ^oung  man 
who  has  ambition  and  resolution  and  a  genius  for 
hard  work.  The  seed  tiiat  he  h.as  sown  lias  fallen 
upon  good  ground  and  lias  grown  and  brought 
forth  an  hundred  fold.  He  is  at  present  one  of 
the  most  successful  commission  merchants  at  the 
National  Stock  Yards  of  East  St.  Louis,  and  is 
Secretary  of  the  Live  Stock  Exchange.  As  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  l.,ittle  &  Hroderick,  he  has 
been  actively  and  extensively  engaged  in  the  live- 
stock business  for  more  than  fifteen  years,  or 
almost  since  the  opening  of  the  \ati(iii;il  Stock 
Yards. 

During  that  time,  the  liini  lias  established  a  re- 
initation  for  ability  and  straightforward  <-(iiiduct 
in  the  commission  business,  which  is  admitted  over 
every  section  of  the  territory  tributary  to  this 
market.  The  firm  has  always  realized  and  |)ut  in 
practice  Ihe  idea  that  the  judgment  reipiircd  to 
\alue  the  property  cuiisigiu'd  to  a  comiiiissioii 
house  comes  only  by  experience,  and  rather  than 
delegate  to  other  parties  the  power  of  selling  tlieir 
customer's  st(jck.  they  have  .-ilways  attended  to  the 
selling  of  all  consignments  to  their  hinise  in  per- 
son. By  so  doing  their  customers  have  received 
the  best  service  which  it  is  possible  to  lendei-  at 
any  and  all  times  since  the  establishment  (if  the 
Ik. use. 

()ursubieet  was  born  <in  Prince  ivlwaiil  Island, 
in  the  (iulf  (if  St.  Lawrence,  July  ;i,  1817.  ami  is  a 
son  of  .lames  and    Ellen    (C'ohillj    r.roderiek.   both 

17 


natives  of  Erin  and  born  respectively  in  the 
('(uinties  of  Waterford  and  Wexford.  The  father 
graduated  from  Trinity  College,  Dublin,  as  an  M.  I). 
Availing  himself  of  the  free  trade  understanding 
that  existed  between  this  country  and  Ireland,  he 
emigrated  to  America  and  located  on  Prince  Ed- 
ward Island,  where  he  practiced  his  profession  veiy 
successfully  for  many  years.  He  was  the  oldest 
practicing  i)hysician  there,  w.as  also  engaged  in 
farming,  and  there  passed  the  rem.ainder  of  his 
days,  his  death  occurring  in  1889,  when  eighty- 
eight  years  of  age.  He  was  a  postmaster  there  for 
some  time,  was  always  a  liberalist,  and  held  inem- 
bership  in  the  Roman  Catholic  Church.  The  mo- 
ther of  our  subject  came  to  Prince  Edward  Island 
with  her  parents  when  young,  and  died  when 
seventy-six  years  of  age.  Ten  children  were  horn 
to  this  union,  nine  of  whom  grew  to  mature  years 
and  eight  of  whom  are  now  living. 

AYalter  .1.  P.roderick,  .seventli  in  order  of  birth, 
passed  his  early  days  on  the  farm  and  had  good 
free  school  advantages,  attending  Charlottetown 
Academy  for  a  number  of  terms.  He  then  en- 
gaged as  a  clerk  in  a  general  store  at  Orwell  for  a 
few  years,  but  afterward  clerked  in  Charlottetown, 
the  county  seat,  for  four  or  five  years.  In  1872, 
he  came  to  Illinois,  but  later  went  to  St.  Louis  and 
was  employed  as  book-keeper  in  the  old  Allen  3'ards. 
In  1873,  he  located  here  and  continued  with  his 
tirm  as  book-keeper  for  two  or  three  years,  when 
he  was  taken  in  as  partner  under  tiie  firm  name  of 
Daeley,  Miller  A'  Co., and  became  hog  salesman.  In 
1883,  the  tirui  dissolved  jjartncrship,  our  subject 
retiring,  and  he  then  started  the  firm  of  W.  .1. 
Hroderick  A-  Co..  live-stock  commission  merchants, 
which  eontiimed  as  such  for  two  years,  when  the 
present  linn,  Little  A-  Ilroderick,  was  established. 
Mr.  P.roderii'k  w.as  an  organizer  of  the  St.  Louis 
Stock  Exchange  and  has  been  its  Secretary  since  it 
was  organized  in  I88.j. 

The  pleasant  home  of  our  subject  is  located  at 
No.  (;:i7  Ninth  Street  and  is  pre.«ided  over  by  his 
wife,  formerly  Mi.ss  Annie  E.  Stephens.  She  re- 
eei\c(l  a  good  education  in  Halifax,  and  was  mar- 
ried to  Mr.  l?rodeiick  in  1871)  on  Prince  Edward 
Island,  of  which  she  is  a  native.  Six  children 
have  been    born    to    this    union,    viz.:      Charles   !•'., 


364 


POETRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


Mary  E.,  Josephine  B.,  Walter  M.,  David  C.  and 
W.  Morris. 

Mr.  Broderick  is  very  prominent  in  political 
affairs  as  a  stanch  Democrat  and  is  deeply  inter- 
ested in  the  welfare  of  his  part}-.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Democratic  County  Committee  for 
eight  j'ears,  is  now  a  member-at-large  of  the  Demo- 
cratic State  Central  Committee,  and  served  as  del- 
egate to  county  and  State  conventions.  At  all 
times,  he  has  been  a  strong  supporter  of  the  reform 
government  of  the  city. 


\||  OHN  D.  MOLLMANN,  who  is  a  manufac- 
turer of  and  dealer  in  saddles,  harness,  etc., 
was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  on  the  20th 
^^M'  of  December,  1833,  and  is  a  son  of  John 
H.  Mollmann,  who  bade  good-bye  to  the  Father- 
land in  1849,  and  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  America, 
locating  in  St.  Louis.  He  soon  afterward  was 
taken  ill  and  his  death  occurred  in  18.53. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  spent  the  first  sixteen 
years  of  his  life  in  his  native  land  and  then  ac- 
companied his  father  to  America,  residing  in  St. 
Louis  for  some  time  afterward.  In  tliat  city  he 
served  an  apprenticeship  to  the  saddler's  trade, 
being  thus  employed  until  twenty  years  of  age, 
when  he  began  working  as  a  journeyman.  The  year 
18,57  witnessed  his  arrival  in  Mascoutah,  where 
he  embarked  in  business  for  himself  in  his  present 
line,  whicli  he  has  followed  continuously  since  with 
good  success.  By  his  industrious  and  well-directed 
efforts  lie  has  built  up  a  good  business  and  is  enjoy- 
ing an  excellent  trade,  to  which  he  is  well  enti- 
tled. 

In  1861,  Mr,  Mollmann  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Minnie  Ilagist,  a  daughtei-  of  Andrew 
Hagist,  and  by  their  union  h,as  been  born  a  family 
of  nine  children:  Julia,  the  eldest,  is  the  wife  of 
Pliilip  Mann,  a  farmer;  Ida  is  a  teacher  of  recog- 
nized ability  in  the  public  schools  of  Mascoutah; 
II.  K.  is  married  and  carries  on  a  harness  shop  in 
N'fiiedy,  III.;  Eliza  is  at  home;  F.  W.  is  now  man- 


aging the  harness  shop  owned  by  his  father  in  St. 
Libory,  111.;  Minnie  is  a  teacher;  August  is  in  his 
father's  employ;  Otto  is  now  learning  the  printer's 
trade;  and  Julius,  who  completes  the  familv,  is  yet 
attending  school. 

Mr.  Mollmann  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, and  has  held  all  the  offices  and  served  as 
Worshipful  Master  of  Douglas  Lodge  No.  361,  A. 
F.  it  A.  M.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Honor,  has  filled  all  of  its  chairs,  and  is  High  Priest 
of  the  Encampment  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows.  He  is  serving  as  School  Trustee  of 
the  township,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  \\\- 
lage  Board  of  M.ascoutah.  In  politics  he  is  a 
stalwart  Democrat,  and  an  inflexible  adherent  of 
the  principles  of  that  party.  We  find  in  our  sub- 
ject a  self-made  man,  who  started  out  in  life  empty- 
handed,  but  by  industry  and  enterprise  has  stead- 
ily worked  his  way  upward  until  he  h.as  acquired 
a  handsome  property  and  is  numbered  among  the 
substantial  and  valued  citizens  of  the  community 
in  which  he  makes  his  home. 


^j'p^A'RED  DAAB,  a  prominent  dealer  in  lime. 
l^sy  cement,  fire-bricks  and  all  kinds  of  build- 
/1\  ^  ing  material,  except  common  brick,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Hesse-Darmstadt,  and  was  born  January  2, 
1844,  being  the  son  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth 
(Herbert)  Daab.  He  received  a  part  of  his  educa- 
tion in  Germany.  The  family  moved  toMillstadt 
in  1853,  the  father  there  engaging  in  farming. 
Thcv  remained  there  until  the  death  of  the  mother 
in  1857.  The  father  died  in  1881,  at  the  age  of 
eighty  years  and  left  a  family  of  five  children. 
Tiiey  are  as  follows:  Henry,  who  is  still  in  Germany, 
a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  located  in  Berlin;  John, 
who  died  in  Burlington;  Mary,  who  became  the 
wife  of  George  Schuehman;  Lizzie,  who  married 
William  Bernhani,  a  former  resident  of  New  Al- 
bans, 111. 

( »ur  suliject  continued  his  education  in  lielle- 
villc.  ;ind  engaged  .ns  clerk  in  Columbia.  111.  He 
was  onl\-  Ion  years  olil    when    tlii'    family   came   to 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


365 


HcUeville.  In  1870,  he  was  engaged  as  agent  of 
tlie  niilroart  business  of  the  Cairo  Short  Line 
Railroad,  where  he  remained  until  1882,  when  he 
went  into  business  for  himself.  lie  began  at  his 
l)resenl  location,  at  the  corner  of  Illinois  and 
Seventh  Strect>.  and  was  the  sucressor  of  Thomas 
('(.ftVv. 

^Ir.  Daab  was  iiiarried.  December  2<;.  isils.  to 
Mi.ss  Sophia  Beck,  a  native  of  Columbia,  JU.,  a 
daughter  of  Christian  and  Sophia  Heck,  of  German 
birth.  Four  children  have  been  given  them  and 
their  names  are  as  follows:  Sopliia.  Hannah.  Mary 
and  I.ubi. 

Mr.  Da.-ili  lias  been  a  meiiilicr  of  the  Masonic  or- 
der and  now  resides  at  his  |)lcasant  home  at  the 
corner  of  Illinois  and  Seventh  Streets. 


m>^<B 


HRAM  (iO()I)IN(;,  (if  the  linn  of  (ioudiiig 
l@7iUJi  A'  Stookey,  inanuf^icturers  of  drain  tile, 
brick,  tiower-pots  and  general  clay  goods 
near  the  town  of  Belleville,  has  been  lo- 
cated at  his  present  stand  since  1879.  The  works 
of  which  these  gentlemen  are  the  proprietors  cov- 
er what  would  be  considered  a  city  block,  and 
tliev  have  three  large  kilns  in  operation.  The  ex- 
tent uf  their  manufactory  necessitates  the  employ- 
ment of  ten  hands,  and  their  machinery  is  of  the 
best  and  latest  kind  for  the  successful  manufacture 
of  their  product.  Tlu-y  turn  out  tirsl-class articles 
in  every  respect,  for  every  care  is  taken  in  their 
manufacture. and  the  burning  and  linishing  are  all 
sNstematized  and  achieved  with  the  greatest  econ- 
uiii\-  of  time  and  labor.  Their aiticlesare  uniivaled 
for  durability,  finish  and  uiiifoiiii  excellence,  and 
are  ireiieral  favorites  with  whoever  handles  them. 
Every  effort  is  made  to  give  complete  satisfaction 
to  patrons,  and  the  firm  is  widely  known  in  trade 
circles  for  its  enterprise  and  integrity. 

Mr.  (iooding  was  born  near  Millstadt,  I II..  .laii- 
uarv  28,  183(1,  a  .son  of  Robert  (iooding,  a  pioneer 
of  IHKi  from  Fleming  County.  Ky.  The  giaiid- 
fallicr,  ( 'ornclius  (Iooding,  came  hither  in  l.si."). 
took    up    land    .•iiid    here  made    his    hoinr   lln'   re- 


mainder of  his  life.     He  was  a  man  of  remarkably 

good  judgment,  and  for  some  time  held  the  ollicc 
of  .histice  of  the  Pe.ace.  Robert  (Jooding  was  mar- 
ried to  5Ii.ss  Mary  Jones,  a  native  of  Hoiu-bon 
County.  Ky..  their  union  taking  place  while  in  the 
F)lue  Grass  State.  Nine  children  were  given  them, 
all  of  whom  lived  to  maturity  and  married:  Cor- 
nelius, of  .Jasper  County,  Mo.;  Belinda,  wife  of 
David  Phillip;  Harriet,  wife  of  Joseph  Stigers.  of 
St.  Joseph,  Mo.;  Charles,  of  Monroe  County; 
Nancy,  wife  of  Henry  Gordon,  of  Campbell  Hill, 
III.;  Margaret,  wife  of  Charles  Henekler,  of  Net- 
tleton.  Miss.;  Abram,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Robert,  who  was  a  Lieutenant  in  Company  F, 
Fifty-ninth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  killed  in 
a  battle  in  Tonnesseee  December  !(>.  18(1 1 ;  and 
America,  wife  of  M.  T.  Stookej'. 

Abram  Gooding  received  .such  education  and 
rearing  as  is  usually  given  the  farmer's  boy,  ami 
remained  with  his  father  on  the  farm  in  St.  Clair 
County  until  about  eighteen  years  of  age.  at  which 
time  he  left  honic  to  .seek  his  fortune,  and  in  181!) 
became  one  of  the  famous  gold-miners  of  Cali- 
fornia, making  the  trip  to  that  region  overland, 
and  reaching  Sacramento  City  after  a  four-months 
journey.  He  then  went  into  the  mines  at  Placer- 
ville,  where  he  mined  for  some  time  with  fair  re- 
sults. In  18.51,  he  came  to  Clinton  County,  111., 
where  he  settled  down  to  the  quiet,  yet  healthful 
and  independent,  life  of  ;i  fanner  and  stock-rai.ser, 
purchasing  his  [iroperty  with  means  he  had  gained. 
The  calling  of  the  agriculturist  occupied  his  time 
and  attentit)!!  until  1873,  when  he  spent  one  year 
with  his  children  in  (Heenville,  III.,  and  in  1874 
bciran  dealing  in  stock  in  P>elleville,  a  calling  for 
which  he  was  ciiiiiiciitly  litted,  owing  to  his  long 
residence  on  the  farm. 

Our  subject  was  first  m;irried  to  :\Ii.ss  Maria  An- 
derson, who  lived  but  liftceii  mouths.  His  second 
marriaiie  was  to  Miss  Maliiida  Stookey,  daughter  of 
Moses  Stookey.  and  their  union  resulted  in  the 
birth  of  six  cliildreii:  liayard  (deceased);  Leora, 
wife  of  Charles  Stookey;  Amy  (decea.sed);  Almira, 
:il  home;  Ada  (deceased);  .and  Altliea  in  Chicago. 
Mr.  (iooding  was  married  a  third  time,  June  11, 
l8s,"),  this  union  being  with  Miss  Minerva  I'".  Ivvman. 
who  was  born  in  Stookey  Township,  live  miles  south- 


366 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


west  of  Belleville,  June  3, 1846,  a  daughter  of  Isaac 
and  grand-dauijhter  of  Abraham  Eyman,  th«  latter 
having  been  one  of  the  pioneers  to  this  section, 
whither  he  came  in  1786.  He  entered  six  hun- 
(hed  and  forty  acres  of  land,  for  which  he  received 
a  patent  from  the  Government,  and  on  this  land 
in  Monroe  County  he  resided  until  1800.  He  was 
originally  from  Pennsylvania,  to  which  region  his 
ancestors  came  from  Germany  during  the  early 
history  of  this  country.  He  greatly  improved  his 
farm  in  Stookey  Township,  and  on  this  land  he 
built  a  carding-milt.  A  jjart  of  the  old  family 
residence  still  stands  nnd  is  occupied  by  the  fifth 
generation  of  Eynians,  it  never  having  passed  out 
of  the  hands  of  the  family. 

Isaac  Eyman,  Mrs.  Gooding's  father,  was  born 
December  14,  1812,  on  this  farm,  being  the  young- 
est of  a  good,  old-fasliioned  family  of  twelve  chil- 
dren. He  was  married  to  Miss  Evaline  Lacy,  a 
daughter  of  Stephen  I>ac3-,  a  pioneer  of  the  section, 
who  owned  a  farm  adjoining  that  of  the  E^'mans, 
and  there  she  was  born  on  the  11th  of  September, 
1820.  Isaac  Eyman  spent  a  useful  life  on  the  home 
farm,  and  there  was  called  from  life  Januar3'  24, 
1858,  his  wife's  death  occurring  .June  20,  1863. 
They  left  a  family  of  five  children:  Nancy  M, 
Minerva  E.  (Mrs.  Gooding),  Tlieo  A.,  Walter, 
and  Isaac  R.  Mrs.  Gooding  is  an  earnest  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  is  a  highly  refined  and 
intelligent  lady.  The  grandfather,  Abraham  Ey- 
man, was  a  member  of  the  first  Legislature  of  the 
Stale,  and  he  and  his  family  were  members  of  tlic 
Dunkard  Church. 


AHTIN  BUG,  a  retired  farmer,  who  for 
many  years  has  carried  on  a  farm  situated 
'1!  on  section  16,  Sjiiloh  N'alley  Township, 
St.  Clair  County,  is  a  native-of  Germany. 
He  was  born  in  Bavaria,  in  the  year  1826,  and  was 
a  son  of  Martin  and  Angelika  (Hug)  Bug.  lidtli 
parents  were  natives  of  the  same  province.  The 
mother,  who  was  born  in  1803,  was  by  birth  a  dis- 
l;ii)t  relative  of  her  husband.     He  was  a  farmer  by 


occupation,  and  died  when  our  subject,  the  only 
child  of  the  family,  was  but  a  year  old.  Mrs.  Bug 
was  again  married,  this  union  being  with  Adam 
Schwarz.  Tlie  latter  emigrated  to  the  United  Stales 
in  1842,  and  settled  in  Shiloh  Valley  Township. 
The  following  year  he  sent  for  his  family.  He  first 
purchased  forty  acres  of  land  near  Mascoutah,  and 
afterward  added  to  this  tract  twenty  acres  more. 
During  the  greater  part  of  iiis  life  he  turned  his 
attention  exclusively  to  agricultural  pursuits.  A 
number  of  years  before  his  death,  he  removed  to 
the  town  of  Belleville,  where  he  lived  a  retired 
life.  His  wife  survived  him  and  passed  away  Feb- 
ruary 11,  18Si». 

Our  subject  came  with  his  mother  to  the  United 
States  when  seventeen  years  of  age,  and  soon  after- 
ward started  to  earn  his  own  living.  He  com- 
menced his  life  as  a  farm.er  by  renting  land  on 
section  16  of  Shiloh  Valley  Township  and  lived 
there  for  many  years.  In  1852,  he  was  married  to 
Salomea  Arbogast,  daughter  of  Christopher  and 
Salomea  Arbogast.  To  our  subject  and  his  worthy 
wife  fourteen  children  have  been  born,  those  living 
being  Salomea,  the  wife  of  John  M.  Meyer;  Chris- 
tina, wife  of  Louis  Meyer;  Mary,  wife  of  Joseph 
Panter;  Willam,  who  was  married  to  Fredericka 
Hess;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  George  Siebert;  Anna,  wife 
of  Albert  Pierce;  Louisa  and  Charles.  This  family 
have  all  had  the  advantages  of  a  good  education 
and  are  thus  fitted  to  encounter  life's  battles. 

After  leading  an  active  life  for  many  years, 
Mr.  Bug  removed  to  the  village  of  Shiloh,  where 
he  has  a  pleasant  home.  In  1890,  he  ceased  from 
his  active  labors  and  has  sine  lived  a  retired  life. 
He  was  reared  in  the  Lutheran  Church,  in  which 
he  now  holds  membership.  In  all  political  and 
local  interests  he  takes  a  prominent  part,  and  has 
seen  much  of  the  growth  and  progress  which  this 
c(junty  has  made  in  the  last  lialf-century.  His 
right  of  franchise  he  uses  in  the  support  of  the 
Democratic  party,  which  finds  in  him  an  earnest 
advocate.  He  was  Supervisor  of  the  township 
under  the  old  law  for  a  period  of  about  fourteen 
years.  He  is  a  self-made  man,  having  commenced 
life  empty-handed,  and  has  won  prosperity  and 
success  through  his  own  well-directed  efforts.  He 
is  a  man  of  good  business  ability,  which  he  shows 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


367 


bv  his  wise  investments  and  marked  advancement. 
Me  is  one  of  the  many  loyal  citizens  whom  Ger- 
many has  furnished  to  America,  and  is  ever  a 
champion  of  the  rights  and  progress  of  his  adopted 
land. 


^^  ICIIAEL  FRIEDKKICK.  The  gentleman 
///^  1  of  whom  this  sketch  is  written  is  one  of 
the  natives  of  the  sunny  land  of  France. 
Many  of  his  countrymen  have  found  a 
home  in  tliis  land,  and  have  been  among  the  earliest 
and  bravest  of  the  settlers  of  the  State. 

Michael  Friederiek  was  horn  April  8,  1839,  in 
Lorraine,  France,  and  lived  in  tli.at  province  until 
lie  was  five  years  old.  In  1844,  with  his  parents, 
he  came  to  this  country,  and  with  his  brothers  and 
sisters  he  grew  uj)  here.  The  tii-st  location  of  the 
family  was  made  right  here,  on  the  place  where 
our  subject  now  has  his  home,  and  he  has  around 
him  the  familiar  things  of  childhood.  As  soon  as 
he  was  of  the  pro[>er  age,  he  w.is  sent  to  the  public 
.schools,  and  there  not  only  learned  the  language 
of  the  people  with  whom  his  life  was  to  be  spent, 
but  obtained  a  common-school  education  in  the 
ordinary  branches  tjiught  at  tliat  time. 

On  the  2d  of  July.  18(>8.  our  subject  was  married 
to  Miss  ilarie  Biebel.  who  was  the  daughter  v{ 
Nicholas  Biebel.  a  resident  of  Prairie  du  Long 
Township.  St.  Clair  County,  where  he  was  buried. 
The  marriage  w.as  followed  by  the  j^oung  couple 
going  to  the  home  place  of  the  husband,  and  there 
the  family  all  resided  together  until  1886.  At 
that  time  Mr.  Friederiek  moved  into  Mascoutah 
and  tried  hotel-keeping  for  a  time.  He  conducted 
the  P'ranklin  House  for  four  years,  but  at  the  end 
of  that  time  he  returned  to  the  farm,  where  he  has 
continued  ever  since. 

The  loss  of  his  wife  was  a  great  attlidion  to  Mr. 
Friederiek,  which  sad  event  took  place  .lanuary  Iti, 
1892.  Eleven  children,  however,  are  left  to  com- 
fort him  in  his  declining  vears.  The  oldest  son, 
Michael,  lives  in  Belleville.  111.:  Katie,  became  the 
wife  of  Marion  Batelmie,  ami  lives  in  this  county; 


Lena  is  the  wife  of  Philip  Schubkegel;  Lizzie  is 
the  wife  of  Jul  Haas;  Caroline  is  Mrs.  Fritz  Shup; 
Edward  lives  in  Belleville;  William,  at  home;  Mar- 
garet, in  Chicago;  and  Mary.  Otho  and  Cecelia  re- 
side at  home. 

The  farm  of  Mr.  Friederiek  consists  of  two  hun- 
(h-ed  and  forty-five  .acres  of  fine  land.  It  is  in  a 
good  state  of  cultivation  and  he  is  considered  a 
very  fortunate  man.  His  sons  assist  him  in  its 
management,  and  the  yield  of  grain  is  always 
large.  His  improvements  are  the  ones  all  good 
farmers  make,  and  his  receipts  from  his  produce 
are  verj^  gratifying.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Work- 
ingmen's  .Society,  an  organization  well  known 
throughout  the  State,  he  attending  its  meetings  in 
Mascoutah.  In  his  politics,  our  subject  believes  in 
the  perpetuation  of  Jeffersonian  principles,  and 
votes  with  the  Democratic  party. 

Mr.  Friederiek  is  a  valued  member  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church  ot  jMascoutah,  and  in  the  cem- 
etery of  that  church  lie  the  remains  of  his  beloved 
wife.  He  has  done  the  best  he  could  for  the  fam- 
ily of  children,  and  has  the  satisfaction  of  know- 
ing that  all  are  doing  well.  His  neighlmrs  re- 
spect liim,  and  all  of  the  neighborhood  know  fav- 
orably his  family  and  himself.  Having  lived  here 
.as  long  as  any  of  the  settlers  in  the  township,  Mr. 
Friederiek  has  seen  the  wonderful  changes  that 
cultivation  has  made  in  the  country.  He  has  seen 
many  penple  come  and  go,  but  his  pleasant  rela- 
tionship has  continued  with  all,  as  he  is  by  nature 
a  man  who  easily  makes  and  retains  friends. 


-r^^-r 


^^ 


'JlJULIU!^  C.  AM>  or  STAVE  BOCC^UET  com- 
prise the  Hrm  of  Bocquet  Bros.,  dealers  in 
general  merchandise,  of  Mascoutah.  111. 
They  are  leading  business  men  of  the  city, 
and  with  pleasure  we  pre.«ent  this  record  of  their 
lives  to  our  readers.  The  gentlemen  are  sons  of 
Charles  Bocquet,  a  native  of  Creuzn.ach, Germany. 
He  came  to  America  in  1848,  and,  in  the  autnmn 
of  the  following  year,  located  in  Mascoutah, 
where  he  built  and  opened  the  first  brewery  in  this 


368 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


place,  operating  the  same  for  a  period  of  about 
eighteen  }-ears.  He  was  married  in  Mascoutah  to 
Miss  Margaret  Yung,  daughter  of  Joiin  Yung, 
who  immigrated  to  tliis  country  from  T.einingen, 
Germany,  and  settled  in  Mascoutah  about  the 
year  1850.  Mr.  Bocquet  long  continued  to  en- 
gage in  the  brewery  business,  but  during  the  last 
few  years  of  his  life  lived  retired.  He  died  on  the 
12th  of  June,  1890.     His  wife  still  survives  him. 

In  their  family  were  seven  children,  five  of 
whom  grew  to  manhood  and  womanhood,  and  are 
yet  living:  Charles,  who  is  engaged  in  the  dry-goods 
business  in  Waverly,  Iowa;  Albert,  a  barber  of 
Mascoutah;  Philip,  who  is  proprietor  of  a  l)00t 
and  shoe  store  of  this  place;  and  Julius  and  Gus- 
tave,  who  constitute  the  firm  of  Bocquet  Bros. 

Julius  C.  Bocquet  was  born  in  this  city  on  the 
16th  of  November,  1863,  and  in  his  youth  attended 
its  public  schools,  and  afterward  completed  his 
education  in  the  State  University  of  Champaign, 
111.  He  then  engaged  in  teaching  for  live  years 
in  the  public  schools  of  Mascoutah  and  for  two 
years  in  tlie  country  schools,  following  that  pro- 
fession altogether  for  a  period  of  seven  years, 
after  which  he  embarked  in  general  merchandising. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Turner  Society. 

Gustave  Bocquet  also  has  the  honor  of  being 
a  native  of  Mascoutah.  He  first  opened  his  ej-es 
to  the  light  of  day  on  the  26th  of  February,  1866, 
and  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  were  spent 
under  the  parental  roof,  his  education  being  ac- 
(luired  in  the  public  schools.  He  afterward  learned 
the  printer's  trade  in  the  office  of  the  Amekjer, 
at  that  time  owned  by  Capt.  Dilg.  He  followed 
that  business  for  about  eight  years,  and  then  went 
to  Waverly,  Iowa,  where  he  entered  the  store  of 
his  brother  Charles.  After  two  years,  he  disposed 
of  his  interest  in  the  business,  and,  returning  to 
Mascoutah,  entered  tiie  employ  of  George  Reich- 
ardt,  a  general  merchant  of  this  place,  for  whom 
he  clerked  for  about  two  years.  In  company  with 
liis  brother,  he  then  became  proprietor  of  a  store, 
wliich  is  now  filled  with  an  excellent  stock  of  goods. 
They  have  a  good  trade  and  are  doing  a  fine  busi- 
ness, which  is  constantl}' increasing.  By  fair  deal- 
ing and  courteous  treatment,  they  have  secured  a 
lilicral  patronage,  which  is  certainly  well  deserved. 


The  members  of  the  firm  are  wide-awake  and  en- 
terprising young  business  men,  sagacious  and  far- 
sighted,  industrious  and  persevering,  and  aie  rap- 
idh'  winning  success. 


i@^tl^^^ 


\I(_^^ENRY  J.  DECKER,  proprietor  of  the  Mas- 
ifjV  coutah  Hotel  of  Mascoutah  and  a  well- 
1^)^  known  citizen  of  St.  Clair  County,  is  a  na- 
^^  tive  of  Germany.  He  was  born  in  Frank- 
weiler,  near  the  Rhine,  in  the  Province  of  Bavaria, 
December  9,  1824.  and  grew  to  manhood  in  the 
town  of  Oberlustadt,  being  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  that  place.  His  parents  were  Peter  L. 
and  Martha  Margaretha  Decker.  The  father  was 
born  and  reared  in  the  town  of  Frankweiler  and 
was  a  blacksmith  liy  trade. 

After  completing  his  education,  our  subject 
learned  the  trade  of  blacksmithing  with  his  father 
and  then  went  to  Geinsheim,  where  he  woi-ked  for 
six  months.  Wiien  a  young  man  of  twenty  years, 
he  determined  to  try  his  fortune  in  America,  and 
embarked  on  a  sailing-vessel  in  the  latter  port  of 
1844,  landing  at  New  Orleans  on  the  8th  of  Janu- 
ary, 1845.  Twelve  days  later,  he  reached  St. 
Louis,  where  he  worked  for  one  year  at  his  trade 
with  his  brother.  In  1846,  he  came  to  Mascoutah 
and  again  embarked  in  his  chosen,  occupation. 

It  was  in  1851  that  Mr.  Decker  was  united  in 
maniage  with  Miss  Mary  Anna  Brentzel,  daughter 
of  Mathias  Brentzel,  a  blacksmith  of  this  city,  with 
wliom  our  subject  had  worked  for  four  years.  In 
1850,  he  went  to  Belleville,  and  in  company  with 
William  Lutz  established  a  blacksmith  siiop,  where 
he  worked  for  about  two  years,  when  the  partner- 
sliip  was  dissolved  and  Mr.  Decker  built  a  smithy 
of  his  own  on  East  Main  Street  in  Belleville, 
where  he  remained  for  about  six  weeks.  During 
that  time,  his  father-in-law  died,  and  Mrs.  Brentzel 
requested  him  to  remove  to  Mascoutah  and  take 
charge  of  the  shop  of  her  deceased  husband,  so  in 
1852  lie  rented  his  shop  in  Belleville,  and  in  July 
of  that  year  removed  to  Mascoutah.  He  then 
worked  at  his  trade  from   1850  \intil    1863,   when 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RFX'OKD. 


369 


he  sold  liis  shop  and  bought  the  Mascontah  Mouse, 
contiiuiiiig-  in  thf  hotel  business  ever  since.  In  con- 
nection with  th<'  hdlcl.  he  niso  runs  n  livery  st;ible 
and  saloon. 

Unto  i\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Decker  have  been  born  ten 
children,  seven  of  whom  are  yet  living,  as  follows: 
George,  who  is  married  and  is  agent  at  Belleville, 
111.,  for  the  Adams  Express  Company,  in  whose 
employ  he  has  been  for  almost  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury; Jacob  is  married  and  is  a  dealer  in  farm  im- 
plements and  machinery  in  Mascoutah;  Eliza  and 
Emma  are  at  home;  Henry  is  married  and  carries 
on  the  hotel;  Philip  is  engaged  in  tiie  grocejy  busi- 
ness in  Chicago,  and  Ottilie  completes  the   family. 

In  his  political  atliliations,  Mr.  Decker  is  a  Re- 
publican; he  voted  for  John  C.  Fremont  in  1856, 
and  has  supported  each  Presidential  candidate  of 
the  Republican  party  since  that  time.  In  1881,  lie 
was  elected  Commissioner  of  St.  Clair,  which  office 
he  held  for  one  term.  In  1876,  he  was  candidate 
for  County  Commissioner,  and  in  1886  he  was 
nominated  for  the  office  of  County  Treasurer. 
Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows' 
.society-  Mr.  Decker  is  widely  known  throughout 
the  county,  where  for  fort.y-six  years  he  has  made 
his  home  He  is  now  doing  a  good  business  and 
has  prospered.  h!i\ing  a  liinidsonie  competence. 


\f^^ETEH    SCllNEIDKK.      An    excellent   ex- 

JJ)  ample   of    the   sturdy    enterprise,    thrift}- 

habits  and  persistent    industry,  characler- 

I  Ij  istic  of  so  ni.'iny  of  our  fariiiei's,  may  be 
found  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Seliiieider,  wlio  is  now 
living  in  Lenzburg  Township.  He  owns  nine 
hundred  acres  of  valuable  land,  who.se  pos.session 
attests  his  success  in  worldly  affairs,  and  whose  im- 
proved condition  and  orderly  appearance  furnish 
equally  good  evidence  of  his  intelligent  concep- 
tion of  the  details  of  his  vocation  and  his  progres- 
sive spirit  in  all  that  jjcrtains  thereto. 

A  native  of  (iermany,  our  subject  was  boiii  in 
Bavaria,  .lauuarv  1',  1821, and  was  the  son  of  Pi'ter 


and  Barbara  (Kenipf)  Schneider,  also  natives  of 
the  Fatlierland„'^the  former^ having  been  born  in 
1799,  and  the  latter  a  couple  of  years  later.  Peter 
SchneiderSr.,  received  an  excellent  education  in  the 
model  schools  of  his  native  country,  and,  being- 
reared  to  farm  pursuits,  followed  that  occupation 
his  entire  life.  On  coming  to  America  in  October, 
1838,  he  was  accompanied  hither  by  his  entire 
family,  and  in  February  of  the  following  year  came 
to  Dutch  Hill  Prairie,  this  county.  Being  a  man 
of  means,  he  at  once  purchased  five  hundred  and 
fifty  acresof  (Tovernment  land,  which  he  cultivated 
in  the  best  possible  manner.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  was  always  found 
ready  to  take  part  in  every  good  work  promul- 
gated in  that  religious  society.  He  was  in  the  best 
sense  of  the  term  a  public-spirited  man  and  a  pro- 
gressive citizen,  and  in  politics  voted  with  the 
Democratic  party. 

Of  the  six  children  born  to  .Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  I'eter 
Schneider  all  are  deceased  with  the  exception  of 
our  subject,  who  was  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth. 
The  others  bore  the  respective  names  of  Catherine, 
Mary,  Rosena,  John  and  Henry.  The  paternal 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  Andrew  Schneider,  was 
a  native  of  Germany,  where  he  followed  the  occu- 
jiation  of  a  fermer. 

Young  Schneider  received  a  thorough  training 
by  his  excellent  parents  and  from  early  boyhood 
bore  a  part  in  farm  work,  thus  becoming  thoroughly 
versed  in  its  details.  He  received  a  good  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools,  adding  to  the  practical 
knowledge  he  already  possessed  and  strengthening 
the  foundation  on  which  he  has  reared  a  super- 
structure of  general  information  since  reaching 
maturity.  He  was  seventeen  years  of  age  when  he 
accompanied  his  parents  on  their  emigration  to 
America,  and  in  1848  was  married  to  Miss. lohanna, 
daughter  of  Sebastian  and  Margaret  Dressel.  Mrs. 
Schneider  was  carefully  reared  by  Christian  par- 
ents and  was  well  (pialilied  to  take  upon  heivself 
the  duties  of  wifehood  when  united  to  <uir  subject. 
She  h.as  been  an  eflicient  aid  to  hini,  not  only 
making  his  home  cozy  and  attractive,  but  by  prud- 
ent management  and  good  counsel  assisting  him 
in  the  accumulation  of  (iroperty.  Their  happy 
marriage    has   been   blessed    by    the   liirtli    of   nine 


.170 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


children,  three  of  whom  died  young  in  years. 
Those  who  grew  to  mature  years  were:  Caroline, 
who  married  Henry  Kneeht,  and  left  at  her  de- 
cease one  son;  .lohanna,  who  is  tlie  wife  of  George 
Perschbaclier;  Henry,  who  married  Miss  Caupert; 
Mary  C,  who  married  Henry  Kneeht;  Charles  H., 
who  became  the  husband  of  Miss  Arena  Sehaller; 
and  Regina,  who  married  Harmon  Echert. 

Our  subject  like  his  venerable  father,  is  a  libeial' 
supporter  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  of  which  de- 
nomination he  is  an  active  member.  His  wife,  who 
was  held  in  high  esteem  for  her  Christian  character, 
departed  this  life  January  18.  1876,  and  was  fol- 
lowed to  her  last  resting-place  by  numerous  friends 
and  .acquaintances. 

Mr.  Schneider  .alwiiys  Lakes  an  interest  in  politi- 
cal affairs,  voting  the  str.aight  Republican  ticket. 
He  is  intimately  connected  with  the  financial  af- 
fairs of  the  township  and,  indeed,  of  tlie  county, 
.and  his  opinions  are  considered  valuable.  He  is  a 
man  of  progressive  ideas,  of  more  than  ordinary 
intelligence,  and  possesses  a  nature  which  for  geni- 
ality and  kindliness  is  unexcelled.  He  has  made 
his  property  by  his  own  efforts,  and  by  dint  of  his 
personal  qualities  is  now  one  of  the  leading  and 
wealthy  farmers  of  St.  Clair  C(>unt\-. 


ICHOLAS  E.  AMMEL.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  is  one  of  the  yonng,  energetic 
and  progressive  farmers  of  St.  Clair  County. 
The  faithful  and  acceptable  discharge  of  his  duties 
as  Collector,  and  the  business-like  manner  in 
which  he  manages  his  farm,  prove  him  to  be  a 
man  of  considerable  executive  ability  and  give 
promise  of  a  prosperous  and  successful  future. 

Our  subject  was  born  F'ebruary  18,  1858,  ten 
miles  north  of  Belleville,  near  F.alling  Springs, 
and  is  the  son  of  Martin  and  Frances  (Faust) 
Ammel.  His  father  was  born  in  France,  six  miles 
from  Strasburg,  August  26,  1830,  and  was  brought 
by  his  parents  to  America  in  1833.  They  landed 
in  New  Orleans,  and  there  took  passage  on  tlie 
steamboat  "George  Collie"  for    St.    Louis,    where 


they  arrived  about  a  week  before  Christmas.  They 
remained  in  that  city  for  two  weeks,  and  then 
came  to  St.  Clair  County  and  settled  four  miles 
north  of  Centreville  on  the  C.  cfe  St.  L.  Railroad. 
Here  they  passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 
The  paternal  grandfather,  George  Ammel,  was 
born  in  1798,  and  died  in  the  fall  of  1844. 
The  paternal  grandmother,  Dorothea  (Kist)  Am- 
mel. was  born  in  1803,  and  died  in  1886. 

The  father  of  our  subject  remained  at  home 
until  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age,  when  he  went 
to  Belleville  and  learned  the  trade  of  a  black- 
smith under  AVaraey  AVilliams.  He  worked  at  his 
trade  until  1856,  when  he  bought  a  farm  at  Fall- 
ing Springs,  eleven  miles  from  Belleville,  .and 
there  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  for  nine 
years.  He  next  went  to  East  St.  Louis,  and  con- 
ducted an  hotel  for  about  a  year,  and  later  bought 
a  house  and  lot  in  Millstadt,  where  he  lived  a 
year.  He  next  bought  a  farm  of  sixty  acres  one 
mile  north  of  Belleville,  where  he  now  resides. 
He  is  the  inventor  and  patentee  of  a  slide-road 
grader  and  a  wheel-road  grader  patented  .Tuly  4, 
1880.  These  graders  are  now  in  general  use  and 
the  patentee  enjoys  a  royalty   income  from  them. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  on  the 
farm.  He  enjoyed  the  adv.antages  of  a  common- 
school  education  such  .as  a  farmer  lad  usually  ob- 
tains. In  order,  however,  to  better  qualif}'  him- 
self for  life's  work,  he  went  to  Milwaukee,  Wis., 
and  there  attended  St.  Francis  College  for  seven 
months.  June  14,  1881,  he  married  Lena  C,  the 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Mary  Ann  (Karlskind) 
Louis,  who  were  farmers  on  an  adjoining  estate. 
On  that  place  the  bride  w.as  born  and  reared.  Her 
parents  have  both  passed  away,  the  father  as  long 
as  thirty-one  years  ago  and  the  mother  May  9, 
1882.  Six  children  have  been  boiii  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Ammel,  namel}':  Alvina,  born  .\pril  4,  1883; 
Matilda,  July  29,  1885;  Irene,  February  1,  1888; 
Viola,  March  13,  1889;  Corinne  M.,  December  7, 
1890,  and  Estella,  April  30,  1892.  All  arc  spared 
to  their  parents,  with  the  exception  of  Irene,  who 
died  June  5,  1889. 

Our  subject  has  lived  at  his  present  place  of 
residence  ever  since  his  marriage.  The  farm  con- 
sists of  one  hundred  and   twenty-five  acres  and  is 


■^'"^i^' 


01 


Ou 


,,«.^«^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  T.KMJRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


373 


devoted  to  general  fanning  and  stock-raising.  Mr. 
Ammel  i.<  a  l)reeder  of  registered  C'liester  White 
liou^s,  anil  at  all  times  has  some  very  fine  stock  on 
his  |ihn-e.  In  piililic  affairs  lie  is  interested  and 
well-informed,  and  lias  been  ealled  liv  iiis  fellow- 
citizens  to  nunierons  positions  of  trust  and  le- 
si)onsihility.  .\mong  the  otlices  which  he  has 
tilled  is  tliat  of  Township  Collector,  to  whicli  lie 
was  first  elected  in  1886.  He  Is  now  serving  liis 
fourth  term,  having  been  re-elected  in  April, 
1892.  He  is  also  School  Trustee,  to  which  office  he 
was  elected  in  189(1.  He  was  chosen  Director  and 
Secretary  of  St.  Peter's  Institute  at  Belleville.  In 
politics,  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  is  as  earnest  in 
that  as  in  other  relations  of  life.  !lc  and  his  fam- 
ily belong  to  the  Catholic  Church.  _ 


^^^^  IIARLKS  UrXlvWlT/..  engaged  in  general 
(If  .,  farming  on  section  3.'),  O'Failon  Township, 
^f^fJ  is  a  worthy  representative  of  an  honored 
pioneer  family  of  the  county.  He  w.as  born  on 
the  old  homestead  where  he  yet  resides,  .January 
3,  1841.  His  father.  Karl  Runkwitz.  was  born 
on  the  27th  of  September.  1800,  in  Alteiiburg, 
Duchv  of  Saxony,  (Germany,  and  was  a  Ixiok- 
binder  by  trade.  In  his  native  land,  he  was  mar- 
ried in  1828  to  Dorothea  Fredericka  Drescher, 
who  was  born  February  21,  180fi.  In  the  spring 
of  1834,  they  sailed  for  America,  landing  at  Balti- 
more. With  a  party  of  their  countrymen,  they 
went  across  the  .\llegliaii3-  Mountains  to  Wheeling, 
Ohio,  where  the  colony  separated  and  Jlr.  Runk- 
witz and  his  wife  made  their  way  down  the  Ohio 
River  to  St.  Louis.  They  subsequently  came  to 
this  State,  where  Mr.  Runkw'itz  entered  forty  .acres 
of  land  from  the  (Tovernment.  This  is  still  a  part 
of  the  homestead  of  the  family.  He  engaged  in 
farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred  October 
17,  1849,  of  cholera.  Tlie  grandparents  lioth  died 
in  the  Fatherland. 

The  Runkwitz  family  numbered  nine  children: 
Henrietta,  who  was  born  in  Germany  in  1829, 
came  to  America  with  her  parents  and  was  married 


in  this  county  to  Frail  Lummer,  Who  died  near 
O'Failon  about  1872.  She  now  makes  her  home 
in  Milwaukee,  Wis.  By  their  union  were  born 
nine  children,  of  whom  four  are  yet  living.  (Jus- 
tave  died  in  infancy.  Charlotte,  born  in  Ger- 
many in  1831,  w!is  married  in  1847  to  .lolin  P. 
Trautwcin,  and  they  became  the  iiarcnts  of  four 
children,  as  follows:  Herman,  who  is  married  and  is 
a  farmer  of  Missouri;  Matilda,  who  died  in  18()9: 
Doi-olhea,  who  became  the  wife  of  William  Weil, 
of  Shiloli  Valley,  and  died  in  1884,  leaving  three 
children;  and  .Tulius.  who  is  married  and  follows 
farming  in  F'ranklin  County.  Mo.  ^Ir.  Trautwein 
died  in  18(il,and  she  was  again  married,  this  time  to 
.\ugust  Lummer.  and  they  have  one  child,  Charles, 
wlio  is  married  and  lives  in  Franklin  County,  Mo. 
Tliekla,  born  in  (Jermany  in  1833,  is  the  wife  of 
Ernst  Gilauf,  a  farmer  of  F'ranklin  County,  AIo., 
bv  whom  she  had  seven  children,  as  follows: 
Charles,  who  married  Dorelia  Robertson  and  lives 
in  Sullivan,  Mo.;  Otto  wedded  .Jennie  Parks  and 
is  a  farmer  of  Franklin  County,  Mo.;  Lotla  died 
at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years;  Benjamin  rlied  at 
the  age  of  nine  years;  Louisa  resides  with  licr 
father;  Ernst  died  in  1887;  and  Richard  is  at 
home.  The  mother  of  this  family  died  in  October, 
1891,  in  F'ranklin  County,  Mo,,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
seren  years.  Richard,  born  March  27,  1838,  mar- 
ried Julianne  .li^nich  and  resides  on  a  farm  in 
O'Failon  Township.  They  had  five  children:  W- 
vina,  born  in  1864,  is  married  and  has  four  chil- 
dren; Emilia  was  born  in  1866,  is  mai'ried  and  has 
three  children;  William,  born  August  .30,  1868; 
.Tosephine,  November  20,  1872;  and  Ida.  .laiiuary 
1  2.  1 874,  are  still  at  home  with  their  mother.  Rich- 
ard Runkwitz  died  on  the  home  farm  in  O'Failon 
I'ownship.  January  21,  1877. 

Charles  Runkwitz,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
is  the  next  younger  and  he  is  associated  in  business 
with  his  brother,  Herman,  who  was  born  March  24, 
1843,  in  O'Failon  Township.  In  1867,  he  married 
,\urclia  Budnie,  and  unto  them  were  born  five 
cliildren:  Minna,  twenty-three  years  of  age;  Erwin, 
twenty  years  of  age;  Johannah,  who  died  in  1880 
at  the  age  of  six  years;  Richard,  a  lad  of  thirteen 
years;  and  Fannie,  who  is  twelve  years  of  age. 
The  youngest  of  the  Runkwitz  family   is  Sophia, 


374 


i'ORTRAlT  AND  BlOGRAl'HICAL  RECORD. 


who  was  born  in  1845,  in  this  county,  and  in  May, 
1862,  became  the  wife  of  Otto  Doeswetler.  They 
soon  afterward  removed  to  Wisconsin,  where  he  is 
engaged  in  business  as  a  veterinary  surgeon.  They 
liave  twelve  cliildren. 

Herman  Runkwitz  was  a  soldier  in  the  late  war. 
He  enlisted  in  1863,  as  a  member  of  the  Forty- 
third  Illinois  Infautr}',  and  was  in  the  service 
until  1865,  being  stationed  at  Little  Rock  during 
the  greater  part  of  the  time.  After  leaving  the 
army,  he  took  up  his  residence  on  the  old  home- 
stead, where  he  and  his  brother  Charles  have  since 
engaged  in  farming.  In  connection  with  the  heirs 
of  their  brother  Richard,  thej'  own  one  hundred 
and  twenty-six  acres  of  land,  which  is  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation  and  well  improved.  They 
are  enterprising  and  progressive  farmers,  widely 
and  favorably  known  in  the  community  where 
they  iiave  so  long  resided.  Charles  Runkwitz  served 
as  Highway  Commissioner  for  one  term  and  Her- 
man held  the  office  of  School  Director  for  two 
terms. 


^^,EORGE  CROSBY,  a  prominent  and  highly- 
11  __  esteemed  farmer  of  O "Fallon  Township,  re- 
'^^1!  siding  on  section  27,  was  born  in  Ponte- 
fract, England,  May  12,  1833.  His  father,  Thomas 
Crosby,  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  in  1802,  and  was  a 
gardener  for  the  Duke  of  Cleveland,  learning 
his  trade  of  gardening  at  Hammersmith.  Subse- 
quently, he  had  cliarge  of  the  Duke's  plate.  In  1844, 
he  crossed  the  Atlantic,  landing  in  New  York, 
whence  he  made  his  wa}'  to  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and 
took  charge  of  the  establishment  of  ,Tohn  Bell, 
being  overseer  of  the  house  and  garden.  His  wife 
liad  charge  of  the  education  of  Mr.  Yeatman's  fam- 
ily of  St.  Louis.  In  1852.  he  and  his  wife  came 
to  St.  Clair  County,  and  located  on  what  is  still 
known  as  the  Crosby  Farm.  Here  he  successfully 
carried  on  the  nursery  business  until  his  death, 
wiiich  occurred  in  the  fall  of  1880.  In  politics  he 
was  a  Democrat  until  the  late  war,  when  he  became 
a  liberal  Republican.     In  early  life  he  was  a  mem- 


ber of  the  Episcopal  Church  but  afterward  joined 
the  Baptist  Church,  as  there  was  no  organization 
of  the  former  denomination  in  the  community 
where  he  lived.  He  was  buried  in  the  old  Rock 
Spring  Cemetery,  he  having  selected  this  place  be- 
fore his  death.  Mr.  Crosby  was  twice  married.  He 
first  wedded  Mr.s.  FaitJi  AVood,  of  Appleton,  York- 
shire, England.  By  her  former  marriage  was  born 
a  son,  in  1817,  William  Wood,  who  came  to  Amer- 
ica about  1840,  and  died  in  Athens,  Ga.,  in  1866. 
He  landed  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  where  he  made  the 
cabinet  casings  for  the  exhibition  of  bric-a-brac 
coUecLed  by  Commodore  Perry  on  his  trip  around 
the  world,  which  cabinet  is  still  in  AVashington. 
William  Wood  removed  from  Washington  to  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.,  thence  to  Athens,  Ga.,  and  later  to 
Atlanta,  Ga.  He  had  a  large  undertaking  business 
in  Atlanta  and  furniture  business  in  Athens,  where 
he  owned  an  extensive  factory.  He  died  leaving  a 
large  estate.  He  had  a  son  and  daughter,  and  the 
latter,  Annie,  became  the  wife  of  William  A.  Ilemi)- 
hill,  the  owner  of  the  Atlanta  Constitution.  She 
died  two  years  after  her  marriage  in  1856.  Mrs. 
Crosb^y  had  by  her  second  marri.ige  two  sons: 
George  and  Thomas. 

Thom.as  Crosby  died  in  Athens,  Ga.,  in  1858.  He 
was  born  in  Pontefract  in  1836,  and  came  with  iiis 
parents  to  this  country  in  1844.  He  removed  from 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  to  Alliens,  with  his  half-brother, 
William  Wood,  and  carried  on  a  steam  planing- 
mill  and  furniture  factory  until  his  death.  At  the 
age  of  twenty  he  was  married,  and  his  widovv,  who 
has  been  a  second  time  married,  is  still  living  in 
Athens,  Ga.  Tiie  mother  of  our  subject  died  in 
Pontefract,  England,  in  1840,  and  Mr.  Crosby 
afterward  married  Mar^'  Ann  Hall,  of  Yorkshire. 

We  now  take  up  tlie  personal  history  of  our 
subject,  George  Crosby,  who  attended  tiie  common 
schools  of  his  native  land  until  coming  to  America 
with  his  parents.  From  New  York  he  went  to  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  florist 
in  the  employ  of  Jacob  Hoffner,  a  wealth}-  and  re- 
tired merchant.  He  remained  with  that  gentleman 
for  five  years,  and  then  joined  his  father's  family 
in  Nashville,  Tenn.  He  afterward  became  con- 
nected with  his  half-brother,  William  Wood,  in  the 
furniture  business,   which   he  followed  until  1854, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


375 


wlion  lie  cnnie  to  tliis  eoiiiilv  to  visit,  his  father, 
wlu)  h;i<l  previously  located  in  O'Kallon  Township, 
lie  determined  to  make  his  home  in  this  eommnn- 
ity  and  has  since  been  one  of  it'^  leading  farniors 
and  nurserymen. 

In  18(!1,  Mr.  C'roshy  nuuried  Anna,  daughter  of 
John  Rader.  a  farmer  and  1  nd-owncr.  He  took 
charge  of  the  home  farm  and  nursery,  which  he  still 
occupies  and  operates.  Their  union  was  blessed  with 
four  children.  Saraii  Ann.!)orn  i)i  1862,  was  mar- 
ried in  18K(l  to  Edward  K.  Heblialin.who  is  interested 
ill  the  Crtisby  Nursery.  They  have  three  children: 
Herllia  Stella,  eiglit  years  of  .age;  George  Kmil.  six 
years  old;  and  Klla  Louisa,  a  maiden  of  four  sum- 
mers. Thomas  died  in  .lauuary,  188.5,  at  tlic  age 
of  twenty  years.  William  Rader,  born  in  March, 
IHf!;'),  is  living  on  the  home  farm,  and  has  gained  a 
national  reputation  .is  a  marksman  and  expert 
sliot.  In  1890.  he  won  the  Slate  cliampiou- 
ship  of  Colorado,  Montana  and  Idaho,  a  diamond 
medal,  and  in  1887  won  the  State  chani|)ion 
medal  of  Southern  Illinois  at  E.ast  St.  Louis  and 
again  at  Mt.  A'ernon.  George  Edward,  born  Jul}- 
18,  187(1,  is  attending  JMcKendree  College  at  Leb- 
anon, taking  the  regular  course  of  study,  and  for 
two  years  was  a  student  at  Xormal,  111.  The 
mother  of  this  family  died  on  the  home  farm  in 
1874,  and  her  remains  were  interred  in  Oak  Hill 
Cemetery.  31r.  Crosliy  was  again  married,  .Inly 
i:!,  hS.'^d.  this  time  to  Miss  Elvira  Kieliler,  who  w.as 
born  September  10,  1843,  in  O'Fallon  Township. 
They  have  a  daughter,  Mary  Viola,  who  w.as  born 
April  -28,  1881. 

Since  coming  to  this  c()iiiit\,  Mr.  Crosb\-  has  re- 
sided on  the  old  homestead.  His  farm  comprises 
one  hundred  and  seventy-nine  acres  of  valuable 
land,  thirty -six  of  which  are  u.sed  for  nursery  pur- 
[loscs.  He  is  well  known  as  a  nurseiy  man  and  is 
a  practical  and  progressive  farmer,  whose  thrift 
and  enterprise  are  indicated  by  the  neat  ai)pearance 
of  his  place.  In  jwlitics  he  is  a  stalwart  advocate  of 
I  )(!mocratic  principles,  and  has  served  as  a  delegate 
to  i,ie  county  and  congres.sional  con ventioji.s;  in 
1871,  he  w.as  a  member  of  the  National  Convention 
which  convened  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  nomin- 
ated Horace  Greeley.  .Socially,  he  is  a  member  of 
Lodge    No.    :<H',,   A.    F.  A-    A.    .M.,   of   O'Fallon, 


and  the  Chapter  of  Lebanon,  111.  For  many  years 
he  has  made  his  home  in  this  community,  and  is  a 
highly  respected  citizen  whose  many  friends  lK)ld 
him  in  wnrm  regard. 


^.SCAK    F.  r.KKillTFlELl),  1).  I).  S.,  a  piomi- 


iienl  young  professional  man  of  Belleville, 
was  born  in  Pottsville,  Pa.,  May  9,  18;)7, 
and  is  the  son  of  Charles  and  Carrie  (Walther) 
Itrightfield.  His  paternal  grandfather,  whose 
name  was  also  (liarles,  was  a  native  of  (iermany, 
and  with  his  wife,  who  was  born  in  England,  be- 
came one  of  the  early  settlere  in  Fayette  (diiiily, 
Pa.,  where  Charles,  Jr.,  w.as  born  in  1824.  An  up- 
right, energetic  man,  he  belonged  to  that  worthy 
class  of  pioneers  to  whom  we  are  so  greatly  in- 
debted. 

Allliough  employed  at  various  places,  Cliai  les 
Ihighttield,  Jr.,  has  been  a  resident  of  the  Key- 
stone .State  during  his  entire  life,  and  has  there 
followed  his  occupation  of  a  steam  and  gas  litter. 
His  home  at  present  is  at  Beaver  Falls,  Pa.,  and, 
although  not  quite  a  young  man,  he  retains  to  a 
large  degree  the  activity  of  former  years,  and  is 
hale  and  hearty. 

Thesubject  of  this  sketch  received  the  ludiinents 
of  his  education  in  the  grammar  school  at  Ashland, 
Pa.,  and  subsequentl.y  carried  on  his  literary  stud- 
ies in  various  [ilaces.  Leaving  school,  he  learned 
the  trade  of  a  glass-blower  at  Pittsburgh,  and, 
while  following  that  occupation  during  the  winter 
months,  saved  his  earnings,  so  that  he  w\as  able  in 
the  summer  to  study  the  sciences,  especially'  chem- 
istry, to  which  he  was  partial.  F'or  a  .short  time  he 
followed  his  trade  at  La  Salle,  III.,  and  also  in 
Milwaukee,  Wis.,  and  in  1883  came  to  Belleville 
for  the  purpose  of  .accepting  a  position  at  the  glass 
works  here.  Meanwhile,  his  leisure  hours,  which 
were  few  however,  were  industriously  devoted  to 
the  accumulation  of  knowledge,  and  he  became  a 
well-informed  man,  with  a  broad  knowledge  of  the 
classics  and  the  sciences. 

In   Septeml>er.  1888.  our   subject    went   to    Chi- 


376 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


cago  and  studied  dentistr}-  under  Dr.  E.  J.  Perry, 
Professor  in  tjie  Northwestern  ITniversity  at  Evan- 
ston,  remaining  with  that  gentleman  for  one  year, 
and  afterward  entering  the  Lake  Forest  University, 
graduating  from  the  dental  department  of  that  in- 
stitution March  24,  189L  At  once  after  com- 
pleting his  dental  studies,  he  came  to  Belleville, 
which  he  considered  his  home,  and  opened  an 
office  for  the  practice  of  his  profession,  which  he 
has  since  followed.  Although  he  has  been  here 
but  a  short  time,  he  is  well  and  favorably  known 
to  the  citizens,  and  has  built  up  a  large  and  con- 
stantly increasing  practice. 

Dr.  Brightfield  recently'  bought  an  elegant  and 
commodious  residence  at  No.  404  West  Main 
Street,  where  he  and  his  wife  have  established  a 
beautiful  home.  The  lady,  who  on  April  7,  1891, 
became  his  wife,  was  Miss  Emelia,  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Elizabeth  Tisch,  earlj-  settlers  of  St. 
Clair  County,  and  widely  known  thi-oughout  this 
section  of  countrj-.  Mrs.  Brightfield  was  reared  in 
the  belief  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church,  to 
which  she  has  since  adhered.  They  have  one  child, 
(Jscar  F.,  .Jr.,  who  was  born  June  28,  1892.  In  his 
social  connections,  the  Doctor  is  identified  with 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  also  holds  membership  in 
the  Delta  Sigma  Delta  of  his  college  class. 

irt_^^ARTMANN  KOCII.  Biographies  of  suc- 
llf  )f  cessful,  and  especially  of  good,  men  are 
/^^  most  useful  as  incentives  to  others,  teach- 
[(^j  ing  noble  thinking  and  energetic  action 
for  their  own  and  the  world's  good.  He  who 
gives  others  an  example  of  industry,  sobriety  and 
consistent  honesty  of  purpose  in  life,  h.as  a  present 
as  well  as  a  future  influence  upon  the  well-being 
of  his  community,  for  his  life  and  character  affects, 
unconsciously  tliongh  it  maj'  be,  the  lives  and 
characters  of  others,  and  thus  the  influence  is  un- 
ending until  time  itself  shall  cease.  Too  mucli 
praise  cannot,  therefore,  be  given  to  those  who  by 
their  worthy  lives  are  entitled  to  more  than  pa.ss- 
ing  mention. 


The  subject  of  this  biographical  review  was 
born  in  Germany  in  183.S,  and  is  the  son  of  Justus 
and  Catherine  (Schneider)  Koch.  His  parents 
were  also  born  in  the  Fatherland,  the  father  in 
1811,  and  the  mother  in  1818.  Justus  Koch  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  land,  where  in  his  j'outli  he  learned  the 
trade  of  a  blacksmith,  and  was  thus  occupied,  in 
connection  with  the  business  of  a  wagon  man- 
ufacturer, throughout  his  entire  life.  His  death  oc- 
curred in  the  prime  of  life,  when  our  subject  was 
only  two  years  of  age.  After  his  death,  a  posthum- 
ous son  was  born  to  the  mother  of  our  subject,  who 
was  named  Henry  Philip  and  is  now  deceased. 
Mrs.  Catherine  Koch  came  to  the  United  States 
many  years  afterward  and  died  at  the  home  of  her 
son  Hartmann,  in  Darmstadt. 

Tlie  early  years  of  Hartmann  Koch  were  un- 
eventfully passed  in  his  native  land,  where  he  at- 
tended the  common  schools  and  learned  the  trade 
of  a  blacksmith  with  an  uncle.  In  1854,  he  left 
the  Fatherland,  and,  crossing  the  Atlantic,  for  a 
few  months  after  landing  made  his  home  in  the 
city  of  Baltimore.  Later,  he  removed  to  St.  Louis, 
where  for  seven  years  he  worked  steadily  at  his 
trade.  Coining  thence  to  the  village  of  Darmstadt, 
he  opened  a  shop,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged 
at  his  trade.  In  connection  with  this  occupation, 
he  is  the  owner  of  three  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  valuable  land,  wiiereon  he  conducts  farming 
operations  with  skill  and  success. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  Mr.  Koch  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Clara  (Aple)  Dierburger.  and  they 
have  become  the  parents  of  nine  children,  three  of 
whom  died  in  infancy  and  George  and  Clara  in 
their  youth.  The  surviving  children  are  Mary, 
Elizabeth,  Amelia  and  Matheas.  In  his  relig- 
ious connections,  Mr.  Koch  is  a  member  of  the 
Presbyteri.an  Church,  while  his  wife  is  a  C.itholic. 
His  political  preferences  have  brought  him  into 
sympathy  with  the  Republican  party,  and  he  is  one 
of  the  public-spirited  and  progressive  members  of  ; 
tliat  party  in  the  county. 

Mr.  Koch  is  a  man  who  stands  higli  in  Ihe 
esteem  of  all  who  know  him,  and  his  honorable 
life  and  uniform  kindness  of  heart  endear  him  to 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


377 


Ills  aciiuaintances.  In  writing  of  him,  one  is  rc- 
iriiiided  of  the  picture  drawn  by  the  poet  Long- 
fellow, of  the  village  hiacksmitii: 

Week  in,  week  out,  from  morn  till  night. 

You  can  hear  his  bellows  blow; 
You  c-an  hear  him  swing  his  heavy  sledge, 

With  measured  beat  and  slow. 
IJke  a  sexton  ringing  the  village  bell 

When  the  evening  sun  is  low. 

Toiling,  rejoicing,  sorrowing. 

Onward  through  life  he  goes; 
Each  morning  sees  some  task  begun, 

Each  evening  sees  it  close; 
.Something  attempted,  something  done. 

Has  earned  a  night's  repose. 

Thanks,  thanks,  t^)  thee,  my  worthy   friend, 

For  the  lesson  thou  has  taught; 
Thus  at  the  (laming  forge  of  life 

Our  fortunes  must  be  wrought. 
Thus  on  its  sounding  anvil  shaped 

Each  burning  deed  and  thought. 


T^=^.  .AHL  .1.  FINKK.  The  original  of  this  notice 
Itr  carries  on  the  largest  and  best-equipped 
:h^^'  confectionery  establishment  in  the  city.  His 
•irandfather,  who  was  a  merchant  in  Germany,  was 
the  first  of  the  family  to  come  to  America,  and 
here  he  followed  the  lucrative  business  of  a  black- 
smith in  the  State  of  Maine.  He  finally  located  in 
Melleville  and  there  ended  his  life.  Our  subject's 
father  bore  the  name  of  Adolph,  and  was  l)oin  in 
the  Hartz  Mountains,  in  Germany.  He  w.as  but  a 
voung  man  when  he  reached  America;  he  went  at 
once  to  Alton,  111.,  and  there  engaged  as  a  clerk  in 
the  Hopkin-Willow  drug  store.  Later,  he  bought  it 
aud  conducted  it  until  1873,  when  he  came  to 
East  St.  Louis  and  started  a  drug  store,  becoming 
so  successful  that  he  was  enabled  to  liuild  the 
Finke  Bkx-k  in  1873.  He  was  the  owner  of  other 
property,  luit  in  1881  he  sold  his  store,  although 
he  retained  the  ownership  of  the  block,  and  re- 
turned to  Alton  and  resumed  his  drug  business. 
lie  owns  the  block  there  and  conducts  a  nourish- 
ing drug  business.     The    mother   of   our   subject 


was  named  Ernestine  Bradflsh,  and  was  born  in 
Saxony,  (Germany,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Chris- 
topher Bradflsh,  also  born  in  Saxony,  who  came  to 
America  and  settled  in  Alton  and  weiil  into  the 
shoe  business. 

Our  subject  is  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  seven 
children,  six  of  whom  are  living.  He  was  born  in 
Alton,  111.,  August  27,  1864,  and  was  reared  in 
Alton  until  his  ninth  year,  then  remained  in  this 
city  with  his  parents  until  his  seventeenth  year. 
He  attended  the  public  schools  here,  but  when  his 
father  returned  to  Alton,  he  went  with  him  for 
two  3'ears  and  then  returned  to  St.  Louis.  He  de- 
cided to  become  a  confectioner  and  served  an 
a|iprenticeship  for  about  three  years,  after  which 
in  1886,  he  started  in  the  business  for  himself. 
He  wont  to  AVichita,  Kan.,  and  opened  a  store  for 
sweets,  and  for  three  j-cars  made  a  success  of  it, 
also  dabbling  a  little  in  real-estate.  He  desired 
a  larger  field  and  in  1889  he  sold  his  business 
there  and  came  to  E.ast  St.  Louis,  and  began  what 
has  been  a  very  successful  venture  since.  He  is 
located  on  C'ollinsville  Avenue,  where  he  has  his 
manufactory  which  is  25x50  feet  in  dimensions. 
He  has  every  convenience  for  his  business,  and 
keeps  all  his  supplies  in  the  best  condition.  He 
has  parlors  for  the  accommodation  of  the  public  for 
ice  cream,  and  has  much  patronage  on  account  of 
the  manner  in  which  it  is  made  and  served.  He  is 
very  enterprising,  and  manages  the  business  him- 
self. Mr.  Finke  is  a  Republican  in  his  political 
opinions,  and  is  regarded  as  a  rising  young  man. 


ATIIKR  .lOlIN    II.VHKINS,  A.    IJ.  and  A. 

M.,  pastor  of  St.  Mary's  Church,  at  East 
St.  Louis,  111.,  i»  a  native  of  the  green  isle  of 
Erin,  where  he  first  saw  the  light  of  day  Decem- 
ber 1,  1862.  His  father,  .John  Ilarkins,  was  a  ship 
contractor  in  Ireland,  but  in  1864  came  with  his 
familv  to  America  and  settled  in  Carlinville,  Ma- 
coupin County,  111.,  where  he  engaged  in  general 
contracting,  a  calling  he  followed   until   his  death, 


378 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


which  occurred  in  1887,  at  the  age  of  fortj'-nine 
years.  Mis  wife  was  Elizabeth  Kelley,  a  daughter 
of  Patrick  Kelley,  a  farmer  who  came  to  Carlin- 
ville  and  died  at  that  place  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
three  years.  Mrs.  Harkins  still  resides  in  that 
j)lace;  she  became  the  mother  of  seven  children,  and 
with  the  excei)tion  of  their  father's  death  there 
has  been  no  break  in  the  family  circle. 

Father  Harkins'  first  recollections  are  of  Carliii- 
ville,  and  in  the  parochial  schools  of  the  Catholic 
Church  of  that  place  he  obtained  his  early 
training.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  or  in 
1879,  he  entered  the  University  of  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
which  was  taught  by  Jesuit  Fathers,  where  he  con- 
tinued successfully  pursuing  his  studies  until  1883, 
graduating  in  .lane  of  that  3'ear  from  the  classical 
course  with  the  highest  honors  of  bis  class,  for 
which  he  received  a  handsome  gold  medal.  Three 
years  later,  he  received  the  degree  of  A.  M.  from 
his  alma  mater.  In  the  fall  of  1883,  he  entered  the 
Benedictine  Monastery  of  Spencer  Count}',  Ind., 
where  he  pursued  a  thorough  theological  course, 
completing  his  studies  in  June,  18(i6,  and  being  or- 
dained Priest.  He  celebrated  the  first  mass  in 
Carlinville  on  the  29th  of  June,  and  after  one 
month  spent  there  in  rest  he  was  sent  to  Mound 
City,  Pulaski  Countj',  to  take  charge  of  St.  Mary's 
Church,  which  remained  under  his  care  for  three 
years.  He  also  had  charge  of  missions  at  Burnside, 
Johnson  Count_y;  Stone  Fort,  Saline  County:  and 
Metropolis,  Massac  County. 

September  13,  1889,  he  was  aiipointed  to  St. 
Mary's  Church,  East  St.  Louis,  which  congrega- 
tion he  organized  on  the  13th  of  October,  1889, 
the  first  services  being  held  in  the  old  Franklin 
Building  at  the  corner  of  Fourth  and  Converse 
Streets,  with  about  one  hundred  families.  Im- 
mediately after  taking  charge,  he  began  tiie  erec- 
tion of  St.  INIary's  Cliurcii,  the  corner  stone  being 
laid  July  1,  1890,  by  Right  Rev.  J.  Janssen,  Bishop 
of  Belleville.  It  is  a  handsome  brick  edifice,  and 
the  first  services  were  held  in  it  in  .hmuary,  l.S',»2. 
It  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $35,000,  and  is  a  monu- 
ment to  the  religious  zeal  of  the  members  of  that 
church,  as  well  as  to  the  enterprise  and  earnestness 
of  leather  Ilaikins.  It  now  has  an  attendance  of 
two    hundred    and    twenty-live    families,    and  St. 


Mary's  parochial  school,  which  is  under  the  man- 
agement of  four  competent  instructors,  has  an 
average  attendance  of  about  two  hundred  and 
twenty. 

Father  Harkins  belongs  to  the  Catholic  Knights 
of  Illinois,  as  well  as  to  several  other  worthy  organ- 
izations, and,  not  being  at  all  old-fashioned  or  be- 
hind the  times  in  his  views,  he  believes  in  voting 
and  is  himself  a  Democrat.  He  is  very  agreeable 
ill  manners,  and  by  all  who  have  had  the  pleasure 
of  liearing  him  preach  he  is  considered  an  eloquent 
and  interesting  speaker. 


•^^• 


«^*= 


|I/_^  EK:\IAN  VOLKENING.  This  gentleman 
rpjj'  is  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  Lenz- 
Jt)^  burg,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the  drugbusi- 
(1^)  ness,  carrying  a  full  line  of  pure  medi- 
cines, together  with  a  varietj'  of  fine  toilet  articles. 
He  has  done  much  toward  advancing  the  prosper- 
ity of  the  village  by  embarking  in  this  enterprise, 
and  b}'  his  unceasing  application  to  business  has 
secured  a  competency,  and  his  unwavering  hon- 
est}-  and  true  nobility  of  character  have  won  him 
the  high  regard  of  his  fellow-men. 

Like  many  of  the  best  citizens  of  St.  Clair  Count}-, 
our  subject  was  born  across  the  waters  in  Prussia, 
the  year  of  his  birth  being  1829.  He  is  a  son  of  Lud- 
wig  and  Louisa  (Tieman)  Yolkening,  also  natives 
of  the  Fatherland,  where  the  former  was  engaged 
in  the  hotel  business  and  also  served  as  a  soldier. 
Our  subject  was  the  third  in  order  of  birth  in  the 
parental  family  of  five  children,  ;iud  received  an 
excellent  education  in  his  native  land,  completing 
his  studies  in  one  of  the  best  colleges  in  Prussia. 

At  the  early  age  of  fourteen  years,  young  Vol- 
kening  began  to  learn  the  drug  business  in  Ger- 
many, and  in  1854,  thinking  to  better  his  condi- 
tion in  tin'  I'liited  States,  emigrated  hither  and 
estalilished  in  the  grocery  brtsiness  in  the  city  of 
New  York,  lie  was  there  successfully  engaged  for 
a  period  of  thirteen  years,  and  at  the  expiration 
of  that  time  came  to  Lenzburgand  engaged  in  the 
genei-al  mercantile  business  in  this  village  before  it 


PORTRAIT  AXD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


379 


was  platted.  T^atei-  in  life,  he  turned  his  .ittcntion 
to  the  drug  business,  which  he  has  since  continued 
to  foUow  with  marked  success. 

Mr.  Volkening  finds  time  in  the  midst  of  iiis 
personal  interest  to  bear  an  active  part  in  tiie  po- 
litical affairs  of  liis  neighl)orliood.  and  during  elec- 
tions votes  a  straight  Democratic  ticket.  He  is 
also  interested  in  educational  matters  and  in  all 
movements  whicii  tend  to  the  general  welfare  of 
the  village.  Me  is  strictly  honorable  in  his  deal- 
ings and  is  therefore  kindly  regarded  by  all  with 
whom  he  has  to  d*>. 

While  residing  in  New  York  City,  he  of  whom 
we  write  was  married  to  Miss  Helena  L.  Volken- 
ing.  the  date  thereof  being  1855.  The  lady  was  a 
distant  relative  of  our  subject,  and  a  daughter  of 
Charles  and  Augusta  Volkening,  natives  of  Prus- 
sia. Their  family  comprised  the  following-named 
four  children:  .lolianna.    F'ritz,  Helena  and  Henry. 


^p^EKIlARl)  KNKWITZ.  Aiiiung  the  early 
|[  f—,  settlers  of  Dutch  Hill  Prairie,  St.  Clair 
^^^  County,  111.,  no  family  has  made  for  itself 
a  better  record,  and  one  upon  which  their  descen- 
dants may  justly  look  with  pride,  than  the  Knewitz 
family.  Thej-  have  always  been  looked  upon  in 
this  community  as  people  of  correct  habits  and 
sound  principles  and  as  progressive  in  their  ideas. 

Fifty-five  years  ago,  (TCrhard  Knewitz,  then  twen- 
ty-seven years  old,  left  his  native  land,  (iermany, 
to  seek  that  better  fortune  whicli  he  felt  assured 
awaited  him  in  the  New  World.  He  had  received 
a  good  education  in  the  Fatherland,  and  his  robust 
constitution  and  line  physic.il  endowments  had 
cost  him  SIX  years'  service  as  a  private  in  the  Ger- 
man army,  which  duty  be  filled  with  honor  to 
himself  and  bis  country,  being  honorably  exempted 
after  his  apprenticeship  until  his  country's  needs 
demanded  her  well-trained  soldiers  {•>  light  eai-iiest 
battles. 

Coming  to  America  in  18.'5M,  (ierliard  Knewitz. 
.Sr.,  owned  as  his  worldly  po.-sessions  twent3--five 
cents  in  money  and  a  sonicwli.U  scanty  suppl\-  of 


clothes.  This  limited  possession  of  earthly  effects 
compelled  him  to  begin  working  by  the  day  or 
month.  The  true  German  thrift,  economy,  patience 
and  perseverance  are  well  illustrated  in  his  charac- 
ter, for  in  almost  an  incredibly  short  time  we  find 
that  by  his  own  industry  he  had  .accumulated 
enough  to  purchase  forty  acres  of  Government 
land  at  *1. 25  per  acre.  To  say  that  this  honest 
Gerro.an  pioneer  made  a  success  of  life  would  be 
but  faint  praise  for  so  sterling  a  character,  whose 
ambition  was  to  achieve  success,  and  whose  pros- 
pects at  the  beginning  of  his  career  in  a  strange 
country  seemed  so  limited. 

Soon  after  the  acquisition  of  the  land  referred  to. 
Mr.  Knewitz,  Sr.,  married,  and  .as  the  result  of  his 
union  five  children  were  born  to  him.  Two  of  his 
children  died3X)ungin  life;  the  others  were  Henry; 
Gerhard,  .Jr.,  of  this  sketch;  and  Barbara,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  .Toseijb  Ebner.  We  find  the  same 
habit  of  accumulating  practiced  all  along  the  years, 
and  the  fortj'  acres  of  land  first  purchased  by  Mr. 
Knewitz,  Sr.,  have  been  added  to  by  four  hundred 
acres,  until  at  the  time  of  his  death  be  was  recog- 
nized as  the  owner  of  one  of  the  finest  farms  in 
his  township,  as  well  as  the  maker  of  a  pleasant 
home  for"  himself  and  family.  He  and  his  wife 
will  always  be  remembered  .as  honored  and  re- 
spected members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  In  the 
year  1855,  Mi-s.  Knewitz  passed  away,  leaving  a 
void  in  the  happj-  household,  and  twentj'-two 
years  after,  in  the  year  1877,  her  husband  sought 
the  rest  of  the  faithful  in  the  realms  of  the  eternal. 
Gerhard  Knewitz,  of  this  .sketch,  w.as  born  in 
1843  on  Dutch  Hill  Prairie,  St.  Clair  County.  His 
mother  dying  when  he  was  twelve  yeai-s  old,  and 
he  being  the  .second  youngest  of  the  family,  it 
would  not  have  been  strange  had  the  boyish  ten- 
dency to  elude  study  proliil)ited  him  from  .acquir- 
ing the  knowledge  and  education  which  are  ever 
the  foundation  of  success  in  life.  .\n  excellent  stu- 
dent, however,  we  find  him  qualifying  himself  for 
broader  fields  b^-  a  tlioroiigb  course  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  township.  After  leaving  school,  he 
followed  the  life  of  a  fanner  and  remained  with 
his  father  on  the  old  homestead.  In  18(J(),  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Caroline  Hager,  a  daughter  of  Peter 
and   Louisa    Hager,  and   to  them  were  born    five 


380 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


children,  namely:  Frederick,  Peter,  Rosa,  Barbara, 
and  Etta,  deceased. 

After  the  deatli  of  our  subject's  lirst  wife,  lie 
again  married,  his  second  wife  being  Miss  Eizabeth, 
daugliter  of  Michel  and  Elizabeth  (Oclshich)  Xold. 
This  second  union  was  blessed  by  four  children, 
three  of  whom  are  living:  Otto,  Gerhard,  Jr., 
and  Louis.  Mr.  Knewitz  and  wife  are  working 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  noted  for  their 
charity  and  kind  and  unostentatious  manner  of 
performing  Christian  and  neighborly  deeds.  Mr. 
Ivnewitz  votes  the  straight  Republican  ticket, 
and  has  officially  represented  his  Township,  as 
well  as  filling  the  office  of  Trustee  for  two  years. 
He  now  owns  five  hundred  and  fift\'  acres  of  as 
fine  land  as  can  be  seen  in  tliis  part  of   the  State. 


ff7  EMUELTODD.  The  gentleman  witli  whose 
I  (^  name  we  introduce  this  sketcii  has  wit- 
•IL^S^  nessed  and  materially  assisted  in  the  growth 
and  development  of  St.  Clair  Count\',  and  more 
especially  Prairie  du  Long  Township.  He  belongs 
to  that  class  of  pioneer  residents  to  whom  so  large 
a  debt  of  gratitude  is  due  from  the  present  genera- 
tion, owing,  as  it  does,  all  its  advantages  for  a 
more  easy  life  and  a  higher  degree  of  culture  to 
the  noble  hearts  who  endured  privatif)n  and  hard- 
ship, and  opened  the  way  for  civilization  through 
the  trackless  praiiie. 

The  father  of  Lemuel  Todd  was  Mr.  .TohnTodd, 
a  native  of  Virginia,  in  which  State  he  spent  many 
of  Ills  boyhood  days.  When  quite  a  j'oung  boy 
he  moved  to  North  Carolina,  and  from  there  to 
Tennessee.  He  was  first  married  to  Miss  Allen, 
of  Tennessee,  who  bore  him  fourteen  children, 
the  subject  of  our  sketch  being  the  thirteenth 
child  in  the  family  group.  A  short  time  after 
the  birth  of  her  fourteenth  child,  Mrs.  Todd 
died,  leaving  a  mournful  houseful  of  bereaved 
little  ones.  Dr.  Todd's  second  wife  was  a  ISIiss 
Aurringtou,  who  died  after  giving  birlli  lo  one 
child.     After    residing  in   Tennessee  for   a   num- 


ber of  years,  Mr.  Todd,  Sr.,  removed  to  Johnson 
County,  111.,  where  he  remained  for  eleven  years, 
leaving  that  location  for  Washington  County,  and 
removing  thence  to  St.  Clair  County,  111.  Abt)Ut 
the  year  1836,  he  located  at  New  Athens,  in  which 
village  his  sons  rented  and  cultivated  a  farm,  while 
their  father  worked  as  a  carpenter.  During  this 
period  of  his  career  he  married  Mrs.  Sarah  Otter, 
of  lielleville,  from  whom  he  obtained  a  divorce, 
and  then  married  Miss  Nixon.  In  company  with 
his  last-mentioned  wife  he  removed  to  AVaterloo, 
Monroe  County,  111.,  where  he  lived  until  her 
death,  after  which  event  he  married  Mrs.  Hill. 
From  Waterloo  he  removed  to  a  farm  in  New 
Athens  Township,  wliere  he  remained  until  the 
time  of  his  death. 

Mr.  Lemuel  Todd,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  January  3,  1826,  in  North  Carolina.  He  came 
with  his  father  to  St.  Clair  County,  when  very 
young.  At  the  age  of  nine  years  he  was  bound 
out  1)3-  his  father  to  Archibald  Hood,  with  whom 
he  remained  for  four  3'ears.  The  life  of  a  bound 
boy  has  man^'  sad  reminisciences  for  him,  as  the 
treatment  received  from  his  employer  necessitated 
his  father  cancelling  the  contract  and  taking  the 
boy  home,  where  he  remained  until  he  was  seven- 
teen years  old.  Iielping  his  father  on  the  farm. 
His  next  work  was  that  of  a  farm  hand  working  by 
the  month,  after  which  he  went  to  herding  cattle. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-two,  Lemuel  Todd  married 
Miss  Plia^be  Hill,  who  lived  but  a  short  time  after 
their  union.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Jonathan 
Hill,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  county.  Af- 
ter his  marriage,  Mr.  Todd  located  on  the  farm 
where  he  now  lives.  The  issue  of  his  first  wife 
was  one  child.  Nancy  Jane,  who  died  at  the  .age  of 
fourteen  years.  In  1883,  he  married  his  second 
wife,  who  was  Mrs.  Mary  Rittenhouse,  a  daughter 
of  ^lichael  Noldd.  She  was  liorn  in  German}', 
and  came  to  this  country  when  she  was  twelve 
years  old,  locating  with  her  parents  at  Freeling, 
where  she  remained  until  her  marriage  with  Will- 
iam T.  Rittenhouse.  She  was  the  mother  of  two  chil- 
dren, one  of  whom  died  when  ten  months  old. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  now  lives  on  a  farm 
(if  one  huiidrcil  and  t  wenty-tlireo  acres,  all  of  which 
is  under  lirsl-class   culli\ation,  and  which  he  still 


Jh-Uvotii^    wfU^-^-^f^f— 


PORTRAIT  AND  lilOGKArHICAL  RECORD. 


383 


iiianage.s  and  gives  bis  personal  supervision.  lie 
is  an  authority  on  all  matters  pertaining  to  local 
history,  having  watched  the  growth  of  this  coni- 
nuinity  since  1837.  lie  often  entertains  his  friends 
with  reminiscences  of  the  time  when  he  worked 
near  the  >ite  of  iii>  present  home  for  the  munifi- 
cent sum  of  fS  per  month,  and  is  amused  at  the 
expressions  of  wonder  that  Hit  over  the  faces  of 
Miiuc  (if  hi>  vuvuig  audiences,  wlio  breathlessly  in- 
(luire  Ihiw  he  lived  on  it.  Few  men  have  the 
al)ility  to  recount  tlie  leading  incidents  of  their 
life's  history  with  the  truth  of  detail  which  Mr. 
Todd's  bearers  are  ever  alile  U>  discern  in  his 
stories  of  the  long  ago.  He  is  recognized  as  a 
stanch  adherent  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  is  ever 
ready  to  place  himself  at  the  service  of  the  good 
cause.  He  has  filled  the  office  of  Town  Supervisor 
for  six  years,  and  was  afterward  elected  to  the 
office  of  School  Director,  in  which  cap.ncity  he 
served  for  a  term  of  three  years.  Few  men  in 
their  declining  years  can  look  back  over  the  vista 
of  rears  and  view  a  better  record  than  the  one  en- 
joNcd  liy  <iur  ^ul)iect,  who  now,  in  the  autumn  of 
his  life,  is  calmly  enjoying  the  fiuits  of  his  arduous 
labors,  surrounded  by  the  esteem  of  his  fellow- 
men  and  the  sincere  affection  of  those  wiio  express 
their  gratituile  to  him  as  a  friend  and  counhclnr. 


^^HJH^P= 


lUU'srrs  ClIFXOT.  The  pmiiricty  of 
lire  insurance  is  recognized  liyail  prudent 
men,  but  the  greatest  olijcetion  that  is 
generally  made  to  old-lin«  companies  of 
recognized  solidity  is  that  the  insurance  as  fur- 
nished by  them  is  a  dear  investment,  tlie  premium 
charges  Iteing  out  of  all  ju>t  proportion  to  the 
amount  necessary  to  ]).ay  losses  and  expenses;  and 
an  insurance  contract  combining  safety  with  econ- 
omy is  something  that  has  been  much  desired  Ky 
the  iiiajorit}-  of  the  insuring  pulilic.  'I'o  till  thi,- 
waiit  the  Uclleville  St.  Clair  County  I'arnicrs' M  u- 
tual  Fire  Insuijince  Company  was  incorporate<l  in 
1S!S3  and  lias  since  enjoyed  a  steady  increase  in 
l)usiness.     The  company  has  earned   tiie  l'a\or  of 

18 


the  business  community  and  the  confidence  of  the 
public  at  large  by  uniform  fidelity  in  the  execu- 
tion of  all  its  contracts,  and  is  now  an  active  factor 
in  the  insurance  business  of  the  county.  The 
affairs  of  the  company  are  in  the  hands  of  gentle- 
men of  prominent  and  substantial  business  stand- 
ing, Augustus  C'henot,  the  President,  being  a  gentle- 
man of  superior  executive  ability  and  a  popular 
and  progressive  citizen.  The  company  is  noted 
for  the  promptness  and  fairness  with  which  ilad- 
justs  and  pays  losses,  and  is  an  excellent  medium 
for  the  procuring  of  safe  and  reliable  insurance. 
The   main   office  is  at  IJelleville. 

Augustus  C'henot  is  a  native  of  France,  born  in 
Lorraine  October  1,  1 828,  and  is  a  son  of  John  ,1. 
and  Bar))ara  (Fistuer)  Chenot,  both  natives  of  that 
country.  John  J.  Chenot  was  an  old  soldier  and 
held  the  rank  of  Captain  under  Napoleon,  lie 
brought  his  family  to  the  United  States  in  1830, 
landing  in  New  York,  and  after  residing  in  differ- 
ent States  until  18 12,  made  a  permanent  settlement 
in  St.  Clair  County,  111.,  six  miles  north  of  Belle- 
ville, where  he  was  engaged  in  keeping  a  country 
store,  lie  was  always  honorable  and  upright  in 
his  dealings,  was  highly  esteemed  in  the  commu- 
nity-, and  was  a  man  of  true  worth.  Ills  death  oc- 
curred in  1863.  The  mother  had  i)assed  away  in 
1849.  Their  children,  seven  in  number  beside  our 
subject,  are  as  follows:  our  subject;  Charles,  of  St. 
Louis;  Francis,  also  of  St.  Louis;  Elizabeth  (de- 
ceased); Henry;  Joseph,  in  Texas;  Mrs.  John  De 
Veaux;  and  Mrs.  Hisho]),  of  Collinsville,  111. 

The  original  of  this  notice  received  a  college  cd-  " 
\icatioii  in  St.  Louis  and  was  afterward  busily  en- 
o:ii;ed  in  tlic  store  with  Ilis  father  until  his  marriage 
,\piil  1  1.  1!S.")7.  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Boul,  a  sister  of 
lion.  Niclnilns  lioul,  present  Representative  in  the 
Legislatinc.  The  roiiowing  children  were  born 
to  them:  Augii.-I;i.  wife  of  .hilin  Rink,  of  Belleville: 
Alliert,  \ViHi:nii.  .lohii,  ICdward,  Benjamin,  .'ind 
F,i]ini;i.  Mrs.  Clunot  died  on  the  3()th  of  August, 
IssCi.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Chenot  decided 
that  farming  was  the  occupation  to  which  he  wished 
lo  devote  his  time  and  attention,  and  he  has  fol- 
lowed that  evi-r  since,  luit  in  connection  therewith 
has  engaged  in  other  <'ntcrprises.  He  is  one  of  the 
most   substantial  .•ind   jironiiiicnl    farmers    of    this 


384 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


country,  owning  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  in 
the  home  place,  one  liundred  and  ninety'  in  another 
part  of  the  county,  a  good  farm  in  Madison  Country, 
and  considerable  city  property.  In  superintending 
his  farm  and  in  attending  to  the  insurance  busi- 
ness our  subject  has  his  time  fully  occupied,  but 
he  finds  time  to  discharge  his  duties  as  a  citizen 
and  public-spirited  man.  He  has  been  School  Di- 
rector for  twenty-four  j'ears  and  was  County  Com- 
missioner for  two  years,  in  1874  and  1875.  He  be- 
came a  member  of  the  insurance  company  in  1876 
and  has  been  a  Director  and  officer  since.  He  has 
a  residence  two  miles  east  of  Belleville  and  is  one 
of  the  representative  men  of  the  county.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  St.  Peter's  Catholic  Cathedral,  in 
which  he  has  served  as  Trustee  and  has  been  Trea- 
surer for  seven  years.  He  has  been  connected 
■with  the  St.  Clair  County  Fair  Association  for  the 
past  twenty  years  and  is  now  its  Vice-president. 


early  education  in  the  district  schools,  completing 
a  course  at  the  Central  AVesleyan  College,  at  War- 
rington, Mo.  He  was  married  in  1887,  to  Miss 
Julia  Stapf,  by  whom  he  has  two  children:  Emmett 
Robert,  aged  four  years;  and  Alice,  aged  one  year. 
Mr.  Funk  is  operating  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty-five  acres  of  land,  owned  by  his  mother, 
on  which  he  grows  grain,  chiefly  depending  upon 
wheat  for  his  crop.  He  is  an  enterprising  young 
farmer,  and  understands  the  work  in  wliich  he  has 
been  engaged  all  his  life.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Mascoutah  Witchland  Society.  Politically,  he  is  a 
Democrat,  and  upholds  the  principles. of  that  party 
on  every  occasion. 


^I[ ^  ENRY  C.  FUNK.     Among  the  enterprising 

\ljil  young  farmers  of  Freeburg  Township,  St. 
/IV^'^   Clair  County,  is  the  one   who   resides  on 
[^^     section  11,  and  it  is  to  his  history  tiiat  the 
attentipn  of  the  reader  is  called. 

Mr.  Funk  is  the  son  of  Henry  Funk,  who  was 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  very  beautiful 
county.  A  traveler  through  this  section  of  coun- 
try, as  his  eyes  rest  upon  the  fields  of  waving 
grain  and  nodding  corn,  does  not  realize  the 
years  of  patient  effort  that  were  necessary  to 
bring  these  same  fields  to  their  present  state  of 
perfection,  nor  does  one  to  whom  farming  is  a 
mystery  begin  to  realize  the  hard  labor  required 
to  keep  this  degree  of  cultivation  u]).  Truly,  in 
this  world,  "  there  are  no  gains  without  pains." 
Through  all  of  the  hard  work  attendant  upon 
the  breaking  of  a  new  country,  went  the  father  of 
our  subject,  and  his  son  endeavors  to  maintain 
the  same  state  of  excellence  on  the  f.Trin  which  he 
is  operating  for  his  widowed  mother. 

Our  subject  was  born  on  tlic  place  where  he 
iKiw    resides,  Decembei'   fi,   1850.     He  received  his 


\T]  AMES  A.  AVYLIE.  An  honorable  position 
among  the  agriculturists  of  Marissa  Town- 
^-^  I  ship  is  held  by  the  gentleman  above  named, 
^f^f)  who  is  the  fortunate  possessor  of  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  of  fine  land  on  section  33. 
The  well-tilled  farm  is  devoted  to  raising  mixed 
crops  and  the  ordinary  amount  of  stock,  both  grain 
and  animals  being  of  good  quality.  A  homelike 
dwelling  and  various  outbuildings  indicate  to  the 
passer-by  that  the  land  is  occupied  liy  a  family  of 
enterprise  and  good  judgment. 

Our  subject  is  the  son  of  Alexander  and  Nancy 
(Wilson)  Wylie  and  was  born  in  Kandoljih 
County,  this  State,  in  1854,  within  a  few  miles  of 
his  present  home.  His  father,  who  was  born  m 
Scotland,  came  to  the  Ignited  States  with  his  parents 
when  quite  young,  and  spent  the  greater  part  of 
his  life  in  Randolph  County.  James  of  this  sketch 
was  reared  on  the  home  farm  and  received  such  an 
education  as  the  common  schools  of  his  day  af- 
forded. To  that  foundation  he  has  added  by  read- 
iiigand  observation,  his  effort  being  to  keep  himself 
well  informed  regarding  current  events  and  the 
topics  of  general  interest.  When  starting  out  for 
himself,  he  rented  land  and  began  tilling  the  soil, 
gradually  accumulating  the  means  with  which  to 
purchase  his  present  fine  estate. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


385 


Whj'ii  reaching  his  majority.  .Tame?  Wylie  and 
^lis^  Sarah  ('..  daughter  of  .Tohn  K.  and  Margaret 
White,  of  this  county,  were  united  in  niairiage.  A 
sketch  of  Mrs.  Wylie "s  parent*,  wlio  are  prominent 
residents  of  Marissa  Townsliip.  will   be    found  on 
another  page  in  this  volume.     To  our  subject  and 
his  wife  were  born  a  family  of  five  children,  two    : 
of  whom  died  in  infancy.     Those  living  are  .John    | 
AV..  Naucy  A.  and  .Tames  V.     The  wife  and  mother   | 
departed  this  life   March  7,  1.H87.  and  her  remains   j 
were  followed  to  their  last  resting-place  liy   many 
relatives  and  warm  friends. 

Mr.  Wylie  is  an  ardent  Prohibitionist  in  his 
political  views  and  uses  his  influence  in  every  pos- 
sible way  to  advance  party  interests. 


I^R.  AI-PHONSO  XAVIEK  II.LINSKI. 
]j]  This  pioneer  physician  of  the  Mississippi 
Bottom  was  born  in  the  jjrovince  of  Ya]- 
hejinia,  Poland,  in  ls;i7.  where  his  father, 
Alexander  Illinski,  also  a  native  of  Poland,  was  a 
land-owner  and  planter.  He  was  a  very  promi- 
nent man  and  passed  his  entire  life  in  his  native 
country.  His  wife,  .\nna,  w.as  also  a  native  of 
Poland.  They  were  the  parents  of  twelve  chil- 
dren, our  subject  being  second  in"  order  of  birth. 
Two  of  our  subject's  brothers  were  exiled  to  Si- 
lieria  and  served  their  time  in  the  mines.  One  is 
thereat  the  pi-esent  time,  as  is  also  one  nephew. 

The  original  of  this  notice  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated iu  the  (iyninasiuni  of  Kremnitz,  and  pos- 
sesses a  strong  constitution,  great  will  power  and 
remarkalile  endurance,  or  he  could  never  have 
stood  the  life  he  has  le.ad  as  a  physician,  lie  re- 
mained in  the  (iymnasium  for  five  years  and  re- 
ceived a  classical  education.  At  this  institution 
the  study  nf  the  Latin,  Greek,  French.  Hussian. 
(lernian  and  INilisli  languages,  matliemalics  and 
the  natural  sciences  w.as  obligatory.  Then  sclioul 
was  maintained  on  the  high-i)ressiire  principle. 
studies  were  crowded  too  rapidly  one  after  another, 
and  youths  were  exijcctod  to  accomplish  the  work 
of  adnlt-s.     Tlinse   who  possessed  strong  ciinstitu- 


tions  stood  the  ordeal,  while  others  failed.  Our 
subject  stood  well  in  his  cKasses.  Prompted  by 
l)atriolism,  at  the  !vge  of  fourteen  years  he 
joined  the  insurgents'  army  .is  a  lancer,  but  was 
pinmoted  to  be  First  Lieutenant  before  the  close  of 
the  Revolution.  After  the  capture  of  Warsaw,  the 
command  to  which  he  was  attached  retreated  to 
Galicia,  a  part  of  Austria,  for  refuge,  and  he  re- 
mjiined  there  about  a  j-ear.  In  1831,  a  peremp- 
tory order  was  issued  exiling  all  insurgents  either 
to  Russia  or  France.  Our  subject  naturally  chose 
the  latter,  but  the  order  w.as  in  the  meantime, 
changed  to  America  in  place  of  France. 

At  the  time  of  the  issuance  of  this  order,  our 
subject  was  confined  in  a  prison  at  Olmutz,  with- 
out knowing  the  reason,  and  there  he  lay  for  six 
weeks.  He  believed  that  a  mistake  had  been  made, 
the  authorities  intending  the  incarceration  of  an 
older  brother,  Anthony  Illinski,  who  was  a  leader 
among  the  insurgent  soldiers,  and  as  such  was 
thought  to  merit  greater  punishment  than  simply 
to  lie  exiled.  This  brother  made  good  his  escape, 
and,  true  to  his  military  instincts,  joined  the  French 
in  the  Algerian  War.  He  then  served  as  a  Turk 
and  joined  the  regular  army  of  that  peoi)le.  The 
love  of  Poland  as  a  dear  dream  yet  lingered  with 
him,  so  he  obtained  leave  of  absence  from  his  com- 
mand and  joined  Kossuth  in  his  vain  endeavor  to 
redeem  his  fair  land.  He  was  every  inch  a  soldier, 
and  life  presented  no  charm  for  him,  so  that  no 
sooner  were  Kossuth's  hopes  crushed  and  his  armies 
disl)anded,  than  he  joined  the  Turks  again,  be- 
coming a  (reneral  in  their  arnu'.  In  the  memor- 
able charge  of  Balaklava,  he.  received  a  wound 
from  which  he  soon  after  died,  in  IbaC. 

Dr.  Alphonso  X.  Illinski  came  to  America  from 
(ialicia.  and  landed  ill  the  city  of  New  York  on 
the  2«th  of  March,  1834.  After  traveling  for  a 
year,  he  landed  at  Havana,  the  Queen  City  of  the 
Antilles,  and  there  obtained  employment  in  an 
hnspital  because  he  could  speak  so  many  different 
lanauages.  He  there  developed  a  taste  for  the 
study  of  medicine  and  the  practice  of  surgery. 
Later  he  graduated  In  medicine,  and  in  1837  came 
to  Louisiana,  where  he  remained  until  one  year 
later,  when  became  to  .St.  Louis,  Mo.  He  entered 
Mel).. well's  Medical  College   in    1840.  and  gradu- 


386 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ated  from  tliat  institution  two  years  later  witii  tlie  ' 
degree  M.  I).  He  then  came  immediately  to  St. 
Clair  Comity,  111.,  and  has  been  in  the  active  prac-  j 
tice  of  his  profession  here  for  fifty  years,  or  since 
1842.  He  first  located  in  the  village  of  Cahokia, 
and  as  there  was  not  a  buggy  in  the  county  at 
that  time,  lie  made  his  professional  rounds  on 
horseback  with  saddle-bags.  He  was  obliged  to 
swim  streams  during  tiie  high  watersof  1844, 18.58, 
1883  and  1892.  He  practiced  all  over  the  Missis- 
sippi Bottom  and  never  knew  what  it  was  to  feel 
fatigue  until  after  the  age  of  sixty-five. 

In  1887,  after  the  death  of  his  son-in-law.  Dr. 
.lenniugs,  to  whom  lie  had  given  his  practice,  he 
located  in  East  St.  Louis  to  assist  his  daughter  and 
keep  her  company.  He  has  practiced  since  then 
and  is  the  oldest  i)h3'sician  in  St.  Louis.  He  had 
the  largest  practice  of  any  physician  in  the  county 
and  often  had  to  visit  as  many  as  sixty  patients 
in  a  day.  He  at  one  time  owned  farms  in  this 
county,  but  he  has  sold  them.  He  was  deeply  in- 
terested in  bee  culture  for  some  time  and  had  as 
many  as  seventeen  hundred  hives  while  at  Cahokia. 
The  Doctor  was  married  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  in  1843, 
to  Mrs.  Jane  (Butler)  St.  John,  a  native  of  St.  Clair 
County,  and  two  children  were  the  fruits  of  this 
union:  Cora,  Mrs.  Droit,  who  resides  in  Cahokia; 
and  Clementine,  widow  of  Dr.  Jennings,  who  resides 
in  East  St.  Louis.  The  Doctor's  second  marriage  was 
to  Miss  Virginia  Black,  a  native  of  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
and  three  children  were  born  to  them,  viz.: 
Anielka,Sealiand  Alexus.  The  Doctor  is  a  member 
of  the  St.  Clair  Medical  Society,  and  in  politics,  is 
a  stanch  supporter  of  Democratic  principles,  having 
lieen  a  delegate  to  county  and  State  conventions. 


i>-^^<m 


-J— 


'\l'OHN    PHILIP    FUESSEK    is    one    of    the 
wealthiest  and  most  prominent  of  the  farni- 
,  ers  of  til  is  township.     He  is  the  owner  of 

■^^  several  fine  farms  and  raises  great  crops  of 
the  cereals,  principally'  wheat  and  corn,  his  resi- 
dence being  situated  on  section  28,  Mascoutah 
'J'dwnship,  St.  Clair  County. 


The  father  of  our  subject  was  George  C.  Fuesser, 
who  was  a  native  of  Byne  in  Haslach,  Germany, 
and  was  born  February  2,  1825.  He  was  reared  and 
received  his  education  in  his  native  place  entirely, 
and  in  1842  he  came  to  this  country.  When  he 
first  came  to  the  United  States,  he  engaged  in  the 
trade  of  wagon-making  and  he  followed  this  for 
some  time,  but  later  went  upon  a  farm,  where 
he  remained  for  two  years.  His  employer  was  a 
Mr.  Leitrocli,  and  our  subject  gave  good  satisfac- 
tion in  his  work.  In  1846,  Mr.  Fuesser  married 
Miss  Mary  Duiidor,  the  daughter  of  Andrew 
Dundor,  and  our  subject  at  this  time  bought  a 
farm  in  this  township,  where  he  remained  about  five 
years.  He  tlien  moved  to  Mascoutah,  but  did  not 
live  there  long,  and  returned  to  the  farm,  where 
lie  continued  until  1860,  when  he  moved  back  into 
tiie  town.  Here  he  continued  for  a  space  of  six 
years  wlien  he  again  went  back  to  the  farm,  and 
remained  there  until  1873.  At  this  date  he  made 
his  final  removal,  coming  to  this  place  and  here 
living  until  his  death,  March  8,  1880.  His  wife 
still  survives  and  finds  a  pleasant  home  in  Mas- 
coutah. There  were  four  children  of  this  marriage: 
Georo-e  Adam,  who  resides  upon  the  home  place; 
John  Philip,  who  is  our  subject;  Anna,  who  lives 
in  Mascoutah;  and  Carl  Adolph.  who  also  lives  at 
the  old  home. 

Our  subject  was  born  February  6,  18.53,  in  this 
township,  and  here  was  reared  and  went  to  school. 
He  has  grown  up  to  be  a  practical  farmer,  one 
who  understands  the  business  and  knows  how  to 
make  it  a  paying  one.  He  owns  quite  a  deal  of 
land,  having  one  hundred  acres  here  in  Mascoutah 
Township,  and  also  one  hundred  and  fifty-three 
acres  in  Engelman  Township,  making  in  all  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty-three  acres.  Carl  Adolph,  his  brother, 
owns  one  hundred  and  five  acres  of  fiiie  land  in 
this  township,  and  the  farms  of  both  brothers  have 
been  carefully  cultivated,  and  show  care  and  proper 
tillage.  Looking  at  the  fields  of  waving  grain  of 
which  these  young  men  are  the  owners,  one  can 
not  think  that  Dakota  holds  the  best  wheat  farms 
in  the  West.  The  daughter,  Annie,  owns  fifty-three 
acres  of  land,  and  a  fine  residence  in  Mascoutah. 
She  is  :i  popular  stenoyraplier.  the  only  one  in  Mas- 
coutah, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


387 


Folitifally.  Mr.  Fuesser  is  a  Republican,  and  takes 
quite  an  interest  in  all  that  interests  his  chosen 
partj-.  He  is  well  known  tliroughout  the 
county  and  possesses  the  respect  of  all.  He  is 
not  one  of  the  oldest  settlers,  but  his  father  was, 
and  in  this  way  his  name  is  well  known  to  all. 
The  old  settlers  arc  fast  leaving  only  a  name  be- 
hind them,  and  this  Rkioud  desires  to  so  preserve 
their  names  and  sketches  of  their  lives,  that  future 
generations  may  see  who  and  what  manner  of  men 
were  those  who  lirst  conquered  the  wilderness,  and 
made  the  land  the  pleasant  pl.ace  it  now  is  for  their 
descendants. 


\f^EV.  HENRY  JOHN  HAGt;N.  In  the  life 
IjW^  of  the  Chancellor  of  the  Belleville  IJiocese, 
^\  there  is  much  for  the  reader  to  admire  and 
emulate,  and  it  affords  us  pleasure  to  incor- 
porate in  this  volume  the  main  events  of  his  use- 
ful and  honorable  career.  A  man  of  brilliant  at- 
tainments, whose  splendid  education  has  been  of 
great  value  to  him;  with  genial  manners,  gentle- 
manly bearingand  fine  physique,  tall  and  diguifit'd, 
it  is  not  strange  that  he  occupies  a  place  so  promi- 
nent in  the  esteem  of  his  fellow-men.  He  possesses 
conversational  abilities  of  a  high  order  and  the 
executive  attainments  which  admirabl3'  qualify 
him  for  the  responsible  position  of  Chancellor. 

Father  Hagen  is  still  a  young  man,  and  this  fact, 
together  with  his  unusual  talents  and  the  success 
already  achieved,  gives  his  friends  reason  to  hope 
for  a  career  of  honor  in  future 3ears.  He  was  born 
in  Germantown,  Clinton  County,  111.,  M.ay  21, 
1861,  and  has  always  been  a  resident  of  this  .State. 
His  parentage  is  German,  his  father,  Theodore  H. 
and  his  mother,  Margaret  (Kreke)  Hagen,  having 
been  born  in  Oldenburg  and  Hanover,  Germanj-, 
respectively,  whence  they  came  to  .\merica  as  chil- 
dren with  their  respective  families  and  were  mar- 
ried in  (iermantown,  Clinton  County,  III.  The 
father,  who  was  a  wagon-maker  by  trade,  followed 
that  occu])ation  in  his  native  land,  whence  he  emi- 
grated to  .America  in  his  \()nnii  nianlioiid. 


In  the  village  of  Germantown,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  received  the  rudiments  of  his  education 
in  the  par()chial  schools,  and  afterward  entered  St. 
Joseph  College  at  Teutopolis,  111.,  when  thirteen 
years  old.  He  pursued  his  studies  in  that  institu- 
tion of  learning,  from  which  he  was  graduated  at 
the  age  of  sixteen,  after  having  completed  the 
course  of  study  with  honors.  Having  resolved  to 
enter  the  priesthood,  he  commenced  the  study  of 
theology  in  St.  Francis  Seminary,  near  .Milwaukee, 
Wis.,  .and  after  remaining  there  for  a  short  time, 
went  to  Europe  and  finished  his  education  in  the 
famous  University  of  Innspruck,  Austria,  gradu- 
ating in  1883. 

September  23  of  the  above-named  year.  Father 
Hagen  was  ordained  priest  at  Alton,  111.,  the  cere- 
mony of  ordination  being  in  charge  of  the  late 
Bishop  Baltes.  The  first  pastorate  of  the  young 
priest  was  the  mission  at  Mt.  Vernon,  this  State, 
and  he  also  had  charge  of  the  missions  at  McLeans- 
borough  and  Okawville,  this  State.  During  the  six 
years  in  which  he  was  thus  engaged,  he  was  instru- 
mental in  advancing  the  welfare  of  these  missions 
and  also  in  increasing  their  numerical  strength, 
and  his  faithful  ministry  gained  him  a  large  num- 
ber of  friends. 

In  October,  1889,  Father  Hagen  was  transferred 
to  the  Cathedral  at  Belleville,  and  one  year  later 
was  appointed  Secretary  to  Bishop  Janssen  and 
Chancellor  of  the  Belleville  Diocese,  in  which  hon- 
orable place  he  still  labors.  Heisa  worthy  adjunct 
to  so  grand  a  man  as  Bishop  Janssen.  The  finan- 
cial matters  of  the  diocese  almost  invariabl}-  pass 
through  his  hands,  and, being  thoroughly  informed 
in  business  affairs,  he  is  successful  in  this,  as  in 
other  departments  of  his  work. 


jlf_-^ON.  .JOHN  THOMAS  is  descended  from 
f     ji;  Welsh  ancestors,  who  came   to   America  at 

:A>^^  the  beginning  of  the  last  century.  His 
(^)     great-grandfather   became    the    head    of    a 

family  of  seven  sons  and  three  daughters;  one  of 

his  sons.  (Jri tilth,  became  the  father   of   eight   sons 


388 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIO&RAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  two  daiigliters.  (Jf  this  family  was  John 
Thomas,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
He  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  and  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Jane  Smith,  a  native  of  that 
State,  by  whom  ho  became  the  fatlier  of  a  large 
family  of  children,  only  two  of  whom  are  living 
at  the  present  time.  Hon.  John  Tiiomas  was  born 
in  Wythe  County,  A' a.,  January  11,  1800,  and  as 
his  father  was  a  blacksmith  and  farmer  of  strait- 
ened circumstances,  at  an  early  day  he  had  to  as- 
sist in  supporting  the  family.  IJving  in  a  slave 
State,  where  wealthy  planters  owned  most  of 
the  land,  his  father  decided  to  move  to  a  free  State, 
where  his  children  could  have  better  educational 
and  social  advantages,  and  the  winter  of  1817-18 
was  spent  in  Indiana,  but  on  the  28th  of  April, 
1818,  he  reached  St.  Clair  County,  111.,  and  they 
halted  near  the  present  village  of  Shiloh,  then 
known  as  the  Alexander  settlement,  where  the  fa- 
ther at  once  opened  a  blacksmith's  shop,  there 
being  already  a  rtiill  and  distillery  there.  Here 
he  followed  his  trade,  as  well  as  the  occupation 
of  farmer,  his  spare  moments  from  his  shop  be- 
ing devoted  to  clearing  his  land  from  timber 
and  brush.  On  this  farm  he  resided  until  his 
death  in  the  year  1848,  at  about  the  age  of  eighty 
years,  his  widow  surviving  him  until  1854,  when 
she,  too,  passed  away,  and  both  arc  now  sleeping 
their  last  sleep  on  the  old  home  farm.  Her  father 
was  a  physician  and  served  in  the  Revolutionary 
War.  John  Thomas,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
served  in  the  War  of  1812  in  his  business  capacity, 
and  was  extensively  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  horseshoe  nails.  Dr.  William  L.  Smith,  Mis. 
Thomas'  brother,  wlio  met  his  deatii  liy  drowning, 
left  considerable  valuable  property. 

The  early  education  of  Hon.  John  Tiiomas,  as 
well  as  that  of  his  brothers  and  sisters,  would  have 
lieen  sadly  neglected  had  it  not  been  for  their  ex- 
cellent mother,  who  was  a  finely  educated  lady. 
She  taught  all  lier  children  to  read  and  write  and 
instructed  them  in  the  rudimentary  branches. 
John  never  saw  a  schoolhouse  or  church  until  after 
he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  but  he  was  an  indus- 
trious and  moral  young  man,  and  in  his  youtli 
imbibed  principles  of  industry  and  honor  that 
were  of  material   benefit  to   him    in    later   years. 


Like  a  dutiful  son,  he  assisted  his  father  on  the 
home  farm  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
at  which  time,  feeling  the  need  of  a  better  educa- 
tion, he  divided  liis  first  year  of  independent  life 
between  working  and  attending  school,  and  as  his 
mind  was  active  and  sound,  he  made  rapid  prog- 
ress in  his  studies.  He  learned  the  blacksmith's 
trade  of  his  father  and  followed  this  occupation, 
in  connection  with  tilling  rented  land  for  about 
six  years,  when,  in  1828,  he  made  his  first  purchase 
of  real  estate  and  stocked  his  farm,  and  from  that 
purchase  of-  land  dates  his  prosperity.  He  was 
shrewd  and  far-.seeing  and  knew  that  permanent 
prosperity  would  come  to  him  who  would  invest 
liberall3',  or  pl.ace  his  means  in  land,  and  that  it 
would  be  onl}'  a  question  of  time  when  the  broad 
and  fertile  prairies  of  Illinois  would  be  brought 
into  market,  and  would  be  in  great  demand  by  the 
tide  of  immigration  that  would  pour  in  from  the 
East  and  from  foreign  shores.  He  therefore  pur- 
chased all  the  land  he  could  get  and  pay  for,  not- 
withstanding the  fact  that  officious  friends  in- 
formed him  that  he  was  acting  foolishly  and  was 
inviting  l)ankrui)tcy.  He  had  an  abiding  faith 
that  real  estate  was  the  true  source  of  wealth,  and 
he  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  land  for  which 
he  paid  only  a  few  dollars  increase  in  value  to 
exceed  1400  per  acre.  The  history  of  his  success 
in  the  accumulation  of  a  fortune  is  the  history  of 
nearl.y  all  the  rich  men  of  Illinois.  In  1824,  an  elec- 
tion was  held  in  order  to  determine  whether  slavery 
should  exist  in  Illinois,  and  Col.  Thomas  bitterlj 
opposed  the  measure  and  did  all  in  his  power  to 
defeat  the  scheme.  As  a  consequence  a  committee 
was  appointed  to  horsewhip  him,  but,  having  a 
body-guard,  the  matter  was  compromised  by  a 
good  man  being  chosen  from  each  side  to  decide 
the  matter  in  the  fistic  arena.  It  resulted  in  the 
victory  for  the  Colonel,  and  a  majority  of  ninety- 
seven  votes  was  polled  against  slavery,  the  State 
o-oing  seventeen  hundred  majority.  Lieut. -Gov. 
Kinney,  the  Colonel's  father-in-law,  was  the  owner 
of  about  a  dozen  slaves,  resided  about  three  miles 
from  15elleville  and  was  one  of  his  strongest  oppo- 
nents. 

In  early  life  he    was   very   devoted   to   military 
pursuits,  and  in  1832,  during  the  Black  Hawk  War, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


he  enlisted  in  the  service,  and  raised  a  company-  of 
volunteers  and  started  for  Iowa.  Later,  he  was 
compelled  to  return  home  on  account  of  his  fam- 
ily, but  on  some  shirring  remarks  being  made  of 
him  by  (iov.  Reynolds,  Ue  cast  aside  personal  con- 
siderations and  the  next  day  started  out  to  organ- 
ize a  company,  of  which  he  was  made  Captain. 
The  question  then  arose  who  should  be  Colonel, 
and  as  Capt.  Thomas'  knowledge  of  military  tac- 
tics was  well  known,  his  numerous  friends  chose 
him,  although  Gov.  Reynolds  was  in  favor  of 
Buckmaster  holding  the  position.  Col.  Thomas 
was  elected  by  thirty  majority,  and  with  liis  com- 
mand inarched  within  fifteen  miles  of  Black  Hawk, 
where  they  were  joined  by  Capt.  .Stillmau  with 
three  hundred  men.  A  part  of  this  force  met 
Black  Hawk  in  battle,  but  were  defeated,  and  the 
following  day  the  entire  force  marched  against 
him,  but  only  found  the  smouldering  remains  of 
bis  camp  fires.  They  then  went  to  Ottawa,  111., 
and  found  that  the  most  of  the  few  settlers  of  that 
place  had  been  murdered  by  the  redskins,  and  al- 
though (iov.  Reynolds  had  previously  discharged 
his  men,  the  settlers  asked  for  his  protection  and 
Col.  Thomas  assisted  in  organizing  a  company, 
and  of  this  and  three  other  comiianies.  Col.  Frye 
was  placed  in  command.  At  this  time  Col. 
Thomas,  notwithstanding  his  refusal,  was  elected 
Lieutenant  Colonel,  and  with  his  command,  com- 
prising three  companies  of  Regulars,  took  up  his 
station  at  Kilroy's  Grove.  June  16,  1832,  lie  had 
a  brusli  with  the  Indians  and  killed  seven  of  them 
and  lo.st  three  men. 

To  a  certain  extent  Mr.  TIkhikis  has  been  in  pol- 
itics for  many  years,  but  has  never  been  an  office- 
seeker.  He  always  freely  expressed  his  views  on  mat- 
tei-s  of  public  interest,  and  his  position  upon  ques- 
tions of  importance  w.as  known  to  he  sound  and  the 
result  of  honest  conviction.  In  1838,  he  w.as  elected 
to  the  Legislature  as  an  independent  candidate, 
the  Whigs  and  Democrats  each  having  candidates 
in  the  field,  and  made  a  very  capable  legislator. 
In  1836,  when  the  State  had  decided  to  adopt  the 
internal  improvement  system.  Col.  Thomas  be- 
came a  contractor  and  worked  about  two  or  three 
hundred  men.  He  took  a  very  important  part  in 
inaiiv  measures  of  interest,  and   did   a   ajreat   deal 


to  mould   public  opinion    in   the  early  history  of 
the  State.     He  constantlN-  labored  for  the  good  of 
his  section,  was  utterly  disinterested,  and  his  many 
I    brilliant  powers  of  mind,  his  soldierly  and  manly 
conduct,  and    his   kind   heart,   won  him  the  warm 
regard  of  such  noted   men   .is   Abraham    Lincoln, 
'   .John  .1.  Hardin  and  E.  D.  Baker.     He  was  instru- 
I   mental,  while  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  in  estab- 
I    lishing  the  ferry  at  St.  Louis,  and  although  the  fight 
i    w.as  a  long  and  bitter  one,  it  eventually  resulted 
in  favor  of  it*  establishment.     While  in  the  Legis- 
lature, he  introduced  a  bill  to  fence  in  stock,  leav- 
ing fields  open.  In  the  year  1878,  he  was  put  upon 
the    Republican    ticket   for   State    Senator,    made 
a  strong  canvass,  and  carried  the  two  representa- 
tives   with     him,    even    after    Esq.    Gilliland,   of 
Lebanon,  was   induced   to   make   an   independent 
canvass.     He   has  ever  been   a  wheel  horse  of  his 
part}^,  and  the  efficient  service  he  has  rendered  has 
been  fully  realized.     In  1862-,  he  was  elected  by  a 
majority  of  eleven  to  the  Legislature,  after  a  very 
hard  political   fight,  and   was   re-elected   in    1864 
by  a  big  majoritv. 

The  same  year  Mr.  Thomas  was  a  delegate  to  the 
Baltimore  Convention,  where  he  made  a  strong 
speech  to  the  Illinois  delegates,  and  he  was  also  a  del- 
egate to  the  Chicago  Convention  of  1860.  He  has 
magnificent  and  very  extensive  fanning  interests, 
his  land  consisting  of  about  four  thousand  acres, 
and  has  fed  as  high  as  two  thousand  hogs  at  one 
time.  He  is  an  extensive  stockshipper,  in  fact  it 
is  the  nature  of  the  gentleman  to  rise  above 
mediocrity  in  anything  he  undertakes.  While  a 
member  of  the  Legislature  in  1864,  he  i)resided  as 
Speaker  of  the  House  about  two  thirds  of  the  time, 
in  which  capacity  he  was  very  .able  and  po|)ular. 
While  \et  a  resident  of  ^'irginia,  he  imbibed  prin- 
ciples antagonistic  to  slavery,  for  he  knew  and 
felt  its  baleful  influence,  and  he  firmly  believed 
that  the  normal  condition  of  all  men  w.as  to  be 
free  and  ecpial  in  the  eyes  of  the  law.  In  1862, 
during  the  exciting  times  of  the  Rebellion,  he 
'  wielded  a  powerful  influence  in  the  Legislature, 
and  he  was  loyal  and  patriotic  to  the  core.  He 
i  favored  every  measure  for  the  speedy-  termination 
I  of  the  "irrepressible  conflict"  and  the  preservation 
I    of  the  I'nion.     The    four  times  that  he  has  been  a 


390 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


member  of  the  Legislature  have  demonstrated  in  a 
marked  degree  the  higii  estimation  in  which  he  is 
held  by  the  public.  He  is  a  truly  able  man  and  is 
warmly  in  favor  of  tlie  education  of  the  masses, 
and  believes  that  tlierein  lies  the  future  hope  and 
perpetuation  of  the  free  institutions  of  America. 

To  his  marriage  with  Miss  Kinney  ten  children 
have  been  bom,  five  sons  and  five  daughters.  The 
mother  of  these  children  died  in  18G8,  and  in  Jan- 
uary, 1875,  lie  married  Magdalena  Holdner,  a 
widow,  and  daughter  of  Jacob  Von  Eue,  a  native 
of  Switzerland.  Such  in  brief  is  the  history  of 
Col.  John  Thomas,  a  man  of  brilliant  mental 
powers,  strong  individuality,  undaunted  courage 
and  nuinliness,  and  withal  kind  hearted,  gener- 
ous and  true.  A  model  American  citizen,  he  is 
also  a  model  husband  and  father,  and  a  loyal  and 
arenerous  friend. 


4^ 


~gy)g'i 


J:NRY  VOSKAMP.  a  compendium  of  bio- 
graphical sketches  of  St.  Clair  County, 
-^  would  be  incomplete  without  an  outline  of 
the  life  of  the  above  gentleman,  who,  al- 
though quite  young,  has  gained  an  excellent  repu- 
tation. The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a 
native  of  Holland,  and  after  coming  to  the  Tni- 
ted  States  located  in  Johannisburgh,  Washington 
County,  III.,  where  he  died  at  the  advanced  age 
of  ninety-nine  \^ears. 

Henry  Voskamp's  parents  were  Henry  and  Anna 
(Remmers)  Voskamp.  Henr}'  Voskamp,  Sr.,  was 
born  in  Osnabruck,  Holland,  in  the  year  1802, 
and  his  wife  was  born  in  Oldenburg,  Germany, 
in  the  year  1819.  After  obeying  the  laws  of 
his  native  land  in  regard  to  educational  matters, 
Henry,  Sr.,  chose  the  vocation  of  forester  as  the  one 
in  which  he  would  seek  a  maintenance.  He  worked 
in  this  line  for  several  years  and  then  concluded 
that  there  were  better  opportunities  for  him  in 
America,  so  he  invested  a  part  of  his  savings  for 
the  necessary  transportation  and  embarked  for  the 
United  States.  He  immediately  located  in  St. 
Clair  County  after   his  arrival,  and  his  first  enter- 


prise on  this"side  of  the  ocean  was  to  buy  p.  small 
stock  and  commence  life  as  a  peddler  of  small- 
wares  and  general  merchandise,  taking  for  his 
route  that  jiortion  of  the  Slate  near  his  new  home. 
He  soon  became  known  as  an  honest  dealer,  and 
success  crowned  his  efforts. 

Henry  Voskamp  hrought  with  him  not  only  tlie 
money  necessary  to  start  in  business  but  the 
wealth  he  had  inherited  from  his  Dutch  grand- 
fathers, namely:  thrift,  industry,  energy  and  per- 
severance. In  a  very  few  years  after  his  arrival 
in  this  country,  he  opened  a  store  in  Fayetteville, 
where  he  sold  general  merchandise,  and  where  the 
people  for  miles  around  knew  they  could  obtain 
every  commodity  they  wanted.  The  success  of  this 
store  is  but  another  milestone  in  his  histoiy, show- 
ing that  fortune  smiled  on  his  efforts,  and  Henrv, 
Sr.,  was  known  as  one  of  the  solid  merchants  of 
Fayetteville  for  forty  j-ears.  He  drifted,  through 
business  transactions,  into  the  hotel  business, 
but  the  life  of  a  farmer  had  always  been  one  of  his 
dreams,  and,  selling  out  the  hotel,  he  undertook 
the  cultivation  of  three  hundred  r.cres  of  land 
which  he  had  acquired,  and  lived  a  life  of  retire- 
ment from  mercantile  pursuits.  His  first  wife, 
Mary  Lueka,  having  died,  Mr.  A'oskamp  married 
Miss  Anna  Remmers,  and  our  subject  is  the 
only  living  child  of  this  union  the  two  chil- 
dren of  the  first  wife  having  died  in  infancy. 
Politically,  Henry  Voskamp,  Sr.,  was  a  Democrat, 
and  worked  for  the  interests  of  his  partj-  when- 
ever its  standard  was  at  issue.  He  died  in  the 
year  1872,  his  wife  surviving  him  seven  j^ears. 

Henry  Voskamp,  Jr.,  undertook  the  task  of  self- 
support  when  he  was  twenty-one  3'ears  of  age. 
His  first  business  venture  was  in  a  general  merchan- 
dise store  in  Fayetteville,  which  position  he  occu- 
pied for  two  years.  He  then  sold  goods  and  clerked 
for  several  firms  for  a  number  of  years,  and  after- 
ward took  the  position  of  collector  and  general 
agent  f»jr  the  Neivs- Democrat  and  the  Zeituiig,  two 
papers  published  in  Belleville,  III.  In  the  year 
1888,  our  subject  married  Miss  Emma,  daughter  of 
Rudolph  and  Anna  (Hermann)  Ileimberger.  The 
result  of  this  union  has  been  two  children,  namely, 
Hermann  and  Anna. 

Although  now  only  thiily-four  years  old,  Henry 


"OIS. 


fie 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


393 


Noskump  is  recognized  as  one  of  tlie  pioiniiient 
citizens  of  his  count}',  and  is  a  man  calculated  in 
every  respect  to  make  for  himself  and  family  a 
phice  in  the  front  ranks  of  1-ayetteville  society. 
His  political  sympathies  are  witli  tlie  Democratic 
parly,  and  lie  has  ever  manifested  a  high  degree 
of  puhlic  spirit,  interesting  himself  in  every  move- 
ment which  would  tend  to  advance  the  interests 
of  his  county. 

Botli  j\lr.  and  Mrs.  ^'oskallll)  are  liberal  and  in- 
telligent thinkers  and  together  take  an  active  in- 
terest in  matters  of  local  importance,  both  of  a 
social  and  public  nature,  and  wield  a  decided  in- 
tUience  throughout  the  cumnninity  and  even  be- 
yond the  vicinity  of  their  home. 

The  heritage  of  sturdy  ancestry  has  ever  been 
nn  element  of  progression  in  this  country,  and  in 
this  instance  it  is  one  clearly  recognized  as  a  lead- 
ing factor  in  that  which  goes  to  make  up  the  best 
of  our  citizens.  No  family  can  boast  better  pro- 
genitors than  the  one  whose  representative  is  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  and  the  characteristics  dis- 
played by  father  and  grandfather  have  descended 
unto  the  tliird  and  fourth  geneiati<m. 


♦^^^1§  "^  tl^^^^ 


^OlIN  .lACor.  UAYHILL  is  now  the  oldest 
living  settler  of  Engelman  Township,  and 
one  of  the  most  honored  pioneers  of  St. 
Clair  County.  He  was  born  on  the  farm 
which  is  yet  his  home  on  section  3,  his  birth  oc- 
curring on  the  4th  of  March,  1H24,  and  for  almost 
seventy  years  he  has  witnes.sed  the  growth  and 
upbuilding  of  this  county  and  aided  in  its  devel- 
opment. His  father  was  born  and  reared  in  liote- 
tourt  County,  ^'a.,  and  was  married  in  Alleghany 
County  to  Sarah  Dew,  sister  of  Rev.  John  Dew, 
who  was  born  in  Hampshire  County,  Va. 

In  the  State  of  his  nativity,  Mr.  Rayhill  followed 
farming  for  several  years,  and  was  for  three  months 
a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  He  also  engaged  in 
teaching  school.  It  was  in  1818  that  he  emigrated 
to  St.  Clair  County,  111.,  locating  three  miles  east 
of  Belleville,  on  what  is  known  as  the  .lohn  Kvder 


farm.  A  year  later,  he  went  to  Engelman  Town- 
ship and  liought  land  on  sections  2  and  3.  Atone 
time  he  owned  over  one  thousand  acres,  and,  with 
the  exception  of  a  quarter-section,  he  entered  the 
entire  amount  from  the  Government.  In  the  fam- 
ily were  four  children  who  grew  to  manhood  and 
womanhood,  but  only  two  are  now  living:  John 
.lacob,  and  Virginia,  widow  of  James  Michell,  a 
resident  of  Marion,  Kan.  Charles  died  in  1882, 
.•uid  lietsy  Ann  died  on  the  titli  of  April,  1841. 
Mr.  R.ayhill,  father  of  this  family,  was  a  faithful 
iiioinber,  .active  worker  and  liberal  supporter  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  In  politics,  he 
was  first  a  AVliig  and  afterward  a  Ue[)ublican.  He 
died  on  the  2d  of  October,  1807,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  seventy-nine  years,  and  his  wife  departed 
this  life  July  28,  1862. 

We  now  take  up  tlie  pcr.soiial  liistory  of  dursub- 
ject,  who  was  educated  in  the  subscription  schools 
of  this  county  and  grew  to  manhood  upon  the 
heme  farm.  On  the  7th  of  May,  IS'ifi,  he  married 
Miss  Adeline,  daughter  of  Pintcher  and  Elizabeth 
Pitts,  early  settlers  of  this  county.  They  began 
their  domestic  life  upon  the  farm  which  is  now  the 
home  of  Mr.  Rayhill,  and  unto  them  were  born 
four  children,  but  three  are  now  deceased.  \\v- 
ginia  ^1.,  who  became  the  wife  of  AVilliam  H.  Dug- 
o-er,  a  farmer  on  section  3,  Engelman  Township, 
died  in  1888;  George  died  in  1880,  and  Sarah 
died  m  infancy.  Charles  Edward  is  still  living 
on  the  old  homestead.  He  married  Miss  Bertha, 
daughter  of  Jacob  Eisenmayer,  who  came  to  Mas- 
coutah  in  an  early  day.  The  daughter  w.as  reared 
and  educated  in  Mascoutah.  I'nto  Charles  and 
his  wife  have  lieen  born  two  children,  AVallaceand 
Edna.  The  mother  died  November  28,  186(),  and 
w.o-s  buried  on  the  old  Rayhill  farm.  She  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 

Mr.  Rayhill  owns  five  hundred  and  thirty-six  and 
one-third  acres  of  land  in  Engelman  Township,  of 
which  three  hundred  acres  are  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation  and  improved  with  all  the  acces- 
sories of  a  model  farm.  As  before  stated,  he  is 
one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  the  county,  and  can 
remember  when  the  Indians  were  still  residents  of 
the  neighborhood  and  when  deer  and  other  wild 
"■ame  were  to  be  had   in   .aljiindance.     Throughout 


394 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


his  entire  life,  lie  has  followed  farming,  except  in 
1850,  when  he  went  across  the  plains  to  California. 
While  en  route,  they  were  attacked  with  cholera 
and  two  young  men  of  the  party  died.  On  reach- 
ing his  destination,  Mr.  Rayhill  engaged  in  min- 
ing. The  return  trip  was  made  by  the  Isthmus  of 
Panama  and  New  York.  As  there  were  no  rail- 
roads, he  had  to  go  by  steamer  back  to  New  Or- 
leans and  thence  came  up  the  Mississippi  to  St. 
lA>uis.  He  left  San  Francisco  on  tlie  1st  of  April, 
and  arrived  home  on  the  3d  of  May.  In  early 
life,  he  was  a  supporter  of  the  Whig  party,  but  has 
voted  the  Republican  ticket  since  the  organization 
of  that  party  and  is  one  of  the  stanch  advocates  of 
its  principles.  He  is  a  prominent  and  influential 
citizen,  widely  and  favorably  known,  and  his  ster- 
ling worth  and  strict  integrity'  liave  won  him  the 
confidence  and  high  regard  of  all  with  whom  he 
has  been  brought  in  contact. 


_J 


f 


\T(  OSEPH  A.  KURRUS.  The  old  s.aying  that 
industry  brings  sure  reward,  as  siu'cl}'  as  does 
virtue,  is  proven  in  the  life  of  the  gentle- 
_  man  whose  name  opens  this  sketch.  He  be- 
gan at  the  bottom  of  the  ladder  of  fortune,  but 
now  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  financial  pillars  of 
East  St.  Louis.  His  livery  and  undertaking  estab- 
lishment is  located  at  Nos.  104,  106  and  108  Third 
Street,  with  a  frontage  of  seventy-two  feet,  running 
through  to  Main  Street.  The  buildings  are  all  of 
brick,  and  are  made  to  accommodate  the  necessary 
equipages  and  paraphernalia  necessaiy  for  the  car- 
rying on  of  the  largest  business  of  the  kind  in  this 
city. 

Our  sulijoct's  grandfather  was  in  the  wars  of  Na- 
poleon, and  had  removed  in  171)2  from  Alsace, 
France,  to  Baden,  German j',  where  he  died  in  1814. 
The  father  of  our  subject,  Frank,  was  born 
May  4,  1794,  in  Baden,  Germany,  where  he  con- 
ducted a  trade  as  locksmith.  Frank  followed  the 
example  of  many  of  his  countrymen  and  came  to 
America,   reaching  here  in   1860,  and  locating  at 


East  St.  Louis,  as  a  locksmith,  where  he  died  Aug- 
ust 28,  1867.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  a  de- 
vout Catholic,  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  February 
2,  1802,  and  lived  in  this  country  until  she  was 
eighty  years  and  fifteen  days  old. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  these  lines  are  written 
was  the  fifth  of  a  family  of  six  children,  and  was 
born  Mai-ch  13,  1840,  in  the  city  of  Endingen, 
which  is  a  historic  old  fortified  town  of  Baden, 
with  but  three  entrances.  He  received  the  rud- 
iments of  an  edncation  in  the  German  schools 
and  made  himself  generally  useful  to  his  fa- 
ther and  also  to  his  uncle  in  the  grain  business. 
Wiien  twent3-  years  of  age,  Joseph  came  hy  way 
of  the  sailing-vessel  "William  Frothiugham"  to 
America,  landing  (after  a  voyage  of  fifty  days, 
forty  of  which  were  stormy)  in  New  York,  and 
then  traveled  to  different  places,  until  he  tiiially 
rested  at  East  St.  Louis,  April  19,  1861.  The 
young  man  did  not  wait  for  work  to  find  him,  but 
began  immediatel}'  as  a  carpenter,  then  as  a  coal 
heaver,  and  at  last  worked  on  the  St.  Louis,  Alton 
&  Terre  Haute  Railroad  as  night  watchman  and 
night  baggage  man  on  Front  Street  for  twelve 
years,  until  1873,  when  long  frugality  enabled  him 
to  go  into  the  grocery  business  on  the  corner  of 
Fourth  and  Market  Streets.  He  there  continued 
until  1883,  when  he  began  his  present  business. 
This  was  begun  on  a  small  scale,  he  first  buying  out 
Me^'er  &  Strotinan,  and  when  the  business  war- 
ranted it,  built  his  present  large  establishment, 
stocking  it  with  everything  in  his  line;  he  also 
does  embalming. 

Mr.  Kurrus  is  a  large  owner  and  dealer  in  leal 
estate  in  the  city.  He  laid  out  the  Kurrus  place 
in  1891  on  the  Belleville  turnpike,  and  sold  all  of 
the  twenty-acre  tract  one  mile  e.ast  of  the  city 
court  house.  Our  subject  also  sold  the  one  hun- 
dred and  three  acres  laid  out  as  Forest  Lawn,  and 
has  on  hand  a  number  of  residences  and  four  brick 
blocks,  besides  a  f.arm  in  this  county,  and  is  a 
stockholder  and  Director  in  the  Glenn  Manufactory 
here.  In  November,  1865,  our  subject  w.as  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Johaunes.  She  w.as  of 
German  birth  and  passed  her  whole  life  in  this  place. 
She  died  and  left  her  sorrowing  husband  six  chil- 
dren: Frank  J.,  who  is  with  his  father  in   the  liv- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


395 


eiy  business,  Klizabetli,  Joseph  A..  Charles.  I>ena 
and  Frederiik.  Mr.  Kunus  believes  in  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Ueniocratie  p.irlv.  and  gives  liis  vote 
for  llie  candid-ites  selected  by  it.  lie  is  a  member 
(if  St.  llenr\"s  Churcli,  and  is  a  man  who  stands 
very  liiuh  in  the  linancial  circles  of  tliis  city. 


i^Hi^ 


'X^.  1'.  KAAll,  M.  1).  There  are  some  doctors 
|L^  who  diagnose  cases  and  administer  medi- 
1* — ^  cines  very  much  after  the  manner  of  a 
priest  administering  extreme  unction.  Their  pro- 
ceedings are  characterized  by  a  solemnity  liiat 
makes  the  patient  feel  himself,  even  when  his  ail- 
ment is  not  a  serious  one,  almost  within  the  grasp 
of  the  Grim  Destroyer.  There  are  other  physicians 
who  seem  to  look  upon  the  patient  !»s  a  machine, 
the  parts  of  which  have  in  some  way  or  other  been 
thrown  out  of  gear,  .and.  losing  sight  of  the  fact 
that  the  m.achine  has  sensibilities  as  well  as  func- 
tions, they  proceed  with  hammer  and  tongs  to 
remedy  the  difficulties  complained  of.  Still  an- 
other class  of  physicians,  recognizing  the  f.act  that 
there  is  something  more  than  a  barren  ideality  in 
ministering  to  a  miml  dise.ased,  or  in  other  words, 
that  the  mental  condition  of  the  patient  lias  in 
many  cases  much  to  do  with  his  physical  condi- 
tion, always  leave  their  patients  in  that  liappy 
frame  of  mind  which  contributes  in  no  small  de- 
gree to  speedy  recovery,  providing  the  nature  and 
character  of  the  ailments  or  the  intensity  of  suffer- 
ing are  not  such  :is  to  make  a  placid  condilidii  <if 
the  mind  impossible. 

It  is  to  the  latter  cla.ss  of  physicians  that  Dr. 
Itiiab  belongs.  lie  was  born  in  Helleville,  October 
■>i).  lft;')"J,  a  son  of  Henry  H.aab,  the  Superintendent 
of  Public  Instruction  for  the  State  of  Illinoi.«. 
The  latter  was  born  .June  20,  1835,  and  fortun- 
ately received  his  education  in  a  gymnasium  in 
(iermany.  "When  seventeen  years  of  age,  he  left 
homo,  friends  and  native  land,  to  seek  a  home  in 
the  New  World,  and  in  1852  resided  for  some 
time  ill  the  city  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  the  follow- 
ing year  he  was  in  both  St.   Louis.  Mo.,  and  Belle- 


ville, 111.  He  followed  the  calling  of  a  te.icher  in 
these  places,  and  so  jiroficient  was  he  that  for  many 
years  he  held  the  position  of  Superintendent  of 
the  city  schools.  In  this  capacity  his  fame  as  an 
educator  and  disci])linarian  went  abroad,  and  in 
1882  he  w.as  elected  State  Superintendent  of 
Public  Instruction,  and  was  re-elected  to  the  posi- 
tion in  18Vt(),  during  the  interval  being  a  resident 
of  Belleville.  In  him  arc  strikingly  exemplified 
those  characteristics  and  principles  which  conduce 
to  the  occupation  of  positions  demanding  the 
display  of  great  mental  abilities,  and  which  have 
maic  him  distinguished  as  an  educator  and  his 
career  a  succession  of  honors.  lie  was  married  to 
Miss  Matilda  Vf>n  Lengerke,  a  native  of  Hanover, 
Oermany,  and  their  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of 
five  children,  three  of  whom  are  living:  Dr.  E. 
P.:  Lena,  wife  of  Hugo  Eyssell,  of  Kansas  City, 
Mo.:  and  Matilda.  Ihc  private  secretary  of  her 
father. 

Dr.  E.  P.  Kaab  received  his  literary  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Belleville  and  in  W.ashington 
University,  of  St.  Louis,  ^lo.,  and  later  graduated 
from  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharm.acy.  Fol- 
lowing this  he  read  medicine  with  Prof.  A.  W. 
Miller,  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  and  at 
the  same  time  took  lectures,  graduating  in  the 
Class  of  '81.  For  some  time  thereafter  he  was  the 
resident  physician  of  the  German  Hospital  of  Phil- 
adelphia, and  still  later  was  assistant  to  Dr.  .James 
M.  Collins,  of  Philadelphia.  During  this  time  he 
continued  to  pursue  his  medical  studies  with  ear- 
nestness and  zeal  in  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, taking  the  auxiliary  course  of  medicine  and 
receiving  his  third  degree,  and  in  the  month  of 
.June,  1882,  was  graduated  as  Doctor  of  Philosophy. 
He  immediately  came  West  and  located  at  High- 
land, 111.,  where  he  was  successfully  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession  until  February,  1885, 
when  he  went  to  Europe  for  the  advantages  of 
further  study  and  prei)aration  for  his  work.  He 
spent  some  time  in  Berlin,  Vienna,  Jlunich  and 
Leipsic,  in  the  renowned  medical  institutions  of 
which  places  he  further  fitted  himself  for  his  call- 
ing. He  spent  two  very  profitable  years  abroad, 
and  acquired  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  Ger- 
iiiaii  language,      lie  then  returned  to  his   lionje    in 


396 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


America,  and  in  December,  1886,  located  at  Belle- 
ville, where  he  at  once  entered  into  an  extensive 
practice,  for  which  he  had  thoroughly  fitted  him- 
self during  his  eight  years  of  preparation  and 
study. 

Our  subject  is  i)Ossessed  of  much  native  tact  and  a 
broad  knowledge  of  manlvind,  and  while  diagnos- 
ing a  case  carefully  and  administering  expedi- 
tiously the  proper  remedies,  he  has  also  the  happy 
faculty  of  getting  that  class  of  patients  who  are 
not  quite  sure  whethei-  they  want  to  live  or  die) 
with  whom  every  physician  has  more  or  less  to  do, 
very  much  in  tlie  notion  of  living.  There  is  a 
sunshine  in  the  presence  of  the  man  which  pen- 
etrates and  dispels  tlie  gloom  hanging  about  the 
chronic  sufferer,  and  there  is  a  heartiness  in  his 
greeting,  coupled  with  a  generous  sympatliy,  which 
forces  upon  even  the  confirmed  hypochondriac  the 
conclusion  that  life  is,  after  all,  worth  living.  He 
is  eminently  fitted  for  his  calling,  both  by  nature 
and  training,  is  very  popular  and  is  highly  hon- 
ored bj-  his  professional  brethren. 

lie  was  marrried  to  Miss  Minna  Fleer,  a  daugh- 
ter of  .].  H.  Fleer,  a  native  of  Herford,  Germany, 
their  union  taking  place  October  31,  1883.  It  has 
resulted  in  the  birth  of  tliree  bright  little  children: 
Else  Charlotte,  Henry  Frank  and  Anita  Emma. 
Dr.  Raab  is  a  member  of  tlie  Kniglits  of  Pythias, 
tlie  Illinois  Jledical  Society,  the  St.  Clair  County 
Medical  Society  and  the  Belleville  Medical  So- 
ciety, being  Secretary  of  the  latter,  and  ex-Sec- 
retary of  the  county  association.  His  office  and 
residence  are  at  No.  ."^Ol  South  Iligli  Street. 


WjILLIAM  WINKELMANN.  The  honest  dis- 
charge of  every  trust  reposed  in  his  hands, 
the  unusual  ability  shown  in  different  di- 
rections, and  the  interest  he  has  taken  in  the  ad 
vancement  of  measures  for  the  good  of  St.  Clair 
County,  have  caused  William  Winkelmann  long 
since  to  be  classed  as  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of 
this  part  of  the  State.  All  that  he  has  achieved  or 
o-ained  has  been  the  result  of   his  own  good  fight- 


ing qualities.  He  is  now  one  of  the  prominent 
legal  lights  of  the  State  and  is  noted  for  his  legal 
attainments. 

Mr.  Winkelmann  was  born  in  Destel,  Prussia, 
February  28,  1829,  and  is  the  son  of  Christian  and 
Wilhelmina  Winkelmann,  the  father  a  practicing 
lawyer  and  a  large  property-holder.  He  was  a 
man  of  much  prominence  in  his  country  and  one 
whose  mental  capacity  was  far  above  the  average. 
He  was  the  second  of  ten  children,  three  of 
whom  are  now  living,  a  brother  in  Germany, 
and  a  sister,  now  a  widow,  residing  in  St.  Louis, 
Mo.  He  had  every  opportunity  for  receiving  a 
good  education,  but  he  was  satisfied  with  a  public- 
school  education,  being  of  such  a  disposition  that 
he  could  not  submit  to  the  dull  and  irksome  routine 
of  school  life.  His  knowledge,  therefore,  is  not 
derived  from  books,  but  from  actual  experience 
and  contact  with  the  world. 

To  a  youth  of  his  pushing  energy  and  ambition, 
the  better  chances  of  the  United  States  became  a 
temptation  that  could  not  be  resisted,  and  he  de- 
termined to  seek  his  fortune  on  this  side  of  the 
ocean.  On  the  2fith  of  April,  1849,  he  left  his  native 
country  and  came  direct  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  ar- 
rived on  the  2d  of  July  of  that  year,  without 
money,  or  relations  or  friends  to  apply  to  for  assist- 
ance. He  was  a  complete  stranger  in  the  city. 
Right  then  and  there,  for  the  first  time  in  his  life, 
he  realized  that  henceforth  his  success  in  life  must 
depend  upon  himself.  He  soon  found  work  at 
teaming,  for  which  he  received  $10  per  month  and 
board,  but  after  following  this  for  six  nu)nths 
his  employer  failed  with  some  of  our  subject's 
money  in  his  pocket.  The  latter  began  driving  a 
team  at  a  sawmill  in  St.  Louis,  receiving  as  com- 
pensation $25  per  month,  and  continued  at  this 
for  eighteen  months,  when  the  men  .and  teams  were 
removed  to  Jefferson  County,  Mo.  There  he  con- 
tinued the  same  occupation. 

At  the  end  of  six  month,  young  Winkelmann 
bought  a  wagon  and  team  and  hauled  iron  ore 
from  Pilot  Knob  and  Iron  Mountain  to  St.  Cene- 
vieve,  a  distance  of  twenty-five  miles.  .\t  the 
end  of  two  years,  he  sold  his  wagon  and  traded 
his  horses  for  a  saloon  in  Caledonia,  Washington 
County,  Mo.     On  the  7tli  of  November,  1850,  he 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


397 


was  married  at  Judge  Pen- v man's;  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Hangei'.  an  American  lad.v,  and  tlie  next  day  left 
for  the  Prairie  State,  landing  at  Monroe  City, 
Monroe  County.  At  that  place  he  conducted  a 
successful  saloon  business  for  two  yeai-s.  and  during 
this  time  he  became  convinced  that: 

"Honor  and  shame  from  no  conditions  rise. 
.\ct  well  your  part,  there  all  the  honor  lies." 

While  thus  engaged  in  business,  our  subject  be- 
gan the  study  of  law,  secured  a  dictionary,  ''Walk- 
er's American  Law,"  and  "Haine's  Treatise,"  and 
with  the  assistance  of  his  wife  and  the  dictionary 
overcame  the  ditticultics  of  the  language.  He  be- 
gan practicing  in  justice  courts  and  met  with  signal 
success  from  the  first.  While  in  court  at  Waterloo, 
he  applied  to  Hon.  .T.  ]}.  I'nderwood,  of  Belleville, 
to  read  law  in  his  ottice  .and  in  a  week  had  read 
"Blackstone"  through.  The  following  spring  he 
was  admitted  to  the  Bar  by  the  Supreme  Court, 
and  his  first  year's  fees  amounted  to  ?1.500.  In 
1868,  he  came  in  contact  with  Judge  Gillespie  on 
a  question  concerning  an  injunction  suit,  which 
resulted  adversely,  but  he  removed  his  case  to  the 
'Supreme  Court,  where  he  became  victorious.  The 
better  class  of  citizens  began  to  recognize  his  mer- 
its and  to  employ  him,  so  that  his  practice  soon 
brought  him  in  from  >!8.(IOO  to^Ki.dOO  per  year. 
He  made  large  investments  in  landed  property  and 
at  the  present  time  is  the  owner  of  twentj-  farms, 
all  highly  cultivated,  and  comprising  forty-six 
hundred  acres  in  St.  Clair,  Clinton  and  Monroe 
Counties.  His  real  estate  aggregates  not  less  than 
*200,0(tO. 

Alwaysa  Democrat,  ^Ir.  Winkelmann  frequently, 
in  heated  campaigns,  takes  the  stump,  and  his 
speeches  are  noted  for  gc>od,  sound  sense  and  a 
thorough  familiarity  with  the  questions  of  the 
day.  He  is  a  gifted  orator  and  commands  and 
holds  the  attention  of  his  audience  by  his  earnest- 
ness, logical  statements  and  forcible  delivery.  Asa 
lawyer,  he  is  well  read,  and  .is  a  criminal  lawyer,  he 
excels.  His  aggressiveness  is  frequently  displayed, 
as  indicated  in  the  following:  The  judge  presiding 
over  a  trial  of  a  case  at  one  lime,  being  in  a  bad 
humor,  said  to  our  subject:  '-Mr.  Winkelmann.  you 
give  me  more  trouble  than  any  other  member  of 
the  Bar."     C^uick  ,as  a  tlash  came  the  ausner  from 


Mr.  Winkelmann:  "May  it  plcise  the  Court,  I  have 
more  business  than  any  other  memlter  of  the  Bar." 
The  Judge  smiled  and  business  proceeded.  The  se- 
cret of  his  success  lies  in  his  self-reliance,  industry 
and  indomitable  will,  trained  in  the  hard,  rough 
school  of  adversity.  At  an  early  age,  he  learned 
to  depend  upon  himself,  and  as  a  consequence  has 
met  with  enviable  success  in  all  his  attempts.  He 
has  a  library  composed  of  eleven  hundred  volumes 
and  is  thoroughly  posted  on  all  subjects. 

In  1882,  Mr.  Wiukelmann  became  the  owner  of 
the  Belleville  fair  grounds,  and  the  purchase  price 
and  improvements  he  has  made  on  this  have  cost 
him  *40,000.  This  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  State 
and  stands  next  to  that  of  St.  Louis.  It  is  a  gen- 
eral resort.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Fair  As.so- 
ciation.  Jlr.  Winkelmann  had,  in  the  early  part  of 
1882,  the  misfortune  to  lose  his  wife,  and  on  the 
.5th  of  December,  1883.  he  married  Mrs.  Lucretia 
Shook,  widow  of  Isaac  Shook,  and  thC  daughter  of 
Maj.  Wooters,  of  Monroe  County.  Her  husband, 
Isaac  Shook,  was  a  farmer  near  Belleville.  One 
sou.  William,  was  born  to  our  subject's  first  union. 
He  died  in  188.5,  when  thirty-two  veal's  of  age. 
Mrs.  Winkelmann  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  and  is  a  woman  of  true  culture 
and  refinement.  Their  plc.isant  home  is  located 
at  Xo.  417  B  Street. 


APT.     MILTOX    M(  KAKI.AM). 


The 


ill  -,  original  of  this  notice  is  the  pleasant  and 
^^^^  acc-ommodating  Superintendent  of  theM'ig- 
gins  Ferry  Company  under  ('apt.  Sackraann.  He 
has  a  thorough  undei-standing  of  his  business  and 
is  one  of  the  most  ellicient  men  in  the  em|)loy  of 
this  company. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a  planter  in 
North  Carolina,  of  Scotch  descent,  and  the  father 
w!is  born  in  the  same  SUito,  where  he  turned  to 
.agricultural  pursuits.  When  a  young  man.  he 
emigrated  to  Mi-ssouri  and  made  a  settlement  at 
Farmington,  where  he  married  and  bought  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  which  he  improved 


398 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  operated  until  1866,  when  he  came  to  St.  Louis. 
Here  lie  lived  retired  until  his  death  in  1873. 
He  was  a  quiet,  easy-going  man,  and  a  Democrat 
in  politics,  often  serving  in  township  otflces.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  was  Amanda  Frezclle,  who 
was  born  in  North  Carolina,  and  died  at  her  home 
in  1865.  She  was  the  mother  of  twelve  children, 
and  all  grew  to  maturity  and  ten  are  now  living. 
Three  brothers  of  our  subject,  John,  Newman  and 
George,  were  in  the  Civil  Wav  in  the  Confederate 
army. 

The  original  of  this  slietch  was  reared  on  the 
farm  until  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age  and  was 
given  the  rudiments  of  knowledge  in  the  little  log 
schoolhouse  of  the  district.  His  birth  took  place 
at  Farmington,  Mo.,  December  14,  1849,  he  be- 
ing the  third  youngest.  He  was  reared  on  the 
farm  until  he  was  tired  of  its  duties,  and  as  there 
was  no  school  during  the  war,  he  learned  little  in 
books  in  those  disastrous  years.  In  1866,  he  came  to 
St.  Louis  and  obtained  employment  with  the  Clii- 
cago  &  Alton  Railroad  Transfer  Company  in  Fast 
St.  Louis,  and  remained  there  until  the  spring  of 
1871,  when  he  began  with  the  Wiggins  Ferry- 
Company  as  a  deck  hand  on  the  "Ed  C.  Wiggins" 
for  Capt.  Pernoe,  and  then  for  Capt.  Trendley  on 
the  same  boat.  He  worked  his  way  until  he  be- 
came pilot  on  the  old  ''Simon  C.  Christy," and  for 
five  or  six  years  he  remained  as  pilot,  but  in  18H0 
he  became  Captain  of  the  old  "Springfield"  and  ran 
it  for  four  years.  He  then  became  Captain  on  the 
tug  "Samuel  C.  Chibb,"  and  for  throe  years  he  ran 
that  noisy  little  boat  and  had  charge  of  various 
other  boats  until  in  1890  he  was  made  Assistant 
Superintendent  under  Capt.  H.  Sackmaiin  and  this 
important  post, requiring  a  man  of  energy  and  ex- 
perience, he  has  lield  ever  since. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  East  St.  l>ouis,  in 
1873,  to  Charlotte  Miller,  a  native  of  Buffalo, 
N.  Y.  They  have  five  children  living:  Harvey, 
Floyd,  Lotta,  Pearl  and  Freddie.  Tlie  Captain  is 
a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Honor  and  the  Unifoi'in 
Rank  of  the  Knights  of  Honor,  and  in  polities  is  a 
Democrat,  but  lives  too  busy  a  life  to  care  for  otlioe. 
He  has  clung  to  the  faith  of  his  ancestors  and 
attends  the  Presbyterian  Churcli. 


Capt.  McFarland,  like  all  the  other  captains  in  the 
employ  of  the  Wiggins  Ferry  Campany,  is  a  whole- 
souled  man  and  is  also  a  thorough  business  man. 
We  cannot  account  for  it,  but  there  seems  to  be  a 
peculiar  spirit  of  friendliness  about  these  good 
captains  which  makes  them  pleasant  men  to  meet, 
and  they  all  have  long  tales  of -experiences  which 
never  happen  to  men  in  other  lines,  which  they  tell 
for  the  stranger's  entertainment.  Long  live  Capt. 
McFarland. 


^  IfelLLIAM  .1.  MILLER.  One  of  the  finest 
\/\j//  f'**'''^*  i'^  Smithton  Township  and  the  first 
W^  i'l  St.  Clair  County  proper  that  was  set- 
tled, is  the  one  upon  which  our  subject  resides.  It 
is  comprised  in  Survey  389.  Mr.  Miller  came  of 
French  parentage,  being  the  son  of  Michael  Miller, 
born  in  Alsace,  France,  in  1811.  The  grandfathers 
of  Mr.  Miller  on  both  sides  fought  under  the  great 
Napoleon,  during  and  after  the  French  Revolu- 
tion, one  of  them  having  an  eye  shot  out.  Two 
relatives  of  his  father  fought  under  La  Fayette  in 
the  Revolutionary  War  in  America.  Tiie  father  of 
William  came  to  this  country  when  a  boy  and 
located  with  his  parents  in  New  York  State,  and 
some  time  in  the  '30s  came  to  Illinois.  He  selected 
Ridge  Prairie  as  a  home,  and  took  up  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  from  the  (iovernment,  and 
after  making  some  improvement  sold  it  and 
bought  eighty  acres;  but  in  1848  came  to  the 
Turkey'  Hill  farm,  which  he  bought  and  there  lived 
until  seven  years  before  his  death,  when  he  moved 
to  Belleville,  and  died  July  16,  188.!. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Christina  Karls- 
kind,  daughter  of  Sebastian  Karlskind,  a  farmer  of 
this  county.  Michael  Miller  had  six  children  and 
all  arc  living,  as  follows:  Magdalena,  wife  of  N. 
J.  Biebel,  who  lives  in  this  county;  Peter,  who 
also  lives  in  this  county;  Josejih  E.  and  D.  F.,  who 
live  here;  Mary,  Mrs.  Eckert;  and  W.  .].  The 
father,  a  wealthy  man,  was  a  great  reader  und 
took  an  interest  in  all  educational  matters. 

Our  subject  was  born  October  30,  1850,  at  the  old 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


399 


homestead,  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  received 
his  ediK'ation  in  tlie  district  scliools,  sup])lemented 
with  a  course  of  instruction  at  the  scliool  of  tiie 
Christian  Brotliers  in  St.  Louis.  In  Noveml)er,  1876, 
lie  married  Miss  .lenn\'  Terrell,  daughter  of  Isaac 
Terrell,  a  farmer  of  this  county. and  an  old  settler 
from  Kentucky,  wlio  came  here  with  his  parents  in 
the  year  1829.  Our  sultject  has  had  three  children: 
Cora,  Wiiiner  T.  and  Don  K.,  all  at  home.  He  has 
a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  under  cultiva- 
tion, and  also  a  mine  of  wealtii  in  his  Percheron 
and  French  Coach  horses,  his  Short-horn  cattle  and 
Berkshire  liogs.  All  of  these  are  registered,  and 
first  premiums  have  been  taken  at  St.  Louis  at 
different  times  upon  various  animals  of  his  breed- 
ing, besides  many  other  premiums  at  various  otlier 
fairs.  Mr.  Miller  is  preparing  for  a  sale  of  blooded 
stock  to  take  place  soon. 

Oiu'  subject  is  one  of  tiiose  progressive  farmers 
who  have  left  the  old  methods  behind  and 
adopted  such  improvements  in  farming,  drain- 
age and  stock-raising  .as  will  make  St.  Clair 
County  the  garden  of  the  State,  if  liis  example  is 
generally  followed.  He  is  a  valued  member  of  the 
(irange,  holding  the  otlicc  of  Treasurer,  and  be- 
longs to  the  order  of  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons.  Mr.  Jlilier  and  estimable  wife  have  a 
high  standing  in  the  neighborhood,  and  the  suc- 
cess which  h.as  crowned  the  efforts  of  our  subject 
has  earned  for  him  the  good  opinion  of  all. 


m>^<^ 


J^,  NTH(JNY  ISCH.  Cashier  of  the  Working- 
Ol    men's  Banking  Company,  has  held  his  po- 
sition   since    December,     1885,   and     has 
(^  proved  himself  the  right  man  in  the  right 

place.  He  was  born  at  Centreville  Station,  III., 
February  24,  18.56,  his  father,  J.  X.  Iscli,  being  a 
native  of  Alsace.  France.  His  grandfather  was  a 
soldier  in  Napoleon  Bonaparte's  army  and  nuidc 
the  march  to  Moscow,  Hussia.  .1.  X.  Iscli  was  left 
an  orphan  at  the  age  of  eight  years,  but  w.is  reared 
to  a  farm  life  in  his  native  land;  upon  attain- 
ing asuitable  age,  he  cntcrcil  ihi'  French  arniv  and 


saw  seven  years  of  cavalry  service.  After  receiv- 
ing his  dLscharge,  he  began  working  at  the  shoe- 
maker's trade,  and  in  1847,  while  still  unmarried, 
he  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  III.,  and  located  in 
Birknor.  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  and  also 
farmed.  In  1852,  he  was  married,  and  located  at 
Centreville  .Station,  i)urcliasing  a  farm  of  eighty 
.acre.>  four  miles  from  the  .Mississippi  i{iver,  which 
he  successfully  tilled  until  his  death  in  1875,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-four  years.  lie  was  well  educated 
and  spoke  with  equal  Huency  French,  German  and 
English.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Eliza- 
beth I'flfcr;  she  was  born  in  Alsace,  Fr.ince,  her 
parents  having  been  born  in  Lorraine.  Her  father 
was  a  farmer  in  his  native  land,  but  after  coming 
to  America  in  183(5  was  a  resident  of  Rirkner,  III., 
where  he  was  called  from  life.  Mrs.  Isch  died  in 
1874,  at  the  age  of  fortj-  years,  having  become  the 
mother  of  nine  children,  seven  of  whom  grew  to 
maturity  and  si.x  are  now  living:  Kate  (Mrs.  Yoch) 
resides  in  California;  Joseph  is  a  merchant  of 
O'Fallon;  Rose  also  resides  there;  Alex  resides  in 
St.  Louis;  Nick  isa  grocer  of  O'Fallon;  Lizzie,  de- 
ceased, and  Anthon}". 

The  last-mentioned  son  was  first  an  attendant 
of  the  public  schools  of  Centreville  Station,  and 
in  1873  entered  Bryant  &  Stratton's  Business  Col- 
lege, from  which  he  was  graduated.  When  his 
father  died,  he  was  the  eldest  child  at  home  and 
upon  his  shoulders  he  took  the  burden  of  educat- 
ing the  younger  members  of  the  family.  He  de- 
voted the  farm  of  eighty  acres  to  the  raising  of 
vegetables  and  made  daily  trips  to  St.  I^oiiis  to  sell 
his  i)roduce.  Through  liis  efforts,  the  family  was 
kept  together,  but,  when  just  .about  to  gi-aduate  his 
sister  Lizzie  was  burned  in  the  Belleville  Convent 
fire,  which  was  a  sad  blow  to  the  entire  family. 
His  two  younger  brothers  were  graduated  from  the 
Home  Institute.  In  1885.  one  of  his  brothers  took 
tlic  burden  of  the  farm  from  his  shoulders  and 
thus  freed, he  came  to  the  city  .is  Assistant  Cashier 
in  the  Workingmen's  Banking  Company,  but  in 
December  of  the  same  year  he  was  made  Cashier. 
This  establishment  vv.as  organized  in  1870  with  a 
capital  of  ^50,000,  which  has  since  been  increased 
to  4!  1511,111)0.  He  is  one  of  the  largest  stockholders 
and   also  a    Director.     He  is  a  stockholder  in   the 


400 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


First  Mutual  Loan  Association,  the  Etna  Building 
A  Loan  Association  and  tlie  Missouri  Guarantee 
Building  &  Loan  Association. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  St.  Mary's,  Mo..  Du- 
cember  29,  1890,  to  Miss  Mary  Kreilicli,  who  was 
born  in  Belleville,  II!.,  a  daughter  of  Frank  Krei- 
licli, of  Lorraine,  France.  Mr.  Isch  is  a  wide-awalie, 
wiiole-souled  j'oung  business  man,  is  shrewd  and 
practical,  and  gives  every  promise  of  becoming 
wealthy.  He  is,  politically,  a  Republican  and  is  a 
strong  worker  in  the  ranks  of  his  party.  While  at 
Cenlreville  Station,  he  served  in  the  capacity  of 
Township  Clerk  one  year.  He  belongs  to  St.  Pat- 
rick's Catholic  Church. 


^^^      a  means 


D.  VAN  BLARCOM  is  a  gentleman  of 
h  experience  in  real  estate,  both  as 
of  speculation  and  permanent  in- 
vestment. For  soundness  of  judgment  and  keen 
appreciation  of  liigh-grade  real-estate  values,  he  has 
not  his  superior  in  the  county;  and,  being  promiit, 
energetic  and  tlioroughly  reliable  in  all  his  deal- 
ings, and  honorable  in  carrying  out  his  undertak- 
ings, he  has  secured  the  confidence  and  favor  of 
the  public,  and  numbers  among  his  most  regular 
clients  leading  citizens  in  all  walks  of  life.  He  was 
born  in  Paterson,  N.  J.,  November  28,  1845,  to  the 
Hon.  J.  V.  R.  Van  Blarcom,  also  a  native  of  Pat- 
erson, through  whom  he  traces  his  ancestry  back 
tliirteen  generations  to  the  first  settlers  of  Hobo- 
ken,  N.  J.,  who  came  from  Holland  in  1640.  The 
paternal  grandfatiier,  Braut  Van  Blarcom,  was  born 
in  New  Jersey  and  was  a  land-owner  and  agricul- 
turist of  that  State.  Tlie  fatlier  of  tlie  subject  of 
this  sketcii  was  a  merchant,  but  later  beoaiue 
known  tliroughoutthe  State  as  a  leading  politici^m, 
and  for  some  time  was  a  member  of  the  Legisla- 
ture of  New  Jersey,  elected  on  the  Democratic 
ticket.  He  died  in  1857,  when  just  in  the  meridian 
of  his  political  career,  at  the  age  of  thirty-nine 
years.  His  wife  was  Eupliemia  Dixon,  wlio  was 
born  m  Paterson.  N.  J.,  a  daughter  of  William 
Dixon,  wiiose   grandfather    was   a    member   of   a 


wealthy  family  of  Steelville,  England.  The  mother 
died  in  1850,  and  three  of  her  six  cliildren  survive 
her:  Gertrude,wife  of  J.  D.  Mercclis;  J.  C,  Cashier 
(if  the  National  Bank  of  Commerce,  of  St.  Louis; 
and  W.  I).,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

\\.  1 ).  Van  Blarcom  was  reared  in  Paterson  and 
was  educated  in  the  common  and  High  Schools  and 
in  time  became  a  good  classical  scholar.  In  April, 
1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  State  militia  of  New  Jer- 
sey and  went  to  Trenton  to  enter  tlie  service,  but 
an  uncle,  who  was  Quartermaster  at  that  point, 
informed  the  authorities  of  his  age,  and  his  services 
were  refused.  In  1863,  he  entered  St.  George's 
College,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  but  one  year  later 
left  that  institution  to  enter  Rutger's  College  at 
New  Brunswick,  N.  J.  In  the  fall  of  1865,  he 
turned  his  footsteps  Westward,  and  in  October  of 
that  year  reached  St.  Louis,  wlie're  he  became  a 
salesman  for  Ford,  Dixon  &  Co.,  saddlery  and 
hardware  merchants,  and  remained  in  their  employ 
until  1868,  when  he  engaged  in  the  insurance 
business.  He  was  sent  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  to  open 
a  branch  department  for  the  St.  Louis  Local  Life 
Insurance  Company,  and  at  the  end  of  six  months 
went  to  St.  Joseph  and  Kansas  City,  opening 
branch  houses  in  both  these  places.  At  the  end  of 
one  year,  he  returned  to  St.  Louis  and  retired 
from  the  life  insurance  business  to  engage  in 
the  fire  insurance  and  brokerage  business,  and 
was  made  a  Director  in  the  Excelsior  Fire  In- 
surance Company  of  St.  Louis,  which  continued 
until  1872,  when  it  was  wiped  out  of  existence  by 
the  Chicago  fire.  Mr.  Van  Blarcom  then  became 
manager  for  several  Eastern  insurance  companies, 
and  had  the  largest  agency  of  anyone  in  St.  Louis. 
He  was  a  Director  in  the  Commercial  Insurance 
Company  of  St.  f.ouis,  and  did  a  very  extensive 
business. 

In  1875,  our  subject  was  taken  ill  with  typhoid 
fever,  but  upon  his  recovery  he  again  became  man- 
ager for  some  Eastern  companies,  continuing  until 
about  1885,  when  he  went  to  Durango.  Mexico,  at 
the  solicitation  of  a  mining  company  in  St.  Louis, 
and  remained  there  as  Suiierintendent  and  Busi- 
ness Manager  for  three  years.  While  there,  he 
learned  to  speak  the  Spanish  langu.age  and  acquired 
some  interest   in   mining  stock,  which  he  worked 


-y 


^^-^ 


"kVl/ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


403 


for  some  time  and  then  sold  out.  He  returned 
North  in  18811,  and,  after  some  thought,  decided 
1(1  l(i("iti'  in  East  St.  Louis,  for  lie  liolieved  that 
thi'  town  iiad  a  brilliant-  future  liduie  it,  and  has 
been  a  resident  of  tiie  jilaee  since  .January,  1890. 
He  lirst  opened  a  real-estate  ottice  on  liroadway, 
hut  in  181)1  located  at  the  corner  of  Hro'idvvay  and 
Collinsville  Avenue.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  hioji- 
grade  business  and  investment  i)roperty  and  has 
made  more  sales  than  any  otiier  real-estate  .agent 
in  the  city.  He  sold  at  one  time  seven  hundred 
acres  of  land  near  the  stock-yards,  which  was  the 
largest  single  acreage  sale  made  in  the  county,  ami 
which  required  the  most  com|>rehensive  judgment 
and  finest  tinancial  ability.  His  sagacity,  skill  and 
invariable  success  have  made  his  name  a  mascot  to 
any  real-estate  enterprise. 

Mr.  A'an  Hlarcom  was  married  in  'I'ruy.  N.  Y.,  in 
1869,  to  Miss  Fannie  Couant,  a  native  of  that  city 
and  a  daughter  of  A.  .1.  Conant.  the  celebrated 
artist,  who  is  now  a  resident  of  New  York  City,  and 
is  considered  one  of  the  best,  if  not  the  foremost, 
male  artists  in  the  I'nited  States.  He  was  a  resi- 
dent of  .St.  Louis  for  about  a  quarter  of  a  century. 
Mrs.  ^'aM  r>larc(ini  was  leared  in  SI.  Louis  and  is 
lincl\  educated.  She  has  liornc  her  husband  si. \ 
children:  W.  l).,.Tr.;  Howell,  IJlanche.  Carrie, Dixon 
and  Conant.  Mr.  Van  Hlarcom  is  a  Knight 
Templar,  A.  F.  &  A.  M;  belongs  to  the  order  of 
Elks,  and,  politically,  is  a  Republican  of  the  most 
l)ron(uuic('d   type. 


w. 


TiOHN  SEIHKRT.  one  (if  the  ni.ist  txtensivc 
land-owners  of  .St.  Clair  County  and  .m 
highly  respected  citizen,  residing  on  sectinn 
_  :\\.  Shi  loll  \'alley  'ruwnshiii.cl:iim>(  irrniany 
as  the  land  of  his  nativity.  He  wa-  buin  .M;irch 
•_'7.  I.sl'.l.  .•iiid  is  a  snn  of  ,Iohn  .'MhI  (  alhcrinc  Sri- 
bert.  Ix.th  <>!'  whtini  were  n.'ilives  nf  (  )bnsl:i(lt . 
(iernnmy.  The  father  was  rca reel  in  the  cily.lml 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  When  a  ynunu  man, 
lie  was  married,  and  by  the  union  were  Ijopi  Ihrce 

Id 


sons:  Balth,  George  A.  and  .Tohn.  The  father 
died  when  our  subject  w.as  only  about  six  years  of 
age.  In  religious  belief,  he  was  a  Lutheran.  His 
widow  afterward  came  to  this  country,  cros.sing 
the  Atlantic  in  18.S2,  and  at  once  located  in  St. 
Clair  County.  HI.,  where  she  spent  the  remainder 
of  her  life,  dying  in  1852. 

Tiie  subject  of  this  sketch  receivc^d  l)ut  meagre 
educational  privileges.  He  attended  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  land  until  thirteen  years  of 
age,  and  then,  bidding  good-bye  to  the  old  home 
and  friends,  he  came  with  his  mother  to  America. 
He  began  life  for  himself  by  purchasing  two  hun- 
dred and  eighty-eight  acres  of  (iovernment  land,  a 
wild  and  unim|iroved  tract,  upon  which  not  a  furi'ow 
had  been  turned  or  an  improvement  made.  Of  his 
success  he  may  be  truly  jiroud.  for  it  is  evidence  of  an 
industrious  and  enterprising  life,  characterized  by 
perseverance  and  good  management.  .\s  his  finan- 
cial resources  have  increased,  he  has  extended  the 
boundai'ies  of  his  farm  until  it  now  comprises  one 
thousand  acres  of  valuable  land. 

As  a  companion  and  helpmate  on  life's  journey, 
Mr.  Seibert  chose  Miss  Dorothea,  daughter  of  Wen- 
die  and  Anna  Knobeloch.  Ller  father  was  a  pio- 
neer of  Shiloh  Valley,  and  one  of  the  wealthy  and 
public-spirited  citizens  of  the  township.  Ten 
children  gi-aced  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Seibert, 
seven  of  whom  are  yet  living,  as  follows:  Mary, 
wife  of  Henry  Fries;  George,  Charles;  Augusta, 
wife  of  Henry  (Jauch;  Bertha,  wife  of  George 
Kuestci-;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Henry  Hebler,  .and 
Otto.  The  mother  of  this  family  was  called  toher 
final  resl  on  the  28tli  of  .Sei)tember,  1891.  Mr. 
and  .Mrs.  .Si'llicrt  had  traveled  life's  journey  to- 
ii'elhcr  for  forty-ti\i'  ye;irs  as  man  and  wife,  shar- 
ing with  i-Mi'h  other  the  joys  and  sorrows,  adversi- 
ties .'ind  |Hosp(M  ilii's  of  life.  She  was  a  faithful 
coniji.Hi'ion  and  liclpm:ite  to  him.  a  devoted  wife, 
■A  lo\iiig  niotliiT  ;uid  :i  rlierished  friend,  whose  loss 
was  dee|ily  rcgictted  Ihroughout  the  entire  com- 
ninnily. 

In  poliiicil  sciiiiiiH'iil.  Ml'.  .Seibert  isa  Democrat. 
He  is  also  ;i  si'lt'-iiKide  man,  whose  possessions  stand 
MS  a  monument  l(>  his  own  labor.  Overcoming  the 
olisiaclcs  in  his  path,  he  has  steadily  nuMintcd  the 
laddc)'  of  success  afpl  h;is   not  oiih     Mif^dc   ,i   guui] 


404 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


home  for  himself  but  has  also  given  his  children 
good  homes.  He  is  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and 
integrity  and  has  tlie  respect  and  confidence  of  all 
who  know  him. 


•4  Wi  


-^ 


'JlP^/RANCIS  MAULE,  Vice-president  and  Sec- 
m^;  retary  of  tiie  IMaulc  and  tlie  National  Coal 
/MS  ^  Companies,  is  a  young  man  of  great  natural 
ability  and  indefatigable  perseverance,  whose  posi- 
tion is  among  the  foremost  business  men  of  St. 
Clair  County.  Possessing  tlie  keen  insight  into 
affairs  which  has  contributed  to  the  attainment 
of  his  present  success,  his  prospects  for  the  future 
are  golden,  and  he  will  undoubtedly'  become  the 
possessor  of  wealth  in  the  honorable  discharge  of 
his  business  obligations.  Among  the  citizens  of 
Belleville,  where  lie  has  spent  the  greater  part  of 
his  life,  he  is  well  and  favorably  known  as  a 
worthy  representative  of  an  honored  family. 

Elsewhere  iu  this  volume  will  be  found  a  sketch 
of  the  father  of  our  subject,  .John  Maule.  as  well 
as  a  full  description  of  the  Maule  Mine,  which  was 
sunk  in  1886  and  is  one  of  the  largest  in  the 
count}'.  About  one-fourth  of  a  mile  west  of  the 
Maule  is  the  National  Mine,  which  is  located  on 
the  line  of  the  Belleville  it  Carondelet  Railroad 
and  contains  complete  equipments  for  shaft  min- 
ing. Tlie  yards  and  offices  of  the  Maule  Company' 
are  located  at  No.  17  Clark  Avenue,  St.  Louis,  and 
there  is  a  branch  offlce  at  East  St.  Louis.  The 
financial  position  of  the  company  is  assured,  and 
in  business  circles  they  have  attained  i)ioniinence 
and  great  infiueuce. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  John  and  ]\Iai'- 
garet  (Archibald)  Maule,  natives  of  Scotland.  The 
mother  died  in  August,  1870,  Umving  three  children 
beside  our  subject:  Maggie,  Mrs.  John  Doaii;  Jean- 
nette,  who  is  the  wife  of  Fairly  Neilson;  and  Rob- 
ert, who  is  Superintendent  of  the  Maule  Coal 
Company.  Francis,  of  this  sketch,  was  born  at 
Casey villc.  III.,  February  28,  1865,  and  passed  his 
childhood  days  in  mingled  play  and  study.  His 
education  waS  completed   at  the  High   School   of 


Belleville  and  included  the  study  of  the  branches 
usually  taught  in  those  institutions  of  learning. 
His  culture  has,  however,  been  principally  self- 
acquired  and  proves  him  to  be  a  man  of  large  re- 
sources. 

In  connection  with  his  father,  our  subject 
learned  the  practical  part  of  mining,  and  also  was 
employed  for  some  time  as  locomotive  engineer, 
remaining  in  that  position  until  the  incorporation 
of  the  Maule,  Coal  Company  in  1888,  two  years 
after  the  mine  was  opened.  From  the  time  of  its 
inception,  he  has  been  identified  with  tliecompany, 
and  to  his  energy  no  little  degree  of  its  success  is 
to  be  attributed.  The  local  affairs  of  the  city  of 
Belleville  and  all  enterprises  of  a  public  nature  arc 
sure  of  his  deepest  interest  and  unswerving  devo- 
tion, and,  although  by  no  means  a  partisan,  he  is 
a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Denioci'atic  part}-. 

On  the  corner  of  Race  and  Franklin  Streets  an 
elegant  two-story  brick  house  is  being  built,  which 
when  completed  is  to  be  the  home  of  Mr.  Maule 
and  his  family.  His  wife,  to  whom  he  was  married 
in  September,  1883,  was  known  in  maidenhood  as 
Elizabeth  Taylor  and  is  an  accomplished  and  cul- 
tured lady,  whose  position  in  social  circles  is  one 
of  prominence.  She  is  the  daughter  of  .Jonas  and 
Jane  (Taylor)  Taylor,  natives  of  England,  who 
have  for  many  years  resided  in  Belleville.  Four 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maule, 
who  are  Sarah,  Elizabeth.  Beatrice  and  John  T. 


;h'®h 


i^^»   •" 


^I^^REDERICK  KOEBERLIN.  M.  D.  The  sub- 
\h=^  ject  of  the  following  sketch,  the  oldest  phy- 
/1\  sician  of  the  town   of  Freeburg,   was  born 

iu  the  village  of  (Iriesbach,  in  the  province  of 
Bavaria,  (ierinany.  in  18:31,  and  there  he  remained 
until  the  vear  IST)!.  His  descent  was  through  a 
line  of  ministers  on  liotli  sides  of  his  family,  his 
father  being  Rev.  Christopher  Koeberlin.  The  latter 
was  a  good,  pious  man,  who  long  labored  as  a 
minister  in  the  Lutheran  Church.  Our  subject 
obtained  his    education    at    Augsburg,  and    came 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


405 


to  this  eonntry  in  the  year  1854,  having  received 
liis  inedicHl  education  in  tlie  best  sciiools  of  Ger- 
many. 

After  reachim:  Americii.  his  tirsl  Ideation  was 
J^ancaster,  Oliio,  where  he  remaine(J  a  few  months 
and  llien  went  to  Carrollton.  Hi.,  forming  a 
partnerslii|)  with  an  American  i)iiysician.  t)ur 
subject  soon  decided  to  find  a  larjjer  fieUi.  so  went 
to  .'^t.  Louis,  and  as  a  preparation  for  future  en- 
larged usefulness,  entered  the  medical  college 
tiiere  in  order  to  familiarize  himself  with  the 
American  terms  used  in  practice.  Remaining 
there  until  his  object  had  been  attained,  he  then 
hx'ated  in  the  town  of  Freeburg.  This  village 
then  bore  the  name  of  Irbany.  Kver  since  that 
time,  18.57.  Dr.  Koeberlin  has  been  a  successful 
practitioner  in  this  place,  relieving  pain,  curing 
disease  and  soothing  dying  beds  with  skill,  devo- 
tion and  kindness.  In  the  year  1860,  our  sub- 
ject was  married  to  Miss  Rosa  Ochs,  daughter  of 
Rudolph  Uchs,  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  the 
county,  having  come  here  in  18."?3  from  ins  liirtli- 
place  of  Fr.ankfort-on-the-Main.  in  (Icrmany.  His 
wife  died  at  an  advanced  age. 

Our  subject  became  the  fatlier  of  ten  children,  l)ut 
only  three  have  been  spared  him,  and  they  are: 
Jlillie,  Erwin  and  Fred.  Erwin  is  a  druggist  in 
St.  Louis.  Dr.  Koeberlin  is  a  member  of  tlie  St. 
Clair  County  Medical  Society.  !Uiil  h;is  liehl  tlic 
oHice  of  President  in  it;  he  is  also  ;i  member  of 
tlie  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  has 
held  all  of  the  offices  of  the  lodge,  having  been 
Worshipful  Ma.ster  of  the  Freelnirg  lodge  for  over 
ten  yeai-s,  also  a  charter  member,  and  has  always 
taken  an  active  interest  in  the  work  of  the  fra- 
ternity. 

Politically,  our  subject  is  a  lulicxt  r  in  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Republican  party:  was  a  nicinbiT  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  city  for  a  iiuinl>cr  of 
years,  and  for  a  <inarter  of  a  century  li;is  held  the 
office  of  Trustee  of  Schools.  Dr.  Koeberlin  ha.-  a 
very  largo  practice  and  probably  knows  more  of 
the  inside  life  of  llie  ef)unty  of  St.  (lair,  than  aii\ 
other  man  in  it.  lie  is  beloved  and  respected,  :in<l 
his  judgment  is  relied  upon  when  less  experienced 
physicians  quail  before  some  terrible  scourge  of 
disease,  a.s  they  feel  their  helplcssnos  to  cope  with 


it.  The  success  of  the  Doctor  lies  in  his  large 
sympathy-,  as  well  as  in  his  superior  skill  and 
knowledge.  His  presence  inspires  confidence,  and 
faith  is  a  potent  factor  in  physic  as  in  religion. 
Patients  of  his  realize  that  he  makes  a  careful 
study  of  each  i)articular  case,  and  that  his  best 
efforts  will  be  put  forth  in  their  behalf.  Dr. 
Koeberlin  keeps  abre.ast  with  the  times  in  his  pro- 
fession, availing  himself  of  all  possible  sources  of 
information  in  his  beloved  profession. 


/  A^*= 


\17  P:0NARD  TRAUBEL.  One  of  the  old  set- 
I  (j^'i  tiers  and  pleasant  business  men  of  East  St. 
J^v--  Louis  is  the  subject  of  our  notice,  who  has 
resided  here  since  18r)9  and  has  .seen  many  of  the 
wonderful  changes  that  have  taken  place  on  both 
sides  of  the  mighty  river.  The  father  of  our  sub- 
ject was  born  in  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany,  and 
f(>llowx>d  the  trade  of  a  baker  in  his  native  country, 
where  he  died  in  1854.  The  maiden  name  of  his 
wife  was  Fredericka  Meidneiger,  and  her  birthplace 
was  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany. 

.Mr.  Traubel  of  this  notice  was  the  youngest  of 
four  children  and  was  liorn  in  Hesse-Darmstadt, 
M.ay  29,  18:?9.  He  attended  the  excellent  free 
schools  of  his  native  place  until  his  fourteenth 
year,  when  he  liegan  the  trade  of  a  baker  under 
his  father.  Our  subject,  however,  concluded  to  try 
his  fortune  in  the  New  AVorld,  and  accordingly 
set  sail  for  .\merica.  landing  in  New  Orleans,  .Jan- 
uary 8,  1857.  after  a  stormy  passage  of  fiftj'-four 
(hiys.  although  regarded  by  him  :is  a  pleasant  trip, 
lie  remained  and  worked  in  thai  eity  at  his 
trade  for  sixteen  months,  but  in  the  spring  of 
I S58  came  up  tlie  ri  ver  and  located  at  St.  Louis,  and 
there  worked  aUmg  until  1859,  when,  in  the  month 
of  August,  became  over  and  located  in  this  place, 
whieh  WM>  then  ciilled  Illinois  Town,  and  had  been 
laid  out  ill  IS  17.  lie  bought  out  .Mr.  Weis,  wlio.se 
name  is  an  old  and  familiar  one  here,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1861  built  on  Broadway  and  located 
there.  eni;a£;ing  in    the   bakery   business  which   he 


406 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


continued  for  thirteen  years.  Our  subject  had  the 
largest  bakerj-  liere  and  sold  bread  all  through  the 
surrounding  countr}'.  In  1872,  he  began  the  liquor 
business.  In  1865,  Mr.  Traubel  built  a  double  dwell- 
ing on  the  corner  of  Fourth  Street  and  Missouri 
Avenue,  and  in  1888  built  the  brick  business  block 
in  which  his  business  is  conducted.  Tlii-s  is  30x100 
feet  and  two  stories  in  height. 

In  1872,  our  subject  had  the  misfortune  to  lose 
his  bakery  by  the  Ore  which  destro3'ed  many  old 
landmarks,  notably  the  toll-gate  on  the  St.  Clair 
Count.y  turnpike,  but  in  1873  he  put  up  a  brick 
block,  Nos.  211-213  Broadway,  and  called  it  Trau- 
bel's  Hall.  This  has  thirty-one  feet  frontage,  is 
one  hundred  in  length  and  has  two  stories  and  a 
basement.  He  owns  also  a  residence  on  Sixth  and 
Missouri  Avenue  that  has  fifty  feet  frontage.  ISIr. 
Traubel  was  married  here,  Octol)er  15,  1859,  to 
Miss  Annsteu  Delht,  who  was  born  in  Kur-IIessen, 
German}',  and  six  children  have  come  to  gladden 
their  hearts.  These  are:  Karl,  Robert,  Otto,  Will- 
iam, Laura,  and  Anna.  Mr.  Traubel  is  well-knovvn 
here,  being  the  second  oldest  business  man  in  the 
city,  and  is  member  of  the  Ancient  Free  and  Ac- 
cepted Masons  and  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  at  Alton, 
and  was  Treasurer  of  the  Blue  Lodge  and  tlie 
Chapter  for  ten  years.  Our  friend  is  a  true-blue 
Republican,  and  boldl}-  expresses  his  opinions 
without  fear  or  favor.  He  has  lived  through  some 
very  exiting  times  here,  and  could  fill  a  volume 
with  interesting  i-eniiniscences  of  his  eventful  ca- 
reer. 

®- „  ^=1<.  J,  >-f^  ■■,,  -gi 


J.  LINDLY.  The  gentleman  whose  honored 
name  appears  at  the  opening  of  this  sketch 
is  a  representative  of  the  men  of  energy, 
ability  and  enterprise  who  have  made  St. 
Clair  County  so  prominent  in  the  State.  His  name  is 
associated  with  the  rise  and  progress  of  its  agricul- 
ture, as  one  who  has  made  a  success  of  tilling  tlie 
soil  and  of  improving  thi;  stock  of  tlie  county  by 
earef u 1  breed  i  n  g. 

Mr.  Lindly  was  born   in   Madison   County,  on  it 
/'aiiii  about  suvej)  miles  jiofth  yf  LcLiauon,  January 


20.  1831,  and  was  the  son  of  John  and  Sarah  P. 
(Gonterman)  Lindly.  His  father  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 27,  1791,  in  North  Carolina,  where  his  father 
resided.  The  grandfather  took  part  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary War,  and  was  descended  from  English 
parents,  who  could  point  with  pride  to  their  "May- 
flower" ancestors.  The  paternal  grandfather  was 
engaged  in  farming,  and  also  was  a  preacher  in  the 
Baptist  Church,  traveling  about  in  that  relation, 
administering  to  the  people  in  KiMitucky  and  in 
Illinois.  He  moved  into  Kentucky  when  the 
father  of  the  subject  of  our  sketch  was  about  twelve 
years  old,  and  from  there  into  Illinois  just  be- 
fore the  War  of  1812.  He  died  about  the  year 
1810,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five. 

Our  subject  is  doubly  well  born,  for  his  revered 
mother,  who  still  lives  in  lienutifu!  old  age,  can 
trace  an  unbroken  liiu'  liack  to  tlie  Puritan  band 
that  came  over  in  the  "Mayflower"  and  settled  on 
the  bleak  New  England  coast.  She  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 24,  1799,  and  her  life  has  been  one  of  great 
interest.  Slie  was  the  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary 
Uonterinan,  and  was  born  near  Ilopkinsville,  Ky., 
as  her  parents  did  not  come  to  Illinois  until  she 
was  about  seventeen.  They  were  of  Dutch  ances- 
try and  came  originally  from  New  Jersey.  They 
were  old  settlers  of  Madison  County,  and  located 
four  miles  east  of  Edwardsville  and  lived  and  died 
at  that  place.  Mrs.  Lindly,  Sr..  has  two  living 
sisters:  Mary,  who  is  the  widow  of  tlie  lamented 
Julius  Barnsback,  a  merchant  of  Edwardsville,  who 
died  about  forty  years  ago;  and  Lucinda,  who  is 
the  widow  of  Ross  Honk,  who  died  about  twelve 
years  ago. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  married  in  Mad- 
ison County  in  1818,  the  father  having  served  for 
three  years  in  the  War  of  1812,  for  which  service 
the  aged  widciw  now  receives  a  pension.  He 
engaged  in  farming  after  marriage  and  attended 
to  his  religious  affairs  in  tlie  Baptist  connection 
as  carefully  and  as  conscientiousl.v  as  he  did  every 
other  duty  in  his  path  of  life.  He  believed  in 
tlie  principles  of  the  Reimblican  party  and  was  al- 
ways ready  to  uphold  them  to  the  last,  he  dying 
t)ctol)er  3,  1863.  He  iiad  been  twice  married, 
his  first  wife  being  taken  away  in  the  first  year 
p1'    h(.'r    married    life.     The    children    u(    his   sec» 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


407 


ond  marriiige  were  mimerous,  and  from  ttieiu 
have  (Icspended  some  of  the  best  families  of 
this  section.  William  Madison  lives  near  Tana, 
III.,  and  married  Lizzie  Ann  (Sears;  he  became 
the  father  of  fourteen  children,  ten  of  whom  are 
still  livinsr.  Lucinda  lives  seven  miles  north  of 
Lebanon,  in  Madison  County.  She  first  married 
John  Van  Iloozer,  and  h.ad  two  children,  one  of 
whom  died  in  tiie  service  of  his  country.  His 
name  was  Henry,  and  he  belonged  to  the  One 
Hundred  and  Seventeenth  Illinois  Infantry.  Tlic 
other  son,  William,  was  also  a  memlter  of  tliat 
regiment  and  is  still  living.  Lucinda  married 
.Jefferson  Bergen  and  ha-  four  living  children; 
Hannah  lives  at  Alton,  and  married  Aaron  Van 
Iloozer,  wiio  was  a  farmei-  and  died  in  1882;  he 
was  a  Lieutenant  in  the  late  war,  and  left  his 
widow  with  six  children.  Mary  is  living  in  Belle- 
ville. Her  first  husband  died  about  thirty  years 
ago,  leaving  three  children.  Her  .second  husband 
\vas  Hezekiah  McCoy,  who  is  engaged  in  mining. 
She  has  three  children  by  this  marriage.  Sarah  P. 
was  the  wife  of  John  Pyle,  a  farmer,  and  died  in 
1882.  She  left  five  children.  Elizabeth  lives  with 
her  mother  and  is  the  wife  of  A.  W.  Brasher,  a 
merchant  in  this  town,  and  has  two  girls.  Ellen 
P.  is  single  and  lives  with  her  nuplhor.  Two  chil- 
dren died  in  infancy. 

Our  subject  received  a  common-school  education 
and  had  the  advantages  of  a  two-years  cour.se  in 
an  academy.  Removing  to  Lelwnon  in  l.SfK!,  he 
has  devoted  his  life  to  carefully  educating  his 
childien,  to  the  improving  of  his  farm  and  to  the 
raising  of  fine  stock,  ^h:  Lindly  was  married  in 
18.53  to  Miss  Amanda  Palmer,  and  four  children 
were  the  result  of  that  \uiioii.  'I'licy  arc  as  fol- 
lows: Joseph  >'..  married  to  Miss  Alice  Carson,  is 
a  merchant  living  in  Lebanon  and  the  father  of 
one  child;  AFadison  X.  is  a  Deputy  I'nited  States 
Marshal,  located  at  Soutli  McAlester,  I.  T.,  a  law- 
yer by  profession  and  has  three  living  children. 
Cicero  J.,  the  next  son  of  Mr.  Lindly.  deserves 
more  than  a  pa.ssing  notice,  as  he  has  become  a 
very  prominent  man  in  his  State,  being  Judge 
of  the  Bond  County  Court  and  President  of 
the  Farmers'  Mutual  Benefit  Association,  of  the 
State  of    Illinois.     He    rose    to    great    prominence 


during  the  last  contest  for  election  of  Inited  States 
Senator  at  Springfield,  III.,  in  the  winter  of  1891, 
he  being  the  candidate  of  the  Farmers'  Mutual 
Benefit  Association.  He  received  the  votes  of  the 
Republican  members  on  the  last  ballot,  but  the 
tinal  result  was  in  favor  of  John  M.  Palmer.  He 
married  the  daughter  of  Abraham  McNeil  and  has 
one  child.  The  next  child  of  our  subject  was  his 
daughter  Mary,  who  married  .John  Taylor,  a  min- 
ister of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Cluirch.  and  has 
two  children. 

.Mr.  Lindly  of  our  sketch  was  married  a  second 
time,  March  7,  1873.  His  choice  was  Ella  H. 
Pierson,  a  native  of  New  York,  who  was  born  April 
2!t,  184(5.  Two  children  have  been  added  to  the 
family  by  this  uni(jn,  namely:  Cleda  and  Albert. 
The  sons  of  Mr.  Lindly  have  all  graduated  from 
the  schools  here  and  from  the  Commercial  College 
of  St.  Louis,  while  Cicero  and  Madison  are  also 
law  graduates.  Joseph  was  graduated  from  the 
School  of  Pharmacy  in  St.  Louis. 

Mr.  Lindly  has  always  been  a  Republican,  but 
while  taking  great  interest  in  the  stirring  events 
of  the  life  of  the  Nation,  has  never  consented  to 
.accept  an  ottice.  He  clings  to  the  faith  of 
his  ancestors,  and  liberally  supports  the  Baptist 
Church.  His  at)pearance  is  that  of  a  strong  and 
rugged  fanner  and  stock-raiser,  whose  contented 
face  tells  of  the  success  that  has  crowned  his  labors. 


^^i^l-^i-i^li^^i 


=^i,  DOLPHI'S  NORTH.     Like    in.any    of   the 
reijresentative  and  much-esteemed  citizens 
1\    of  St.  Clair  County,   III.,  Mr.  North  is  a 
^/  native  of  the  Keystone  State,  born  in  Mc- 

Alistcrville,  Juniata  County,  November  14,  1834, 
and  his  parents,  .John  and  Jane  11.  (Mc.\lister) 
North,  were  natives  of  the  same  coimty,  the  father 
born  in  I79it  and  the  mother  in  1801.  The  elder 
Mr.  North  was  a  merchant  for  many  years  in  McAlis- 
tcrville,  and  was  also  engaged  in  the  hotel  busi- 
ness. He  was  a  man  noted  for  his  honesty  and 
uprightness,  and  was  an  ardent  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,     lu  [lolitics.  he  affiliated  with 


i-ORTRAlT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  Democratic  party.  His  death  occurred  cm  the 
17th  of  March,  1872,  and  his  life  companion  fol- 
lowed him  to  the  grave  on  the  14th  of  August, 
1890,  when  eighty-nine  years  of  age.  The3'  were 
the  parents  of  an  old-fashioned  family  of  eleven 
children,  who  were  named  in  the  order  of  their 
births  as  follows:  Calvin  Blythe,  Hugh  McAlister, 
Thomas  Elliott,  Amelia  Evans,  Catherine,  Adol- 
phus,  Samuel  Evans,  Edmund  Doty,  Elizabeth, 
Jane,  John  Dallas  and  Alice. 

The  eldest  son,  Calvin  Blythe,  resides  in  Selin's 
Grove,  Pa.,  and  is  cashier  of  the  First  National 
Bank  there.  He  married  Miss  Annie  Richter,and  has 
one  son,  Hugh  McAlister,  who  resides  in  Columbia, 
Pa.,  and  is  a  prominent  attorney  of  that  city.  The 
latter  is  wealthy,  being  worth  over  *.500,000.  He 
married  Miss  Serena  M.  Franltlin,  of  Lancaster,  Pa., 
and  has  a  son  and  daughter.  Thomas  Elliott  re- 
sides in  Carbondale,  111.,  and  is  a  merchant,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  North,  Campbell  cV-  Co.  He 
married  Mrs.  Hattie  Campbell  and  became  the 
father  of  three  children.  Samuel  is  also  in  Car- 
bondale, engaged  in  merchandising.  He  married 
Miss  Mary  Campbell  and  three  children  were  born 
to  his  union.  Edmund  Doty  is  a  lawyer,  and  resides 
at  Lancaster,  Pa.  Catherine  died  when  a  child. 
Elizabeth,  married  Dr.  W.  Richter,  wholesale  lum- 
ber merchant,  and  resides  in  Philadelphia.  They 
have  one  son.  Alice  died  in  childhood.  John  D., 
is  a  farmer  of  Kansas.  Amelia  was  the  wife  of 
Robert  Thompson,  and  died  when  about  twenty- 
six  years  of  age.  The  paternal  grandfather  of 
these  children  was  one  of  tlie  early  settlers  of 
Pennsylvania. 

The  boyhood  of  our  subject  was  passed  at  Mc- 
Alisterville  and  he  received  a  rather  limited  educa- 
tion there,  experience  having  been  liis  teacher  for 
the  most  part.  The  arduous  duties  of  the  farm 
occupied  his  attention  until  twenty-two  years  of 
age.  but  at  the  age  of  seventeen  he  had  begun  learn- 
in''  the  blacksmith  trade,  and  continued  this  in  con- 
nection with  agricultural  pursuits  until  the  former 
a^e.  He  tlien  branched  out  for  himself  as  travel- 
in"  agent  for  F.  M.  Swyer  &  Co.,  of  Belleville,  his 
business  being  to  collect  money  for  the  firm.  He 
was  thus  engaged  for  four  years.  At  the  breaking 
out  of  the  war,  he  returned  Lo  Belleville,  and  on 


the  4th  of  April,  1861,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Paulina  Bradsby,  daughter  of  James  W.  Bradsby, 
and  a  native  of  Lebanon  Township.  The  follow- 
ing ciiildren  have  been  born  to  this  union:  Alice, 
who  died  in  childliood;  James  Calvin,  Minnie  M., 
Joliii  Edwin,  one  who  died  in  infancy,. Samuel  Dal- 
las, and  Henry  1).,  who  also  died  in  infancy.  The 
eldest  child  is  single  and  at  home;  Minnie  M.  mar- 
ried Louis  Reinhardt,  a  merchant,  and  has  one 
child;  John  E.,  single,  at  liome;  and  Samuel  D., 
also  at  home. 

Mrs.  North,  a  lady  oi  iinicli  retiiiement  and  cul- 
ture, died  in  January,  188(1,  when  about  forty-four 
years  of  age.  Mr.  North's  second  marriage  oc- 
curred on  tiie  17th  of  November,  1880,  to  Miss 
Laura  Louisa  Swyer,  a  native  of  Belleville.  Her 
parents  were  natives  of  Virginia.  Mr.  North  has 
resided  on  his  present  farm  since  his  first  marriage. 
and  has  a  tract  of  tliree  hundred  and  thirty-four 
acres,  all  well  cultivated  and  well  improved.  He 
has  been  School  Director  of  his  township  and  has 
also  been  Trustee  of  his  township.  Socially,  he 
is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  and  has  gone  through  all  the  chairs  of 
tlie  lodge.  In  liis  religious  views,  he  is  a  Presby- 
terian. 


\T^s  HILLIP  ADAM  GALCH.  Among  the  prom- 
I  )))  inent  agriculturists  wiio  were  born  across 
!  f^  the  seas  and  who  iiave  brought  to  this 
J  \  country  those  characteristics  which  make 
them  successful  here,  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
who  resides  on  section  10,  Smithton  Township. 
He  was  born  in  Berne,  Germany,  May  18,  1829, 
and  came  to  America  with  his  parents.  His  father 
was  Christian  Gauch,  also  a  native  of  Germany. 
When  the  family  first  came  to  this  country  they 
located  in  New  York  City  for  the  first  winter. 

Mr.  Gauch  and  family  tiicn  removed  to  Nor- 
wich, Conn.,  but  that  place  did  not  seem  enough 
like  home  to  induce  them  to  remain,  and  they  went 
on  to  Allegheny  Cit}',  I'a.,  from  there  to  Belle- 
ville 111.,  and  finally  to  .St.  Louis,  where  the  father 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


409 


settled  on  land  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  from 
Douglas,  and  there  remained  for  a  year.  At  that 
time  he  was  looking  for  a  place  for  a  permanent 
home  and  found  it  in  the  laud  whicli  our  subject 
now  owns.  Here  the  family  moved  and  the  father 
finally  died.  He  had  a  family  of  eight  ehildien, 
only  four  of  them  now  living. 

Our  subject  was  about  twelve  years  old  wjien 
the  father  located  on  this  place.  He  worked  with 
his  parents  until  manhood,  and  in  due  time 
thought  of  a  home  of  his  own.  In  pursuance  of 
this  idea,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  Mary  Bren- 
ner, the  daughter  of  Ueorge  Brenner,  an  early  set- 
tler here.  After  their  marriage,  the  young  couple 
made  this  their  home,  but  on  the  loth  of  December, 
1891,  tlie  wife  died.  Her  birth  occurred  in  Ger- 
many in  1848,  and  she  had  lived  in  this  country 
since  her  ninth  year. 

The  farm  of  our  subjec  t  contains  one  hundred 
acres  of  highly  improved  land,  on  which  lie  raises 
both  grain  and  stock.  He  carries  on  a  sj'Stem  of 
general  farming,  which  lie  has  learned  the  secret 
of  making  very  jirotitable.  Mr.  Gaucli  is  nicely 
located,  his  brick  house  and  neat  barn  and  out- 
buildings reflecting  great  credit  upon  his  taste. 
He  raises  a  great  many  apples  on  this  place  and 
never  has  any  difficulty  in  disposing  of  them.  Mr. 
Gauch  obtained  a  better  education  than  many  far- 
mer bo3's  and  is  a  very  intelligenl  man.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Evangelical  Church  and  is  higiily 
regarded  m  this  connection.  Politically,  he  is 
and  has  alw.ays  been  a  Republican,  and  is  a  man 
who  stands  well  with  every  class  in  his  neiglil)or- 
hood. 


34.4.4.4.'^^^  4,4.,;»,^C: 


EUWAHU  D.  SIUCJKKY,  Deputy  Kecoriler 
for  St.  Clair  County,  is  a  man  who  dis- 
proves the  statement  that  a  prominent  niiin 
never  has  a  prominent  son,  as  both  he  and  his 
father  have  figured  conspicuously  in  the  history 
of  this  county.  The  latter,  Maj.  Aaron  Stookey, 
son  of  Daniel  Stookey  was  born  September  21. 
1808,  and  was  educated  iu  a  private  school  on  his 


father's  farm,  which  occupied  the  present  site  of 
Belleville. 

Aaron  Stookey  continued  to  reside  on  this 
farm,  and  served  as  one  of  the  early  militia- 
men during  the  Black  Hawk  War,  being  a  Major. 
After  the  close  of  that  war,  he  returned  to  the 
farm  and  married  Miss  Margaret  Miller,  also  a  na- 
tive of  this  county,  born  in  June,  1809,  a  daughter 
of  one  of  the  oldest  pioneers.  Mr.  and  Mrs;  Stook- 
ey lived  on  the  farm  and  reared  a  family  of  six 
children :  Albert,  who  died  in  the  array,  a  member  of 
Company  E,  Fifty-ninth  Illinois  Infantry;  Vincent 
engaged  in  hardware  trade  at  Pinckneyville,  111.; 
Caroline,  who  was  born,  educated  .and  died  in  this 
county;  William,  owner  of  a  large  stock  ranch  in 
Dawson  County,  Neb.;  Lewis,  a  farmer  of  St. 
Clair  Township;  and  our  subject,  the  youngest  of 
the  family.  The  fatlier,  Aaron,  lived  on  the  farm 
taken  up  by  his  father,  and  our  subject  still  owns 
[lart  of  the  original  homestead,  it  never  having 
been  out  of  the  Stookey  family.  The  revered 
father  died  some  years  ago,  .January  18,  1878,  but 
his  wife  survived  him  until  .January  1«.  1X92, 
when  she  too  joined  the  unseen  throng. 

Edward,  our  subject,  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Belleville  and  at  St.  I.ouis  in 
a  widely-known  commercial  college.  After  com- 
pleting a  course  at  the  last-named  institution,  he 
taught  school  for  twelve  years  in  this  county,  until 
1888,  when  he  was  appointed  to  his  present  posi- 
tion by  Mr.  Lill,  which  office  he  has  filled  efficiently, 
giving  the  most  perfect  satisfaction.  In  addition 
to  his  other  duties,  Mr.  Stookey  deals  somewhat  in 
East  St.  Louis  real  estate,  which  demands  his  at- 
tention and  presence  in  that  city  to  a  great  extent. 
In  April,  1880,  he  decided  that  it  is  not  good 
for  man  to  live  alone,  so  he  took  unto  himself 
a  wife  in  the  person  of  Miss  Clementine  Coop, 
of  Waterloo,  III.,  daughter  of  Thomas  Coop,  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  Monroe  County,  having  emi- 
grated there  when  only  a  boy  in  1818,  and  becom- 
ing a  prominent  fanner  of  that  section.  Mrs. 
Stookey  was  born  September  18,  1857,  and  is  a 
graduate  of  St.  .Joseph's  Convent  at  Waterloo.  Jlr. 
and  Mrs.  Stookey  are  the  happy  parents  of  five 
children,  Albert,  Mary,  Chester,  Elmer  and  Cle- 
mentine, and  are  very  prominent  members  of    St. 


410 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Luke's  Catholic  Church.  Mr.  Stookey  is  identified 
witli  the  C.  K.  of  I.W.  C.U.,  and  is  Trustee  of 
Schools  for  St.  Clair  and  Belleville.  Thus  briefly- 
have  we  endeavored  to  outline  the  life  of  one  of 
Belleville's  most  prominent  and  influential  citi- 
zens. 


J""  OHN  GRIFFIN  resides  on  section  25,  Free- 
burg  Township,  where  he  has  a  fine  farm 
of  two  hundred  and  nineteen  acres.  His 
'  prominence  among  the  citizens  of  St.  Clair 
County  is  the  result  of  his  straightforward  deal- 
ings with  all,  as  well  as  the  enterprise  he  displays 
in  the  management  of  his  affairs.  He  is  well  known, 
for  he  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  this  county,  and 
has  ever  maintained  a  deep  interest  in  its  progress. 
His  father,  Abraham  GrifBn,  was  also  a  native  of 
Illinois,  and  resided  where  our  subject  now  makes 
his  home. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  took  place  July  3,  1837, 
in  New  Athens  Township,  on  Grumm  Hill,  where 
he  was  reared  and  educated  in  the  district  schools. 
After  the  death  of  his  father,  which  occurred  when 
he  was  a  child,  he  was  taken  into  the  home  of  his 
uncle,  John  GrifBn,  after  whom  he  was  named.  He 
was  heir  to  1800  from  the  estate  of  his  fatlier,  and 
upon  receiving  it,  when  he  liecameof  age,  he  went 
to  school  during  one  winter  in  Mascoutah.  He  then 
worked  out  for  a  year,  and  carefully  economized 
his  earnings  in  order  that  he  might  establish  a  home 
of  his  own. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Griffin  united  him  witli 
Miss  Mary,  the  daughter  of  Edward  McCaren,  for 
whom  he  had  been  farming.  After  his  marriage, 
our  subject  remained  with  his  father-in-law  for 
three  years,  and  then  bought  a  part  of  his  grand- 
father's place  for  11,500,  paying  for  the  land  as  he 
was  able.  A  man  of  excellent  judgment,  he  was 
wise  in  his  investments,  and  gained  a  competencj^ 
thereby.  He  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  where 
Henry  Berte  now  lives,  and  after  cultivating  it  for 
a  year,  sold  it  to  Charles  Moloch  at  an  advance  of 
$1,300.  He  then  bought  from  Nathan  Land  a  farm 


of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Freeburg  Town- 
ship, and  a  year  after  purchasing  the  place  he  was 
able  to  sell  it  at  an  advance  of  $1,300,  the  buyers 
being  Messrs.  Cooleyand  Etling.  He  then  bought 
from  Blaney  Pitts  the  place  where  he  now  lives, 
and  about  tiiree  years  afterward  located  upon   it. 

Aftei'  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  our  subject 
married  Ellen  C,  the  daughter  of  William  Wilder- 
man,  who  was  an  early  resident  of  this  county. 
Mr.  Griffin  has  had  a  family  of  five  children,  of 
whom  but  one  remains.  The  children  of  his  first 
union,  C3'nthia  and  Edward  (the  lattera  physician 
of  Jackson  County),  are  both  deceased.  John,  born 
of  his  second  marriage,  is  also  deceased.  Arthur  is 
the  only  son  now  living. 

The  farm  of  Mr.  (Trillin  shows  care  and  attention, 
and  proves  him  to  be  a  good  farmer.  He  raises 
grain  principally,  and  understands  the  soil,  so 
that  his  crops  are  never  a  failure.  Politicall3',  he 
believes  in  the  doctrines  of  free  trade  as  held 
by  the  Democratic  party,  and  is  never  backward 
in  showing  his  faith  in  the  tenets  of  that  party. 
He  has  taken  a  great  interest  in  educational  mat- 
ters, has  been  called  upon  to  assiune  the  im- 
portant office  of  School  Trustee,  and  has  served 
his  district  as  School  Director  for  nine  years.  Mr. 
Griffin  has  been  a  very  hard  worker,  and  his  fine 
farm  and  comfortable  buildings  prove  his  industry. 
He  has  made  all  of  the  improvements  on  the  place, 
there  having  been  nothing  here  luit  a  liarn  and  an 
old  well  when  he  came. 


Sii[^l^;ic^sil 


/p^EORGE  and  PETER  KANZLEK.  W^ell-di- 
II  rected  energy  and   honorable   dealings  al- 

\^/|  ways  tell  in  business  .as  in  everything  else. 
Kanzler  Bros,  have  conducted  a  very  prosperous 
business  since  1880,  and  during  the  whole  time 
that  has  elapsed  their  tr.ade  has  advanced  by 
rapid  strides,  until  to-day  they  are  enjoying  per- 
haps the  largest  trade  in  the  city.  It  may  natur- 
allly  be  asked,  what  has  contributed  most  to  so 
great  a  success?  Everything  connected  with  their 
business  and  their   manner  of  conducting  it   lias 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPmCAL  RECORD. 


A\^ 


oiuli  and  all  cdiitributefl  to  tliis  result.  Tlii-y 
have  their  iiiiarlers  at  Nos.  327  and  329  North 
liliDois  Street,  Belleville,  where  tliey  cater  to  a 
medium  and  fine  trade,  and  are  always  abreast  of 
tlie  times.  They  have  a  large  double  store  and 
carry  a  large  line  of  staple  and  faiioy  drygoods 
and  oroeerie^. 

Peter  Kanzler  was  horn  in  Delli'vilk',  111.,  on  the 
1st  of  February,  18.50.  to  the  marriage  of  Charles 
1-".  and  .loiiannah  (Rudolph)  Kanzler,  natives  of 
CJermany.  Tlic  parents  were  reared  in  their  na- 
tive country,  and  were  there  married.  After  the 
birth  of  two  children,  or  in  IMIS.  they  sailed 
for  America,  and  in  the  same  year  located  in 
I'.elleville.  III.  The  father  had  followed  the  trade 
of  a  slioemaker  in  his  native  country,  and  he  con- 
tinued this  after  reaching  Belleville.  lie  went 
still  farther  and  opened  a  shoe  store,  which  he 
cairied  on  witii  much  success  until  his  death,  in 
.lanuary,  1H(!!I.  Like  the  majority  of  his  coun- 
trymen, he  was  industrious  and  ptrsevering,  and 
these  characteristics  brought  him  in  substantial 
results,  lie  left  a  widow  and  two  sons,  (ieorge 
and  Peter. 

The  education  of  the  latter  was  received  in  the 
schools  of  Belleville,  and,  as  he  had  inhi'rited  the 
thrift  and  energy  of  his  father,  he  began  clerking 
as  soon  as  he  left  the  schoolroom.  He  was  first 
witli  .1.  W.  Koska,  later  with  Burchard  tV  Drees, 
tlien  with  West  &  Fuchs.  and  finally  with  II. 
Deideshcinier,  with  whom  he  lemained  for  a 
period  of  eight  years.  About  this  time,  he  had 
accumulated  considerable  means  and  a  strong  de- 
.-ire  took  possession  of  him  to  embark  in  business 
for  himself  in  the  firm  of  Kohl,  Lind  A-  Kanzler, 
dealers  in  drygoods  and  groceries.  This  i)artncr- 
ship  lasted  for  three  years  and  then  our  subject 
f)pened  a  small  grocery  store  for  himself  at  his 
[Mcsent  location.  This  was  in"  1879,  an<l  after 
continuing  this  successfully  for  one  year  his 
lirother  George  became  a  partner  under  the  liiin 
name  of  Peter  Kanzler  it  Bro. 

During  the  year  188.'),  Peter  Kanzler  sold  out 
and  went  to  Europe,  where  he  remained  some 
time,  but  upon  his  return  he  resumed  his  former 
business  under  the  firm  name  of  Kanzler  Bros. 
Tiiev  have  carried    on   business    under    that    title 


.>ince,  and  are  meeting  with  success.  Their  store 
is  50x70  feet,  is  well  filled  with  a  full  and  com- 
plete stock,  and  is  located  four  blocks  north  of 
the  court  house.  From  a  small  beginning  they 
gradually  increased  their  business  until  now  they 
have  a  fine  large  stock  in  each  line. 

^Ir.  Kanzler  chose  his  bride  in  the  person  of 
Miss  Ida  Amanda  Beyer,  of  Belleville,  111.,  and 
their  marriage  was  solemnized  on  the  17th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1878.  .She  is  a  daughter  of  Simon  B.  Beyer. 
Mr.  and  Mi-s.  Kanzler  are  the  parents  of  three  in- 
teresting little  children:  .lohanna  C.,  Charles  Fred- 
erick and  Arthur  Henry.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kanzler 
are  members  of  St.  Paul's  Free  Protestant   Church. 


j;_^  ARKY  FR.VNCIS  PARRY.  The  bu.-ine.-,s 
r)j,  in  livestock  of  all  kinds  engages  theatten- 
iV^  tion  of  a  number  of  prosperous  firms,  and 
(^J  the  number  of  animals  received  at  and 
shipped  from  East  St.  Louis,  III.,  makes  uj)  a  prom- 
inent item  and  one  which  adds  materially  to  the  ag- 
gregate of  the  city's  trade.  One  of  the  most  exten- 
sive and  prosperous  firms  of  the  AVest  is  the  Camp- 
bell Commission  Company,  of  which  Mr.  Parry  is 
the  efficient  manager.  The  compan}-  was  incorpor- 
ated with  a  paid-uj)  capital  stock  of  -^12.5, 000  and 
does  business  with  the  I'nion  Stock  Yards  of  Chi- 
cago, I II.;  the  National  Stock  Yards  of  East  St.  Louis, 
III.;  the  Kansas  City  Stock  Yards,  of  Kan.«as  City, 
^lo.;  the  Union  Stock  Yards,  of  .South  Omaha.  Neb.; 
an<l  the  Union  Stock  Yards,  of  Sioux  Cil}',  Iowa. 
The  gentlemen  composing  this  firm  meet  with  suc- 
cess that  is  warranted  by  the  fact  that  they  possess 
the  reipiisite  (lualifications  for  conducting  the  busi- 
ness, their  knowledge  of  live  stock  and  their  ac- 
<iuaintance  with  stock  men  being  extensive.  By- 
fairness  in  their  dealings  with  the  trade,  they  have 
built  their  business  to  its  present  gratifying  pro- 
portions and  have  demonstrated  what  can  be  ac- 
complished liy  enterprise  supplemented  by  experi- 
ence. 

Mr.  Parry  was  born  at  Chester  Springs,  Cliester 
County,  Pa..  .lanuary    I,    1853,  to  Captain  Joseph 


414 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Parry,  who  was  also  born  in  that  country,  in  1828, 
at  which  place  the  grandfather  was  also  horn.  The 
great-grandfather  came  to  this  country  from  AV^ales, 
in  company  with  several  brothers  and  was  a  partici- 
pant in  the  Revolutionary  War,  after  which  he  set- 
tled in  Pennsylvania  where  he  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  daj-s.  The  grandfather  was  a  farmer,  and  on 
his  place  in  Pennsylvania  relics  of  the  Revolution- 
ary War  could  be  found  for  manj-  years  after.  His 
land  was  situated  near  Paola  Monument,  which  was 
erected  in  remembrance  of  the  bloody  Paola  mas- 
sacre, and  was  the  scene  of  several  battles.  He 
reached  the  age  of  eight3'-six  years  and  until 
almost  the  last  of  his  life  he  was  noted  for  his 
great  strength.  He  was  a  Quaker  and  possessed 
the  gentle  manners  and  peaceful  disposition  for 
which  that  religious  sect  has  always  been  noted. 

Capt.  Joseph  Parry  was  a  miller  by  occupation, 
and  after  his  marriage  to  Miss  Emma  Rogers  in 
Chester  County,  Pa.,  in  1854,  he  removed  to  Del- 
aware and  located  at  Smyrna,  where  he  engaged  in 
milling  and  farming,  in  partnership  with  David  J. 
Murphy,  which  business  he  successfully  continued 
for  four  years.  While  on  business  in  Philadelphia, 
Pa.,  he  died  in  1872,  at  the  age  of  forty-four  years, 
and  his  death  coming  so  unexpectedly  was  a  great 
shock  to  his  family.  He  obtained  his  title  of  Cap- 
tain while  a  member  of  Company  E,  Fifth  Delaware 
Iiifantr}^,  being  commissioned  by  President  Lincoln 
through  Secretary  Stanton.  In  October,  1862,  he 
was  honorably  discharged  and  returned  home,  He 
was  a  Democrat  politically  and  was  a  pillar  in  the 
Methodist  Ei)iscopal  Church.  At  the  time  of  his 
death  he  weighed  about  two  hundred  and  fifty 
pounds.  His  wife's  people  were  Friends,  or  Quakers, 
and  were  of  English  descent.  She  died  in  Dela- 
ware in  1861,  having  become  the  mother  of  four 
children,  two  of  whom  grew  to  maturity:  John  L., 
a  stock  dealer  of  Kansas  City,  Mo.;  and  Harry 
Francis,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

This  wide-awake  business  man  was  reared  in 
Smyrna,  Del.,  and  received  a  careful  industrial 
training  on  his  father's  farm,  and  a  practical  and 
thorough  education  in  the  common  and  High 
Schools  of  Smyrna,  and  in  Wilmington  College,  of 
Wilmington,  Del.  Upon  the  death  of  his  father  he 
began  working  for  a  brotlier   in    the  milling  busi- 


ness, with  whom  he  remained  until  he  was  twenty 
years  of  age.  In  1873  business  considerations  in- 
duced him  to  remove  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  but  after 
some  time  devoted  to  the  milling  business  in  that 
cit3-,  he  decided  that  the  work  was  too  arduous,  and 
formed  the  resolution  to  learn  telegraph}'.  The 
stock  yards  of  East  St.  Louis  were  just  about  com- 
pleted at  that  time,  and  as  he  had  early  in  life  de- 
veloped a  genius  for  the  successful  conduct  of 
business  affairs,  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  the 
office  at  this  place,  of  whicli  he  was  the  successful 
manager  until  1885,  when  he  resigned.  With  an 
excellent  recommendation  from  his  former  employ- 
ers, he  took  charge  of  the  office  books  of  J.  H.  Camp- 
bell &  Co.,  and  when  the  firm  was  incorporated  he 
became  one  of  its  stockholders  and  manager  at  the 
National  Stock  Yards  of  East  St.  Louis,  having  en- 
tire charge  of  the  business  at  that  point.  The  estab- 
lishment with  which  he  is  connected  is  one  of  the 
largest  commission  houses  in  the  United  States 
and  is  well  and  most  favorably  known  to  stockmen 
throughout  the  countr}-. 

Our  subject  is  a  stockhohler  in  the  First  Mutual 
Building  it  Loan  Association,  and  the  Second  Mu- 
tual Building  &  Loan  Association;  he  belongs  to  the 
St.  Louis  Live  Stock  Exchange,  of  which  he  is  Vice- 
president,  is  active  in  upholding  the  present  gov- 
ernment of  the  city,  and  was  one  of  the  three  com- 
missioners appointed  by  Judge  Hay  to  assess  all 
propert}-  owners  who  were  benefited  by  the  erec- 
tion of  the  East  St.  Louis  Viaduct.  He  was  one 
of  the  prime  movers  in  the  organization  of  the  East 
St.  Louis  Public  Library  and  Reading  Room,  and 
is  now  Secretary  and  one  of  the  Board  of  Di- 
rectors. A  Democrat  in  politics,  he  is  no  aspirant 
for  office,  much  preferring  the  duties  of  civil  life 
to  the  turmoil  of  politics.  Socially,  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  in 
which  honored  order  he  was  for  two  years  Wor- 
shipful Master,  and  also  belongs  to  the  Order  of 
Owls.  Coming  as  he  does  from  good  old  Quaker 
stock,  he  inherited  all  the  physical  and  intellectual 
vigor  of  his  ancestry,  along  with  the  prudence 
and  good  judgment  which  have  always  distin- 
guished that  sect,  and  has  always  been  quick  to 
perceive  and  grasp  at  an  opportunity  for  profitable 
investment.     His  code  of  morals  is  of  the   Quaker 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


415 


type,  impelling  him  always  to  a  just  consideialion 
of  the  rights  of  all  with  whom  he  is  brought  into 
contact,  and  to  a  conscientious  observance  of  nil  the 
proprieties  of  life.  Thus  he  has  won  niHuy  friend- 
ships, which  n\-o\\  stronger  with  more  inliinatf  ac- 
quaintance. 

^Ir.  Parry  is  erecting  for  himself  a  beautiful  resi- 
dence at  No.  634  Ninth  Street,  and  also  owns  other 
valuable  property  in  the  city.  He  was  married  in 
Delaware  in  January,  1875.  to  Miss  Mattic  Stock- 
well,  a  native  of  the  State  of  New  York,  a  daughter 
of  Louis  Stockwell,  of  the  old  Commodore  Stock- 
well  family.  She  died  in  187li,  leaving  one  child. 
Harry,  who  is  attending  Dover  Academy  in  Dela- 
ware. His  second  marriage  took  place  in  St.  Louis 
in  1881,  Miss  Jennie  Richards,  a  native  of  Belle- 
ville, 111.,  and  a  daughter  of  August  Richards,  be- 
coming his  wife.  Mr.  Parry  is  an  ideal  man  of 
business,  active,  energetic,  honorable  and  cordial. 
and  to  the  commercial  and  social  circles  of  Last  St. 
Louis  he  is  considered  a  decided  acquisition. 


•^^  J-  DANIKL.  The  Blue  Grass  .State  has 
/^^  given  to  Illinois  many  estimable  citizens, 
\^^  but  she  has  contributed  none  more  worthy 
of  notice  or  more  highly  esteemed'  than  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  who  is  one  of  the  prominent 
stockmen  of  the  State,  being  a  member  of  the 
Kvans-.Snider-Buel  Co.,  large  commercial  men  with 
a  capital  stock  of  *200,000.  He  w.as  born  in 
Winchester,  Clark  County,  on  the  24th  of  July, 
1848.  to  the  union  of  Willis  and  Sarah  C  (.lack- 
son)  Daniel,  who  were  natives  of  Kentucky.  'Flic 
paternal  grandfather  was  a  \'irginian  by  birth,  liut 
an  early  setllei-  of  Kentucky,  and  was  related  to 
the  celebrated  Daniel  Boone.  The  maternal  grand- 
father was  also  an  early  settler  of  Kentucky.  The 
father  of  our  subject  was  reared  in  his  native  State, 
and  after  marriage  followed  farming  near  Win- 
chester until  his  death  in  1852.  Afterward,  the 
mother  married  Dr.  S.  N.  Yates  and  removed  to 
.Sturgeon,  Mo.,  where  her  death  occurred.  She  was 
a  member  of  the   Christian   Church.     To  the  tirst 


union  were  born  seven  children,  four  of  whom  are 
now  living,  and  three  children  were  the  fruits  of 
the  second  marriage,  two  now  living. 

T.  J.  Daniel,  who  w.as  next  to  the  younge.sl  in 
order  of  birth  of  the  children  born  to  the  first 
union,  was  reared  in  Kentucky  until  eight  j-ears  of 
.ige,  when  he  came  with  his  mother  by  boat  to  St. 
Louis,  in  185(5.  They  went  b}- team  from  there  to 
.Sturgeon,  and  our  subject  attended  the  public 
schools  there.  Later,  he  entered  the  college  at 
Mexico,  Mo.,  and  remained  there  two  years.  From 
early  boyhood,  he  had  shown  a  marked  liking  for 
stock  farming,  and  in  1 870,  when  twenty-two yeai-s 
of  age,  he  started  out  for  himself.  He  came  to  St. 
Louis  and  entered  the  Ashbiook  yards,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  driving  stock  with  a  ponj*  for  a 
year.  Afterward,  he  was  employed  b}'  the  Irons 
Casting  Company,  w.is  with  them  for  six  years  and 
the  last  year  he  w.as  foreman  in  the  cattle  yards. 

In  1877  he  came  to  the  National  Slock  Yards, 
wa-  in  the  employ  of  the  company  for  three  years, 
l>ut  has  been  familiar  with  the  stock  yards  since 
\xl\.  In  1880  he  became  a  partner  with  Little, 
Jarvis  i^'  Co.,  acting  as  cattle  stockman,  and  con- 
tinued with  them  about  four  yeai-s,  and  then  en- 
tered the  employ  of  Hunter,  Evans  &  Co.,  as  cattle 
salesman.  In  1889,  the  Evans-Snider-Buel  Co., 
was  incorporated  and  he  became  a  stockholder  and 
was  cattle  salesman.  This  company  is  doing  a 
nourishing  and  extensive  business  and  has  offices  in 
Chicago,  Kansas  City  and  here,  our  subject  super- 
intending all  the  sales.  Mr.  Daniel  is  the  owner 
of  considerable  real  estate  in  the  city  and  is  a 
member  of  the  First  .Mutual  Building  and  Loan 
Association.  He  resides  at  Nu.  yM\  North  Kighth 
Street. 

The  marriage  of  our  suliject  to  Miss  Mary  .M. 
Yates  occurred  in  St.  Loui^  in  1877,  and  three 
children  have  been  given  them:  James  H..  deceased; 
Thomas  .Teflferson.  Jr.,  and  Flato  Willis.  Mrs.  Dan- 
iel, who  was  born  in  Missouri,  w.as  reared  in  St. 
Louis.  In  April,  1890,  Mr.  Daniel  w;is  elected  a 
member  of  the  School  Hoard  and  holds  that  position 
1  at  the  present  time.  In  April  of  the  following  vear, 
I  he  was  elected  Alderman  from  the  Sixth  Ward. 
He  is  at  present  Chairman  of  the  Water  Committee 
and  has  held  many  positions  of  trust  in    the   city. 


410 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


In  politics,  he  is  a  Democrat,  has  ever  been  an 
active  worker  for  his  party,  and  has  been  a  dele- 
gate to  county  and  State  conventions.  Socially-, 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  He  is 
interested  in  all  religious  enterprises,  is  Deacon  in 
the  Christian  Cliuroli  and  assisted  in  building  the 
church. 


EDWARD  .7.  SCOTT.  The  agreeable  and 
popular  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Coiu-t  of  St. 
'  Clair   Count}-,  at    Belleville,   was    born    in 

this  county  November  14,  1834,  and  was  the  son 
of  Felix  Scott,  one  of  the  old  settlers.  His  grand- 
father, Joseph,  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  was  a  ver}^ 
old  pioneer,  who  took  up  land  when  the  present 
State  was  yet  a  Territorj^,  having  come  from  Vir- 
ginia. The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  the 
same  place,  but  obtained  his  education  in  this 
county  and  here  grew  to  maturity. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject  had  a  powder 
mill  on  his  place  and  provided  the  powder  used 
in  the  Black  Hawk  War.  The  old  gentleman  spent 
his  last  da^'s  with  his  son  in  this  city,  and  died  in 
1871  or  1872.  Felix  Scott,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, married  Miss  Nicy  Moore,  daughter  of  Gen. 
James  Moore,  of  Monroe  Count}',  who  figured 
prominently  in  the  Black  Hawk  War.  The  Scott 
family  lived  on  the  old  homestead  until  Felix 
came  to  Belleville,  about  1878,  and  remained  liere 
until  the  time  of  his  death,  about  six  years  later, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  The  family 
consisted  of  two  sons,  our  subject  and  James  M., 
now  of  Ihintsville,  Mo.,  who  was  a  member  of 
the  Jlethodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Our  subject  enjoyed  the  advantage  of  an  edu- 
cation at  Shuitleff  College,  in  Upper  Alton, and  at 
McKendree  College.  His  career  began  on  a  river 
steamboat,  wliere  he  remained  for  two  and  one-half 
years,  and  then  worked  at  farming  until  the  peal  of 
the  war  bells  rang  out.  Then  he  enlisted,  in  August, 
1862,  in  Company  I,  One  Hundred  and  Seven- 
teenth Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  sent  to  Memphis, 
thence  down  through  the  States  where  the  war 
was  raging.    Mr.  Scott  was  at  Meridian,  Miss.;  Ox- 


ford, in  the  same  State;  through  the  campaigns  in 
Louisiana,  Arkansas,  IMissouri;  thence  back  to  Ten- 
nessee; then  to  Mobile,  Ala.;  and  finally  reached 
home  in  180;').  Entering  the  struggle  a  private, 
for  meritorious  conduct  he  was  promoted  to  be 
(Orderly-Sergeant. 

After  his  return,  Mr.  Scott  engaged  in  farming 
for  a  year,  and  then  went  to  Duquoin,  111.,  to  carry 
on  a  business  in  hay,  when,  one  year  having 
passed,  he  was  .appointed  a  clerk  in  the  Census 
De])artment  in  Washington  City,  becoming  later 
a  clerk  in  the  Land  Office.  Our  subject  then  re- 
retiu'ned  to  the  farm  for  two  j-ears,  after  which 
he  wiis  elected  to  the  i)osition  he  now  holds.  The 
old  home  farm,  which  his  grandfather  obtained 
from  the  Government,  is  his,  and  it  is  a  pliice  of 
interest  as  being  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  county. 
The  title  has  never  been  out  of  the  Scott  family. 
The  marriage  of  Mr.  Scott  took  place  January  17, 
1860,  with  Miss  Mary  E.  Wilderman,  a  daughter 
of  Francis  Wilderman,  one  of  the  old  settlers. 
One  cliild  is  the  result  of  this  union,  Felix,  who  is 
at  school  in  St.  Louis.  Mr.  Scott  is  a  member  of 
Hecker  Post  No.  2,  G.  A.  R.  He  and  his  pleas- 
ant and  entertaining  wife  are  memliers  of  tlie  best 
circle's  of  society  in  Belleville. 


-^^ 


PAVIl)  I).  MILLER.  Sixty-two  years  of  resi- 
)  dence  on  a  farm  must  create  an  affection  for 
^  the  place,  which  no  doubt  is  understood  by 

the  subject  of  the  following  sketch.  He  was  the 
son  of  Absalom  Miller,  who  came  here  from  Vir- 
ginia at  a  very  early  day  and  bought  land  of  the 
Government.  He  had  first  settled  north  of  East  St. 
Louis,  but  remained  there  onl}'  a  short  time,  when 
he  came  to  this  pl.ace  and  soon  married  Miss  Sallie 
Carr,  who  was  the  daughter  of  Henry  Carr.  They 
reared  a  family  of  six  children,  all  of  whom 
reached  a  good  age  but  are  now  deceased,  with  the 
exception  of  our  subject.  They  were  Alexander, 
Jefferson,  David,  Bethsheba,  Betsey  and  Mary. 
The  father  was  one  of  the  soldiers  who  did  such 
good  service  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  was  a 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


417 


veiy  successful  farniei-.  at  one  time  owniiio-  two 
large  tracts  of  land  in  this  county. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  horn  where  he 
now  lives  December  11.  182'.'.  lie  was  reared  and 
educated  here  and  grew  up  to  understand  the  busi- 
ness which  has  occupied  his  life.  He  was  married 
in  18o()  to  Miss  .Sallie  Burnett  who  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  Alexander  liurnett,  a  farmer  on  Township  2, 
where  Mrs  Miller  was  reared.  Two  children  were 
born  to  Mr  and  Mrs  Miller:  Andrew  O.,  who  mar- 
ried Miss  Ella  S.  Smith  and  lives  with  our  subject, 
and  James,  who  married  Miss  Lizzie  Smith  and 
lives  near. 

The  farm  of  Mr  MiHer  contains  otic  huudrcd 
and  eighty-two  acres,  all  well  improved,  and  upon 
which  great  harvests  of  grain  are  raised.  JL-. 
Miller  is  a  member  of  the  Farmers'  IMutal  Henefit 
Association,  and  politically  is  a  strong  Democrat. 
Ha  has  held  tiie  otiice  of  School  Director,  and  hiis 
given  such  good  satisfaction  that  he  has  served  for 
twenty-seven  years  b\-  election.  He  has  taken  a 
vevy  active  part  in  the  conventions  of  his  political 
party  in  the  county  and  in  18!I0  was  sent  as  a  del- 
egate to  the  State  convention  at  Springfield.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Central  Committee, and  has  been 
Chairman  of  the  local  county  and  townshi))  com- 
mittees. In  his  lf)ng  residence  here  he  has  .seen 
many  improvements. 


rDWAHl)    V.    BRH:s.\CnEK  is  a  gentleman 
who  has  held  the  in 


|lw  ^^'''^'  ''='^  '"''•'  f^'"^  important  oftice  of  School 
'1' — ^  Director  for  twelve  years  and  is  one  of  the 
prominent  and  influential  farmers  of  his  locality. 
He  is  of  (lerman  descent,  as  both  his  parents  were 
natives  of  the  Fatherland,  the  father,  George, 
coming  to  .America  in  1828,  landing  in  New  York, 
from  which  |)lace  he  came,  two  years  later,  to  .St. 
Clair  County,  .settling  on  the  farm  when-  his  son 
Edward  now  resides. 

The  mother  of  our  subject,  Christina  Koath, 
came  to  the  United  States  about  four  years  later 
Uiau  he  who  was  destined  to  be  her  husband.  luuU« 


ing  in  New  Orleans,  from  which  pl.ace  she  made 
her  way  to  St.  Clair  County  and  married  JL.  Brie- 
sacher  the  same  year.  These  two  carried  on  farm- 
ing on  the  little  farm  they  had  l)ought.  and  heie 
they  both  died,  the  mother,  November  28,  1880, 
aged  sixty-nine  years,  and  the  father,  February  28, 
of  the  following  year,  aged  seventy-two  years. 
They  were  blessed  with  nine  children,  of  whom  the 
following  are  now  living:  George,  born  .lune  5, 
183(i,is  a  farmer  residing  in  Smithton  Township, 
just  across  from  the  St.  Clair  Tow-nship  line.  He 
married  Caroline  \'ollnier  and  they  have  four  liv- 
ing children,  three  boys  and  one  girl.  Henry  is 
the  next  child  born  to  George  Briesacher,  Sr..  and 
he  was  born  .luly  15.  18.50.  is  now  a  traveling-man 
with  seven  living  children;  his  wife  is  deceased. 
Catherine  is  the  widow  of  Frederick  I'eters  and 
resides  in  Stookey  Town-shij),  her  husband  having 
died  April  24,  1892,  when  nearly  fifty-four  years 
of  age,  leaving  his  widow  with  nine  children. 
Sophia  is  the  wife  of  .John  Woltz,  a  railmad  man  : 
they  have  no  family:  and  our  subject. 

Edward  F.  was  reared  on  the  home  farm,  where 
he  was  born  February  8,  18.54,  and  where  he  has 
since  resided.  Here  he  received  the  common- 
school  education  in  the  country  schools  and  re- 
ceived a  further  education  from  his  parents  in  the 
language  of  his  beloved  native  land.  Mr.  Brie- 
.sacher  now  being  able  to  read  and  write  in  Ger- 
man, as  well  as  in  the  language  of  his  own  land. 
He  owns  thirty-nine  .acres  of  fine  land  on  section 
."il.and  cTfevotes  him.-^elf  to  the  pursuit  of  general 
f.nniing  with  great  success. 

ttur  subject,  on  the  12th  of  A|>ril.  lf<.S(i.  led  to 
tlie  altar  Miss  Elizabeth  .Seifert,  a  native  of  .St. 
Clair  Township,  who  was  born  just  south  of  Belle- 
ville. Her  father,  George,  died  in  August,  187.5, 
but  her  mother  is  still  living,  residing  southwest  of 
Belleville.  Five  children  have  blessed  their  happy 
union,  namely:  .hilia,  who  was  called  away  ere  her 
linv  lips  could  frame  the  nanic^  of  licr  parents; 
Amanda,  nine  years  of  age;  .Adolph.  sc\en  years 
of  age;  Richard,  five  years  of  age.  and  b;iliy  Theo- 
dore. ju!t  two  years  old. 

Mr.  Briesacher  is  independent  iu  politics, always 
follows  his  own  convictions,  regardless  of  party 
liues,     He  is  a  cousisleul  member  of  the  EvuugeU 


418 


POUTRAIT  AND  BIOGKArilKAL   RECORD. 


ical  Church,  in  which  bod^'  he  exerts  a  large 
amount  of  influence.  He  and  his  wife  are  people 
who  are  widely  respected  and  universally  liked 
and  esteemed  bv  the  entire  communitv. 


Ql.^i^l 


IlkA  AUTIN    W.    SCIIAEFER  is   State  Attor- 
ney  for   St.  Clair    County,    having  been 
elected  to  that  office  in  November,  1888, 
'*'  for  a  four-years   term  of   service,  and  he 

tills  the  position  in  a  manner  which  reflects  credit 
upon  himself  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  people. 
]\Ir.  Schaefer  was  born  at  the  village  of  Troy,  in 
^Madison  Count}-,  111.,  on  the  20th  of  March,  1857, 
being  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Margaret  (Noll) 
Sciiaefer,  natives  of  Cxermany,  who  came  to  Amer- 
ica and  settled  in  St.  Louis,  where  the  father  pur- 
sued his  trade  of  tailor.  In  1852,  they  removed 
to  ISIadison  County,  and  remained  there,  the  fa- 
tlier  pursuing  his  trade,  until  1858,  when  they  set- 
tled in  Lebanon,  this  county,  where  both  parents 
still  reside,  enjoying  the  evening  of  their  useful 
lives  at  peace  with  their  neighbors  and  consistent 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

Martin  received  a  better  primary  education  than 
falls  to  the  lot  of  many  boys,  being  educated  at 
McKendree  College,  at  Lebanon,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  the  Class  of  '76,  and  which  con- 
ferred the  degree  of  A.  M.  upon  him  in  1879.  The 
future  State  Attorney  at  once  began  the  study  of 
law.  and  was  graduated  from  the  law  department 
ill  the  Class  of  '79.  being  admitted  to  the  Bar  in 
Mav  <if  the  same  year.  While  pursuing  his  course 
of  law,  he  was  leaching  in  this  county,  thus  earn- 
ing sufficient  money  to  cany  on  his  studies.  In 
1880,  he  entered  into  partnership  in  the  banking 
business  with  the  Hon.  Henry  Seiter  and  .himes 
D.  Baker  in  Lebanon,  which  continued  until  the 
fall  of  1«81,  when  he  eime  to  Belleville,  and  in 
April,  1H83,  was  elected  City  Attorney,  holding 
that  office  for  three  terms  of  two  years  each,  and 
continuing  in  it  until  elected  to  his  present  position 
in  1888.  In  the  fall  of  1882,  he  formed  a  part- 
nership in  law  with  William  II.  Sn3der,  Jr.,  son  of 


Judge  Snyder,  which  continued  until  Mr.  Schaefer 
formed  his  present  partnership  with  the  Hon. 
James  M.  Dill  in  the  fall  of  1884.  They  have  a 
large  practice  and  both  gentlemen  are  considered 
men  of  great  ability  and  skill  in  all  legal  matters. 
The  marriage  of  Mr.  Schaefer  and  Miss  Louisa 
W^eigel  took  place  November  11,  1879.  This 
charming  and  accomplished  lady  is  the  daughter 
of  John  Weigel,  one  of  the  older  citizens  of  Leb- 
anon, who  came  to  that  city  in  1852,  or  there- 
abouts, and  here  it  was  that  Mrs.  Schaefer  first  saw 
the  light.  She  and  her  husband  have  been  blessed 
with  five  children:  Edna,  Leota,  Elmer,  P^dwin 
and  Otlio,  all  bright,  intelligent,  and  very  inter- 
esting children.  Mr.  Schaefer  is"a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
and  is  Orand  Master,  having  been  elected  in  No- 
vember, 1891.  He  is  a  man  that  commands  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  all  who  have  the  pleasure 
of  his  acquaintance,  which  is  extended.  Admir- 
ing friends  predict  a  bi'ight  future  for  the  studious 
and  painstaking  young  lawyer. 


-^1= 


,^\  HARLES  REMBE,  M.  D.,  who  is  engaged 
(If  _  in  the  practice  of  the  medical  profession  in 
^^^'  Mascoutah,  was  born  in  Ilesse-Cassel,  CJer- 
man}',  in  the  year  1856,  and  is  the  third  in  a  fam- 
ily of  five  children,  fmir  of  whom  are  yet  living. 
The  father  was  for  some  years  an  officer  under 
the  Prussian  (iovernment.  He  died  in  his  native 
land  in  1881;  his  widow,  who  makes  her  home  in 
Germany,  still  survives. 

The  Doctor  spent  his  carl}-  boyhood  under  the 
parental  roof  and  acquired  his  education  in  a 
gymnasium.  When  sixteen  years  of  age,  he  de- 
termined to  seek  a  home  in  America,  .and  in 
the  year  1872  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic.  He 
at  once  went  t,o  Martinsville,  Mo.,  thence  to  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  and  liegaii  the  study  of  medicine  in 
the  Missouri  Medical  College,  from  which  institu- 
tion he  was  graduated  in  1878.  His  preceptor  was 
Dr.  H.  Staudinger,  of  Marthasville,  Mo.  After  his 
graduation,  lie  removed   to   Fayetteville,  St.  Clair 


PORTRAIT  AND  TJIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


419 


County,  opened  an  office  and  began  the  practice 
of  his  chosen  profession,  which  he  followed  at  that 
place  continuously  from  1878  until  November. 
1890.  On  the  ■22d  of  that  month  he  came  to  ifas- 
coutah,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

Dr.  Heml)e  was  married  in  1884,  the  lady  of  his 
choice  being  Miss  Lannie  Alta  Hogshead,  daugh- 
ter of  Andrew  Hogshead,  a  resident  farmer  of 
W.ashington  County.  111.  Hy  their  union  have 
been  l)orn  two  interesting  children,  both  sons, 
Kdward  Albert  and  Boyd,  'riu-  Doctor  and  his 
wife  are  well-known  people  of  tliis  oomnuuiity  al- 
though they  are  numbered  among  the  later  ar- 
rivals, and  during  their  short  residence  here  they 
have  won  many  friends. 

Dr.  Rembe  holds  membership  with  the  .St.  Clair 
County  Medical  Society.  He  practices  in  the  regu- 
lar school  of  medicine  and  receives  a  liberal  pat- 
ronage, to  which  he  is  justly  entitled  bj-  his  skill 
and  ability.  His  office  is  located  at  his  residence, 
on  the  corner  of  Jlill  and  Chestnut  Streets.  In 
his  social  relations,  the  Doctor  is  a  Mason  and  a 
Knight  of  Honor,  and  takes  (piite  an  active  part 
in  both  lodges.  Those  who  know  him  esteem  him 
highly  for  his  sterling  worth  and  among  iiis  pro- 
fessional brethren  he  ranks  high. 


'il?  V.MAN  1'.  STOOKKY.  M.  D.  The  subject 
III  (^  of  the  following  sketch  is  one  of  the  lead- 
|l^--^,  iug  physicians  and  surgeons  of  Helleville.  a 
grandson  of  Daniel  Stookey  (of  whom  sec  sketch) 
and  son  t>f  Moses  Stooke3-.  Th?  latter  was  born  in 
A'irginia  in  IT'.IVI,  and  when  one  year  old  came  with 
his  parents  to  Belleville  and  was  here  educated  and 
Ljrew  to  111.1  turity.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occiii)a- 
tioii  and  lived  in  wh.it  is  now  St.  Clair  Township 
until  the  time  of  his  death.  He  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  .\iiderson,  who  was  liorn  in  Wilkes  Barre. 
Pa.,  ill  \x*^'i  and  came  West  witli  her  piueiils 
about  IHllSor  IHld.  settling  in  tliis  (.■oiinty.  The 
marriage  took  place  June  17.  1824.  and  they  reared 
a  family  of  eleven  children,  our  subject  being  the 
youngest.     They  were  .Saiiuul,  who  died  after  ma- 


turity; Jane,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Tarr;  Enos  (de- 
ceased), who  went  across  the  plains  and  settled  near 
Salt  Lake  City;  Eliz.abeth,  now  Mrs.  Woods  of 
this  county,  tlie  only  remaining  daughter;  Bar- 
bara (Mrs.  Wilson),  who  died  some  years  ago;  J. 
D.,  a  farmer  in  St.  Clair  Township;  Malinda  (Mrs. 
Gooding),  now  dead;  M.  M.,  a  farmer  and  member 
of  the  County  Committee  of  St.  Clair  Township; 
William,  deceased;  Emma  (Mrs.  Green),  dead. 
Tiie  mother  of  this  family  w^as  a  pious  woman,  being 
for  many  years  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Churcii. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  common  .schools 
of  Belleville,  and,  displaying  studious  habits,  w.as 
sent  to  Shurtleflf  College  in  Upper  Alton.  He 
taught  school  for  one  term  and  then  read  medi- 
cine, mainly  by  himself,  so  determined  w.as  he 
to  become  a  physician.  He  received  some  assist- 
ance from  Dr.  Perry  man  and  then  attended  lec- 
tures at  the  Missouri  Medical  College  at  St.  Louis, 
graduating  in  the  Ci.assof  '72,  and  at  once  located 
here  for  practice,  where  he  has  continued  in  it 
ever  since.  Appreciative  jjrofessional  brethren 
have  made  him  President  of  the  St.  Clair  Medical 
Society,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Southern  Illi- 
nois Medical  Society.  .V  very  large  number  of 
enthusiastic  admirers  not  only  depend  upon  his 
i  skill  as  a  physician,  but  also  cherisli  him  as  a  close 
and  dear  friend. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  Stookey  took  place  October 
I  22,  1867,  with  Miss  Louise  Brumbaugh,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Simon  K.  Brumbaugh,  who  died  July  It, 
1892,  in  Blair  County,  Pa.,  having  been  born  in 
18()()  in  Ilagerstown,  Md.  On  Sei)tember  27,  1891, 
111'  celebrated  his  golden  wedding.  Mrs.  Stook- 
ey was  born  October  2C,,  181.').  in  Woodbury, 
Bedford  County.  Pa.  Tlieic  have  lieeii  five  chil- 
dien  n<lded  to  the  household  of  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Stookev,  three  of  whom  arc  living:  Lyman  B.. 
.\dele  and  Byron  I..  1'.  Nctlif  .May  and  Bayard 
are  dead.  Dr.  Stooki  \  i-- ;!  man  of  prominence  in 
the  Masonic  fraternity,  a  nieinber  of  Lodge  No.  27 
and  Past  Grand  of  the  Pride  of  the  West  Lodge,  _ 
I.  O.  ().  F.,  being  ime  of  its  charter  members.  The 
Doctor  belongs  to  the  Baptist  denomination,  but 
Mrs.  Stookey  was  reared  a  Lutheran,  both  being 
valued  members  in  their  respective  churches.  The 
Stookev  residence  is  at  No.  Hi  South   High  Street, 


420 


POETKAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


and  the  office,  with  drug  store  attached,  at  No.  14. 
The  family  are  highly  connected  in  tliis  neiglibor- 
hood,  and  are  most  affectionately  regarded  in  tlie 
comnmnity. 


^.^^^^^ 


AMU  EL  CLARK  is  a  prominent  and 
representative  farmer  of  St.  Clair  Countyi 
now  making  his  home  on  section  23,Shiloh 
^'alley  Townsliip.  He  was  born  September 
25,  1823,  in  Robinson  County,  Teun,  and  is  a  son 
of  Charles  and  Elizabeth  D.  (Miller)  Clark.  The 
former  was  born  near  Richmond,  Chesterfield 
Count}',  Va.,  and  liis  wife  was  a  native  of  tiiesame 
State,  her  birlh  having  occurred  in  Lancaster 
County.  The  paternal  grandfatlier  of  our  subject, 
.Tesse  Clark,  was  also  born  in  the  Old  Dominion. 
The  father  grew  to  manhood  on  a  farm,  and,  con- 
sidering that  schools  at  that  early  day  were  vei'v 
scarce  and  poorly  conducted,  the  education  wliich 
he  received  was  very  fair.  He  further  studied 
until  he  became  very  well  informed  and  was  con- 
sidered a  most  intelligent  man.  He  was  a  soldier 
in  the  AVar  of  1812,  but  was  never  in  a  battle, 
serving  most  of  his  time  as  one  of  the  guardians 
of  a  fort.  His  father  gave  him  a  farm  when  (|uite 
young,  but  he  was  not  content  to  settle  down 
to  agricultural  pursuits,  therefore  for  a  great 
many  years  he  engaged  in  teaching  school.  AVhen 
about  twenty  years  of  age  he  was  married,  his  wife 
being  but  seventeen.  He  removed  to  Tennessee, 
Init  all  of  his  children,  with  the  exception  of  our 
subject  and  one  sister,  were  born  in  \'irgini:i.  Ills 
family  consisted  of  eight  children,  all  of  whom 
lived  to  reach  their  majority:  Jesse  M.  has  now 
passed  away;  Mildred,  deceased,  w.as  the  \\\{v  of 
Rev.  I.arkin  Crulclier;  Julia,  the  wife  of  .lames 
Park,  is  also  deceased;  Elizabeth,  who  married 
William  C'ox,  has  since  passed  away;  Charles  M.; 
Rhoda,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  William  Madox: 
Samuel,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  and  Mtiria  .1., 
who  is  the  wife  of  Bernard  Strumberg. 

On  goitig  to  Tennessee.  Charles  Clark  mach'  ;i 
seltltiueut  in  thu  wildtnii.'ss  juhI  thure  cleared  niid 


developed  a  farm.  In  1830,  with  the  younger 
members  of  iiis  family,  lie  removed  to  Illinois,  set- 
tling first  in  St.  Clair  County,  where  he  took  up 
forty  acres  of  land.  There  lie  resided  for  .some 
years,  and  then  located  in  Madison  County,  where 
he  cultivated  a  farm  until  the  time  of  his  deatii  in 
1843.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  and 
was  liighly  esteemed  for  his  noble  life  and  Christian 
character.  Polilically,  he  was  an  advocate  of  the 
Democracy. 

Fntil    the    deatli    of   his    father   Samuel    Clark 

;  remained  with  his  parents,  assisting  in  the  cultiva- 
tion of  the  home  farm.  His  early  days  having 
been  passed  in  the  wilderness  far  from  schools,  he 
received  no  educational  advantages,  but  h.as  become 

■  an  Intelligent  and  well-informed  man  through  his 
own  study,  reading  and  observation.  Eor  some 
years  he  carried  on  the  home  farm  for  his  mother, 

I    who  relied  on  him  to  attend  to  lier   business  and 

!  farming  interests.  In  1849,  during  the  California 
gold  fever,  in  company  with  six  companions  he 
crossed  the  plains  with  ox-teams,  taking  just  six 
months  to  make  the  journey.  He  located  on  Feather 

;  River,  Cal.,  wiiere  for  two  years  and  a  half  he  mined 
quite  successfully.     He  then   returned  by  way  of 

j  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  landing  at  New  Orleans. 
From  San  Francisco  he  look  passage  in  a  sailing- 
vessel  and  was  sixty  days  on  the  bosom  of  the  Pa- 
cific.    He  tiien  returned  to  Illinois,  coining  up  the 

j  Mississippi  River,  and  purchased  the  farm  where  he 
now  lives  with  the  earnings  of  Ins  Western  trip. 
He  first  purchased  eighty  acres,  but  now  owns  one 
hundred  and  ten  acres  in  this  county  and  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy  acres  in  Missouri.  .\ll  of  this  is 
well  improved  and  valuable  property. 

In  llie  year  is."r2.  Mr.  Clark  was  married  to 
Sarah  ]-;ilen  lienderliglit,  a  daughter  of  William 
and  Lucy  lienderliglit.  By  this  marriage  two  chil- 
dren were  born,  of  whom  the  younger  is  now  de- 
ceased. The  elder,  James,  is  now  in  Colorado, 
where  for  seveial  years  he  has  been  engaged  in 
mining  in  tlic  Rocky  .Mountains.  After  the  deatli 
of  liis  liist  wife,  our  subject  was  again  married, 
So|ihionia  Merrill  being  the  lady  of  hisehoice.  She 
is  a  daughter  of  Sylyesterand  Susan  (Variier)  Mer- 
rill. To  our  worthy  subject  and  his  wife  the  fol- 
lowing (--liiUlren  nei'e  burn;  S\lve»tei'  M.;Susaji  E., 


Jaul^a^ 


rORTRAIT  AND  BI«OGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


423 


who  i.-i  the  wife  of  Thomas  Kerr;  Samuel  D.;  Alfred 
S.;  Catherine  E.;  Jesse  Frcderiek  and  Anna  M.  Mr. 
(lark  Is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Oak 
Hill,  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  its  work.  He 
i.-  a  snpporterof  the  Republican  party,  whose  cause 
he  does  all  in  his  power  to  forward.  He  is  well 
known  throu^diout  this  county  and  section,  where 
he  has  lived  for  forty  years,  and  may  well  be  ac- 
counted one  of  the  earliest  settlers  and  pioneers  of 
this  section.  He  has  witnessed  much  of  the  phe- 
nomenal growtli  of  the  State  and  county,  in  whose 
development  he  has  very  materially  assisted. 


^— ^^ 


HS.  DOHA  CANGE.  The  n)ost  imperisha- 
ble monuments  erected  to  commemorate 
the  virtues  of  friends  who  have  been  re- 
moved from  earth  are  not  those  built  of 
cold  marble  or  granite,  but  are  to  be  found  in  the 
memories  and  affe(  tion  of  the  bereaved  ones.  In 
the  present  instance,  the  lady  whose  name  appears 
at  the  opening  of  this  sketch  has  cheerfully  given 
us  a  few  of  the  leading  events  in  a  life  which,  al- 
though now  ended,  is  not  forgotten. 

Taul  Cange  was  born  in  Natchez,  Miss.,  Febru- 
.Try  27,  1837.  and  was  the  son  of  French  parents. 
His  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Margaret 
I'riiiout,  came  to  America  about  1833,  and  is  still 
living.  The  first  wife  of  Mr.  Cange  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Louisa  INIarniella,  and  died  about 
twenty-five  years  ago,  leaving  the  following  chil- 
dren: I'aul,  Louis  and  .loseph.  Paul,  wiio  is  a 
farmer,  married  Miss  Lina  Hrickler,  and  tiiey  have 
four  children;  Louis  is  unmarried,  and  lives  near 
Oalvoston,  Te.\.;  and  .loscpli,  who  married  Lizzie 
Kamsager,  is  engaged  in  .agricultural  pursuits  at 
Wetaug,  Pulaski  County,  this  State. 

The  second  wife  of  Mr.  Cange  lion;  the  maiden 
name  of  Louisa  Chivorou.  and  died  in  .hdy,  1873, 
leaving;'  the  following  children;  Charles,  whose 
homo  is  in  St.  Clair  County;  Victor,  residing  in 
I'ul.aski  County;  Edward  and  Frank,  who  live  with 
their  grandmother  near  Hellexille;  and  August, 
also  a  resident  of  St.  Clair  County. 

20 


The  subject  of  this  biographical  notice  was  born 
February  11,  1858,  the  daughter  of  Edward  and 
Minnie  Twele.  She  was  brought  to  America  by 
her  parents  when  only  eight  years  old,  and  came 
to  IJelleville  two  years  ago.  Her  father  moved  to 
St.  Louis,  where  he  still  resides.  Her  mother  died 
in  1868.  Our  subject  is  the  only  surviving  child 
among  four,  and  is  a  lady  of  education  and  culture. 
October  9,  1877,  she  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Mr.  Cange,  and  unto  them  were  born  six  children, 
one  of  whom  died  in  infanc.y.  The  others  are  at 
home  with  their  mother  and  are  .Alinnie,  William, 
Jule,  Adolphand  Louisa. 

The  death  of  IMr.  Cange,  which  occurred  August 
14,  1891,  was  the  result  of  a  sad  accident.  He  w.as 
run  over  b^- a  train  on  the  Louisville  &  Nashville 
Railroad,  and  thus  suddenly  was  terminated  the 
life  of  one  of  St.  Clair  County's  most  highly- 
respected  men — a  good  son,  a  loving  husband 
and  father.  Mr.  Cange  was  the  owner  of  a  line 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  which  is 
embellished  with  a  substantial  set  of  farm  build- 
ings, and  contains  all  the  improvements  necessary 
to  modern  agriculture.  In  the  fall  of  181)2,  Mrs. 
Cange  moved  to  Belleville,  where  she  now  resides, 
the  farm  having  been  sold  and  the  money  divided 
among  the  heirs.  In  her  home  she  was  ever 
a  devoted  wife,  and  is  a  wise  and  careful  mother. 
Of  a  kind  and  charitable  disposition,  her  benefac- 
tions are  numerous  and  cheerfully  bestowed. 


•#- 


Ir^EV.  HENRY  MEYER.  The  divine  command, 
\]\i^  "(Jo. ye  into  all  the  world  and  preach  the 
iii  *  (iospel  to  every  creature,"  has  for  more 
than  eighteen  hundred  years  been  accepted 
by  a  few  who  felt  that  the  words  were  spoken  for 
him  and  must  be  obeyed.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
felt  the  personal  application  of  them  and  since  his 
ordination  in  18(53  ho  has  never  swerved  from  the 
p:itli  pointed  out  to  him.  lie  is  now  the  pastor  of 
St.  I'ctcr's  Evtingelical  (  liurch  in  East  St,  Louis. 
'J'hc  f.-ither  of  our  subject  was  Christian  Meyer, 


424 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


who  was  born  in  Ovenstedt,  near  Minden,  Ger- 
many, where  he  harl  a  farm  which  he  left  to  come 
to  the  new,  free  country  over  the  ocean.  In 
li<54,  he  accomplished  this,  but  lived  only  a  short 
time  to  enjoj'  his  new  surroundings,  as  he  died  in 
tlie  same  year,  a  consistent  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Cliurch.  The  mother  of  our  subject,  Louisa  Meyer, 
was  born  in  the  same  place  as  was  her  husband  and 
bore  the  same  family  name,  althougli  no  relation 
to  him.  She  died  in  18.J4,  in  Ft.  W.ayne,  leaving 
nine  children. 

Mr.  Meyer,  our  subject,  received  a  good  educa- 
tion in  the  excellent  Cermaii  schools  and  was  fif- 
teen when  he  came  to  America,  making  the  trip 
by  way  of  Bremen,  where  he  took  a  sailing-vessel 
the  "Wieland,"  bound  for  New  York.  After  a  pass- 
age of  thirt}'  days  he  landed  there,  and  came  on 
to  Ft.  Wayne,  where  his  father  bought  a  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres.  After  the  death  of 
his  parents  it  became  necessary  for  him  to  put  his 
.■shoulder  to  the  wheel  in  earnest.  Me  kept  tlie 
children  on  the  farm  for  some  years,  stilling'  his 
desire  to  study  for  the  ministry.  However,  in 
1857,  he  was  able  to  attend  Concordia  College,  at 
Ft.  Wayne,  and  in  1861,  he  graduated  from  tliere, 
after  which  he  went  to  Concordia  College  at  .St. 
Louis,  graduated  from  that  well-known  seat  of 
learning  in  1863,  and  was  ordained  tiiat  fall  as  a 
minister  in  tlie  Lutheran  Church.  He  entered  on  a 
|)astoiate  at  Hermansburg,  in  St.  Louis  County,  and 
later  at  Litciifield,  111.,  where  he  remained  for  about 
three  years.  He  was  enabled  to  build  a  church 
tiiere  and  was  the  organizer  of  the  first  congrega- 
tion and  was  the  first  pastor. 

1 11  1871,  he  came  to  East  St.  Louis,  and  took 
charge  of  the  membership  here,  which  only  in- 
cluded about  thirty  families.  Tins  mission  had 
been  started  in  186.")  by  Rev.  Mr.  Burfiend.  The 
first  services  were  iield  in  the  old  building  now  used 
for  a  parochial  school.  In  1889,  the  present  edi- 
fice, called  St.  Peter's,  was  erected,  and  is  a  large 
brick  building  on  Eighth  Street.  The  congrega- 
tion lias  now  increased  to  over  one  hundred  fami- 
lies and  tlie  school  has  eighty  pupils.  The  rever- 
end gentleman  has  done  a  noble  work  here  and  re- 
(■I'iyes  the  love  and  gratitude  of  Iiis  flock. 

.Mr.  Meyer  was   iiiarric(1  in   St.  j.ouis  ('ount\'  ti> 


Miss  Mary  Faulsticb,  who  was  a  native  of  St.  Louis 
County,  and  niirt  children  have  been  born  to 
them.  Frederick  is  a  clerk  in  East  St.  Louis; 
Louisa,  Dora,  Minnie,  Annie,  Mary,  F^mma  and 
Adela  are  at  home:  Matilda  is  deceased.  The 
gentleman  of  this  notice  is  a  truly  good  man  and 
lias  the  confidence  of  the  citizens,  irresjiective  of 
church  affiliations;  he  is  also  a  scholarly  man  and 
has  a  veiy  fine  library,  containing  some  rare  books, 
one  of  which  is  a  Bible  published  in  1686.  Mr. 
Meyer  is  very  pleasant  and  affalile  and  his  knowl- 
edge of  German  literature  is  wonderful. 


ENIIY  R.  WHITE.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch,  residing  on  section  1,  iMillstadt 
Township,  St.  Clair  Count}-,  111.,  was  born 
in  Jackson  County,  Ga.,  in  August,  1811, 
and  came  to  the  State  of  Illinois  with  his  parents  in 
1814,  where  the  brother  of  his  father  had  prev- 
iously purchased  land.  They  settled  in  Washing- 
ton County  and  there  our  subject  grew  to  manhood, 
surrounded  by  the  hardships  and  vicissitudes  of  a 
life  of  toil  in  a  new  country.  His  opportunities 
for  education  were  extremely  limited,  but  at  man- 
hood very  naturally  his  desire  was  for  a  home  of 
his  own.  In  this  desire  he  was  seconded  by 
Miss  Miranda  Lacy,  who  was  born  on  the  place 
where  our  subject  now  makes  his  home.  The 
marriage  took  place  March  2,  1837,  and  after  tliis 
event  our  subject  bought  a  farm  in  Washington 
County,  between  Richview  and  Ashley,  remaining 
there  nine  years,  when  he  sold  that  to  come  to  his 
present  place  of  residence.  Mv.  White  has  always 
followed  agricultural  pursuits,  but,  like  Cincinna- 
tus,  left  his  plow  to  become  a  soldier,  and  volun- 
teered in  the  Black  Hawk  War.  Peace,  however, 
was  declared  before  he  reached  the  scene  of  strife. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  White  have  been  blessed  with  a 
family  of  seven  children,  six  of  whom  arc  now 
living.  The  one  hundred  and  ninety  acres  of  fine 
land  which  our  subject  owns  he  does  not  farm,  but 
rents  out  and  enjoys  the  income.  The  place  is  in 
a  fine  state  of  cultivntion  and  Mr,  White  can  look 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


425 


at  it  with  pride  and  take  pleasure  in  the  improve- 
ments, all  of  them  made  by  himself,  only  twenty- 
five  acres  having  been  cleared  wlien  he  came  upon 
the  place.  Kor  Mr.  AVhite  liiere  is  no  party  but 
the  Republican  party,  and  as  long  strength  of 
mind  and  body  is  vouchsafed  him  will  cast  his 
vote  for  that  party,  because  in  it  lie  sees  the  true 
principles  of  good  government.  For  his  upright- 
ness of  character,  our  subject  often  would  have 
been  chosen  .as  the  occupant  of  some  official  posi- 
tion, but  had  no  ambition  in  that  direction. 

The  Methodist  Episcop.al  Church  is  the  religious 
denomination  to  which  our  subject  belongs  and 
with  him  his  two  daughters  join,  lu  this  body 
they  arc  regarded  as  very  highly  respected 
members  and  are  truly  good  jicople.  In  his  long 
life  in  this  county,  Mr.  White  has  seen  many 
changes,  and  remembers  well  when  the  flourishing 
city  of  Hellcville  was  little  more  than  an  Indian 
village.  Seventy-five  years  of  life  in  one  neigh- 
borhood must  cause  strong  affection  to  grow  and 
cling,and  how  familiar  all  the  old  landmarks  must 
be  to  a  man  of  Mr.  White's  years!  Of  such  a  i|uifi, 
unostentatious  life,  yet  so  just  and  upright,  the 
biographer  would  like  to  make  a  more  extended 
record,  for  in  these  days  of  hurry  it  serves  a 
good  purpose  to  view  the  contentment  whicli  a 
life  of  retirement  can  bestow,  when  it  follows 
long  years  of  true  manhood;  but  space  is  limited. 
It  only  remains  to  say  Mr.  White  is  one  who  has 
never  hid  his  light  under  a  bushel,  nor  di.ssemblcd. 
b\it  has  always  appeared  before  the  world  in  iiis  true 
character,  honest  in  conviction,  true  to  duty,  faith- 
ful in  the  right. 


^I^  rcil  .M.VfKKY  WILSON,  .Iu>ticc  of  the 
]|')\j  Peace  and  Police  .Justice  of  East  St.  Louis, 
'%y^  111.,  was  born  in  Rockbridge  County,  ^■a., 
i\§))  fourteen  miles  from  the  noted  Natural 
Bridge,  on  the  25tli  of  August,  18.")2.  His  father, 
Hugh,  and  his  grandfather,  William,  were  also 
born  there,  and  both  were  extensive  planters.  'I'lic 
latter   died    in    186:5,  at    tlie   age   of  eighty-seven 


years,  his  wife  having  been  a  member  of  the  cele- 
brated Mackey  family  of  Virginia.  Hugh  WiW)n, 
Sr.,soId  his  Virginia  plantation  in  18.58,  and  lo- 
cated in  Miami  County,  C)hio,  where  he  became  the 
owner  of  a  tract  of  land  comprising  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres,  which  at  the  time  of  his  death 
in  1 882,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years,  was  a  finely 
cultivated  and  valuable  farm.  He  was  a  Democrat 
tiiroughout  life,  and  for  many  years  was  an  elder 
in  tlie  Presbyterian  Church.  His  wife,  ]Marv  A. 
Hobisou,  was  born  in  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia,  a 
daughter  of  .Io.seph  Robison,  a  native  of  the  Isle 
of  Erin,  his  birth  occurring  near  Londonderry. 
After  a  short  residence  in  Nova  Scotia,  the  latter  re- 
moved to  Rockbridge  County,  Va.,  where  he  be- 
came a  wealthy  planter.  He  also  owned  a  large 
tract  of  land  near  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  and  just  be- 
fore his  death  rode  on  horseback  all  the  way  from 
his  home  to  that  place  to  dispose  of  this  property. 
After  reaching  the  place  he  wrote  a  letter  home 
saying  that  he  had  sold  the  land  for  cash.  He 
kept  the  money  in  his  saddle-bags,  and, as  he  was 
ne\er  afterward  heard  from, it  is  supito.sed  that  he 
was  murdered  and  robbed.  He  had  been  a  soldier 
in  the  War  of  1812.  In  religious  views  he  was  a 
Presbyterian,  being  descended  from  Scotch  an- 
cestry. The  widow  of  Hugh  Wilson,  .Sr.,  resides 
in  Troy,  Ohio. 

Hugh  Mackey  Wilson  is  one  of  three  surviving 
members  of  a  family  of  nine  children,  the  other 
two  members  being  .Tohn,  who  is  a  farmer  of  Miami 
County,  Ohio;  and  Frank,  a  grocer  of  Troy,  Ohio. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  taken  to  Ohio  when 
a  lad  of  six  years,  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  that 
State,  and  was  educated  in  the  High  School  of 
Troy.  In  1870,  he  went  to  Rockliridge  County, 
A'a.,  to  make  his  home  with  his  I'licle  Robert,  and 
there,  after  a  lime,  eng.aged  in  teaching  school, 
making  a  specialty  of  ])enmanship  and  book-keep- 
ing, which  he  taught  in  different  colleges  of 
Virginia,  Ohio,  Kentucky,  Indiana  and  Illinois. 
He  w!is  very  successful  in  this  line  of  work,  but 
finally  became  a  book-keeper  for  Wolworth  k 
Cowell,  of  Columbus,  Ivy.,  the  largest  manufac- 
turers of  \\\\\\^  handles  and  stocks  in  the  world. 
He  remained  there  five  years.  luit  the  schofil  fa- 
,   cilities  were  very  poor,  anil  as  lie  wished   to  give 


t26 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Ills  children  good  educational  advantages,  he  re- 
moved from  there,  and  in  1887  became  a  resident 
of  East  St.  Louis,  111.  AVhile  in  Kentucky,  he  or- 
ganized the  first  Building  and  Loan  Association, 
which  became  a  very  prosperous  organization  be- 
fore he  left  the  place,  and  also  opened  two  or  three 
societies,  becoming  Secretary  of  all  of  them.  Af- 
ter becoming  a  citizen  of  East  St.  Louis,  he  en- 
gaged in  the  retail  paint  and  glass  business,  and 
did  considerable  painting  and  decorating,  which 
he  found  a  ^jrofitable  business. 

lie  continued  to  pursue  this  calling  until  No- 
vemlicr  16,  18',)0,  when  he  was  burned  out,  after 
which  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  real-estate 
business,  in  partnership  with  James  K.  Ewing,  the 
lirni  being  known  as  Ewing  &  Wilson,  and  until 
elected  to  the  position  of  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
A|)ril  5,  181U.  he  was  a  successful  real-estate,  loan 
and  insurance  agent.  His  office  is  located  at  No. 
110  North  Main  Street,  and  the  duties  of  his  po- 
sition keep  him  very  busy,  there  often  being 
twenty-nine  cases  a  ilay  on  the  docket.  He  is  a 
Democrat  politically,  is  a  Presbyterian  in  his  re- 
ligious views,  and  socially  belongs  to  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  was  married 
in  St.  Mary's,  Ohio.  October  18,  1877,  to  Miss  Ida 
Hapson,  who  was  born  and  reared  there,  and  their 
union  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of  three  children: 
Charles,  Leah  and  Hariy. 


=^S» 


^^ 


]t  OSEPH  HYACINTH  GERMAIN.  The  sub- 
ject of  the  following  lines  resides  on  the 
northeast  (juarter  of  section  9,  Smithton 
Township.  His  father,  Hyacinth  Germain, 
was  a  native  of  Lorraine,  France,  horn  April  11), 
1819,  and  emigrated  to  America  in  18.32,  settling 
near  French  Village,  in  St.  Clair  County,  where  he 
bought  land.  Here  he  was  married,  August  22, 
1843,  to  Miss  Anna  Maria,  the  daughter  of  Philip 
Gundlach,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  county, 
who  came  here  in  1812.  After  his  marriage,  he 
liicated  on  section  10.  Smilhtoji  Township,  where 
)ir    lionght  two  hundred  acfps  of   land  at  $12  per 


.acre.  He  kept  on  increasing  his  property  until  he 
owned  three  hundred  and  seventy  acres  of  land, 
and  was  considered  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  in 
the  county  at  that  time. 

Hyacinth  and  Anna  Maria  Germain  were  the 
parents  of  nine  children,  eight  of  whom  grew  to 
years  of  maturity,  and  two  are  still  living:  our 
subject  and  Nicholas,  who  is  a  farmer  in  this 
township.  The  deceased  are  Elizabeth  Scheer, 
who  died  in  Missouri  in  1888;  Mary  S.,  Maiy 
Magdalena,  Rosa,  Katherine  Agnes,  and  Jacob, 
all  of  whom  died  at  home;  and  Anna  Margaretta, 
who  died  at  Colorado  Springs,  Colo.,  April  17, 
1892.  The  father  of  this  family  was  an  excellent 
man  and  a  public-spirited  citizen.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  which  he  served 
as  Trustee.  In  educational  matters,  he  was  nuich 
interested  and  filled  the  position  of  School  Director 
for  some  time.  The  brother  of  our  subject's  father 
was  one  of  those  who  made  the  trip  to  California 
in  1849,  during  the  great  gold  excitement.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  still  lives  and  is  tenderly 
cared  for  by  her  son  Joseph,  with  whom  she  re- 
sides. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  was  liorn  No- 
vember IG,  1852,  on  the  old  home  place  on  section 
10,  Smithton  Township,  where  he  w.as  reared.  His 
education  was  acquired  at  St.  Joseph's  College  and 
the  Christian  Brothers'  School  at  St.  Louis,  and 
at  Vincent  College,  in  Westmoreland  County,  Pa. 
Thus  we  see  that  he  had  many  superior  advantages. 
In  1877,  he  took  a  trip  to  Colorado  with  his 
youngest  sister,  Katherine  Agnes,  who  remained 
in  Colorado  while  he  took  a  trip  into  California. 
Later,  Margaretta  went  out  to  Colorado  and  joined 
her  sister,  and  m  the  spring  all  returned  home. 

September  10,  1878,  our  subject  married  Miss 
INIary  Helena  Mueller,  who  w.as  the  daughter  of 
Joseph  D.  Blueller,  a  prominent  farmer  in  this 
township.  After  marriage  our  subject  located  on 
the  pl.ace  where  he  now  lives,  on  section  9,  Smith- 
ton  Township.  He  and  his  wife  had  three  chil- 
dren: John  and  Joseph,  who  were  born  October  8, 
1891;  and  Mary  Jane.  They  had  an  adopted  son, 
Frederick  J.,  now  almost  twenty  years  old.  Mr. 
(iermain  w.as  bereaved  by  the  death  of  liis  wife, 
Octobev   22,  1891,  and  she    was   buried   at   Wal- 


0«^ 


01  o- 


V\»''' 


N^''* 


,NA^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIHCAL  RECORD. 


429 


nut  Hill  Cemetery,  near  Belleyille.  She  was  a  nicm- 
l>or  of  tlio  Roman  Catholie  Clnircli  and  is  veniem- 
licicil  Cor  her  lu'lpfulness  in  ovei'V  j^uod  ciiusc  in 
lu'i-  cliincli  and  neighborliood. 

In  liis  religious  convictions,  Mr.  (ierniain  is  a 
Cathdlic  and  is  highly  esteemed  for  his  true  Chris- 
tian life,  lie  is  a  Democrat  in  belief,  and  has  served 
as  Selidiil  Director,  being  a  m.an  well  known  and 
res|i('cled  in  llie  community,  lie  is  the  owner  of 
one  hundred  :ind  fifty-four  acres  of  well-ini|iro\ed 
land,  and  in  addition  to  general  farniinii'  is  also 
su(cessfnll\-  engaged  as  a  stock-raiser. 


\1l-^  \'(i\l  MILLS.  In  choosing  a  pursuit  in 
ITjVi  life,  taste,  mental  gifts,  opportunity  and 
l^\^  disposition  to  labor  should  be  considered, 
(^!  as  every  young  man  who  has  any  anilii- 
tion  to  tiecome  a  respectable  and  useful  citizen 
desires  to  succeed  therein.  Tlie  business  oppor- 
tunities in  this  country  are  great  and  arc  open  to 
all.  whether  iiati\-e  or  foreign  Ixirn,  and  all  a 
voung  man  re(iuires  is  to  determine  what  his  nat- 
ural gifts,  taste  and  capacity  will  .•uable  him  to 
successfully  grasp  and  prepare  himsi'lf  for  and 
when  thus  determined,  industriously  peiseveie 
in  his  vocation,  observing  courteous  and  honor- 
able methods  in  all  relations.  If  this  is  done,  suc- 
cess, the  aim  and  object  of  all,  will  be  the  reward. 
A  narrative  of  success  in  life  affords  a  lesson 
from  which  others  can  profit.  Near  Cuinberl.-uiil, 
in  Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio,  there  was  liorn  on 
the  Cth  of  .Vpiil,  is:^.'),  a  lioy  who  grew  up  to 
sturdy  manhood,  ambitious  t.o  excel  in  th<'  pni-- 
suit  of  his  (hone.  This  was  Hugh  Mills.  His 
father,  Hon.  .lonathan  Mills,  was  a  native  of  West- 
moreland County,  Pa.  The  grandfather,  Thomas 
Mills,  was  also  a  native  of  the  Ke3stone  State, 
where  he  followed  agricultural  juirsuits  until  ISM, 
when  the  natural  advantaged  of  what  was  then 
considered  the  Far  West  tempted  him  to  nnive  to 
the  Uuckeye  State.  He  made  the  tiip  by  team 
and  wagon,  settled  in  Tuscarawas  (  oiiiity,  and, 
entering  land,  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days  iu 


improving  it.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of 
1812,  and  inherited  the  sturdy,  energetic  eluaracter 
of  his  Welsh  ancestors. 

lion.  Jonathan  Mills  was  reared  amid  rude 
pioneer  scenes  iu  Ohio,  and.  when  old  enough, 
began  working  ou  the  Ohio  Canal.  Later,  he  began 
following  the  i)ursuit  to  which  he  had  been  reared, 
farming,  and  in  addition  was  actively  engaged 
in  stock-dealing.  He  w.as  interested  in  the  building 
of  the  br.anch  of  the  Ft.  Wayne  Hailro.'id,  the  first  iu 
the  county,  and  shipped  produce  over  It.  He  >vas 
the  largest  stock-dealer  in  the  county  during  the 
war,  and  handled  an  immcnsi'  amount  of  stock. 
He  was  a  very  prominent  lior-seman  in  the  county 
and  had  some  very  fine  animals,  owning  the  first 
trotting  horses  in  the  county.  In  IS.'jG  and  IS;")? 
he  was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  being  the  first 
Republican  ever  elected  in  that  county.  He  was  a 
very  prominent  politician  and  was  one  of  the  or- 
ganizers of  the  Republican  party.  His  death 
occurred  in  1 «(')!».  He  was  a  local  preacher  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  w.as  very  active 
in  all  good  work.  Mis  wife,  formerly  Miss  Sarah 
Downing,  was  born  in  Carroll  County,  Ohio,  and 
is  the  daughter  of  Hugh  Downing,  a  native  of 
Virginia,  who  came  to  Ohio  when  a  young  man. 
He  served  faithfully  in  the  War  of  1S12,  andwas 
present  at  the  surrender  of  Hull  at  Detroit.  He 
was  a  brother  of  Gen.  Downing,  and  of  Scotch 
descent.  The  grandfather  was  a  farmer  and  dis- 
tiller in  his  native  country,  and  died  there  when 
eighty-seven  years  of  age.  The  mother  of  our 
subject  now  resides  in  N'ew  Cumberland,  Ohio. 
Of  the  nine  children  born  to  this  union,  seven  are 
living  at  the  jiresent  tiiin'.  Two  brothers  served 
in  the  Civil  War. 

Hugh  Mills,  the  eldest  of  these  children,  passed 
his  boyhood  and  youth  on  the  farm  .and  his  edu- 
cation was  confined  to  the  common  .schools,  taught 
in  the  log  sehoolhouse  w-ith  slab  seats,  etc.,  of 
those  days.  His  youthful  muscles  soon  became 
hardened  to  manual  labor,  and  when  sixteen  years 
of  age  he  began  to  take  a  decided  interest  in  live 
stock,  principally  horses,  cattle  and  hogs.  lie 
remained  under  the  [)arental  roof  until  nineteen 
years  of  age,  but  previous  to  that  he  had  run  the 
first  Buckeye  reaper  in  the  county.       At    the   last- 


430 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


mentioned  age,  he  began  for  himself  by  trading  in 
stock,  and  when  twenty-one  years  of  age  he  lo- 
cated on  a  farm.  In  1858,  he  came  to  Clay  City, 
111.,  purchased  a  farm  in  Clay  County,  and 
branched'out  as  a  dealer  in  stock. 

In  the  fall  of  1861,  filled  witii  a  patriotic  desire 
to  aid  his  countr^^,  he  enlisted  and  raised  part  of  a 
companj- — about  twenty-five  men — for  the  Sixth 
Cavalry,  but  was  rejected.  He  subsequently  en- 
listed, but  wa.s  again  rejected  on  account  of  phys- 
ical disability,  but  in  the  same  year  he  was  author- 
ized by  Dick  Yates  to  raise  a  company. 

After  his  war  experience,  Mr.  Mills  added  to  his 
farm  until  he  owned  four  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  of  nicely  improved  land  adjoining  Clay  City. 
In  1880,  he  came  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  to  engage  in 
the  stock  business,  and  entered  the  National  Stock 
Yards  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  C.  M.  Keys  &  Co. 
In  1882,  he  located  with  his  family  in  East  St. 
Louis.  Since  joining  the  firm,  Mr.  Mills  has  han- 
dled the  business  continually  to  the  satisfaction  of 
a  large  circle  of  constituents,  and  few  houses  in 
tliis  or  other  businesses  stand  higher,  commercially 
speaking,  than  the  firm  of  C.  M.  Keys  &  Co. 
Having  ample  capital  to  handle  the  business  in- 
every  legitimate  manner,  the  house  is,  from  its 
own  funds,  able  to  make  advances  to  stock-feeders 
and  shippers,  as  their  trade  requires.  They  do  a 
regular,  safe  business,  amounting  to  handsome 
proportions,  and  have  won  a  strong  position  b^y 
reliable  and  faithful  service.  They  also  have  a 
branch  house  in  Kansas  City  and  do  a  large  busi- 
ness there.  As  a  cattle  and  sheep  salesman  for  the 
firm,  Mr.  Mills  has  7net  with  wonderful  success. 

Our  subject  resides  at  No.  716  Summit  Avenue 
and  has  one  of  the  finest  houses  in  the  city.  He 
also  owns  a  farm,  and  is  eng.aged  in  breeding 
standard-bred  horses,  Mambrino,  Hambletonian 
and  Blue  Bull,  owning  "Dexey,"  a  pacer  with  a 
record  of  2:22^-.  He  was  the  owner  of  tlie  Hist 
Hereford  cattle  in  Clay  County  and  was  an  organ- 
izer and  Director  of  the  Clay  County  Agricultural 
Society  for  over  twenty  years,  being  President  of 
the  same  for  one  year.  He  is  Director  of  the  first 
:Mutual  Building  and  Loan  Association,  and  is 
prominent  in  all  good  work.  lie  was  married  in 
Dunkirk.  Hardin  County,  Ohio,  in    l^oG,  to  Miss 


Ellen  Rubens,  a  native  of  Plymouth,  Ohio,  who 
bore  him  six  children,  four  living,  viz.:  Joseph, 
who  resides  in  St.  Louis  and  is  in  business  at  tlie 
National  Stock  Yards;  Emma,  at  home;  Charles, 
in  the  Kansas  Cit}'  Stock  Yards,  a  hog  salesman; 
and  Mary,  at  liome.  Mr.  Mills  is  a  Chosen  Friend 
in  the  order  of  Masons,  and  in  politics  is  a  stanch 
supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
party. 


NTON  SEHLINGER.  The  gentleman 
whose  name  heads  this  biography  is  the 
President  of  tlie  Sehlinger  Grain  Company, 
incorporated,  with  a  paid-up  capital  stock 
of  115,000.  His  son  Tony  is  the  Secretary  and 
Treasurer.  Mr.  Sehlinger  was  born  in  Baden,  Ger- 
many, Februaiy  23,  1837,  and  obtained  his  educa- 
tion there,  being  fourteen  years  old  when  his  father 
came  to  America.  The  latter  was  the  son  of  John 
and  Magdalina  (Schindler)  Seiilinger,  and  settled 
in  Belleville,  following  the  same  occupation,  that 
of  butcher,  as  his  fatlier  and  grandfather  before 
him.  The  father  died  June  6,  I860,  leaving  three 
boys,  Anton,  Augustus  and  Charles,  the  two  latter 
now  being  in  Louisville,  Ky. 

Our  subject  went  into  the  country  tliree  miles 
northeast  of  town  and  lived  there  twelve  years. 
Being  too  young  to  settle  on  land  for  himself,  he 
resided  with  his  uncle,  Joseph  Schindler,  his  mo- 
ther's brother,  until  the  latter  went  to  Mascoutah 
and  started  a  tlouring-mill.  Anton  then  joined  with 
him  and  learned  the  business,  being  book-keeper 
and  manager  from  the  start.  He  was  mariied 
January  23,  1866,  to  Miss  Louisa  Faust,  daughter 
of  Nicliolas  Faust,  of  this  city,  and  still  contimud 
at  Mascoutah,  finally  becoming  a  partner.  The 
uncle  died  in  1878,  but  Anton  contimu-d  in  the 
business  until   1883. 

In  1887,  he  came  to  this  pl.aee  and  established  a 
grain  business  with  F.  Enkelke,  tiie  firm  being 
Sehlinger  tk  Co.  They  dealt  heavily  in  grain  and 
Hour  and  soon  our  subject  bought  out  the  entire 
business,    consisting    of    warehouse   and   elevator, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


431 


with  a  capacity-  of  fifty  tliousaiifl  bushels;  also  the 
residence  and  grounds  surrounding  it.  Since  tiiat 
time  he  has  greatly  remodeled  and  improved  tlic 
property.  He  owns  ."JOOxlSO  feet  on  Sontii  Abend 
Street,  from  So.  800  to  No.  812,  and  a  whole 
l)l(>ck  on  Kast  Eightli  Street.  His  house  does 
an  iuimense  business,  being  connected  with  the 
Cairo  Short  Line  by  switches,  and  doing  the 
heaviest  grain  trade  in  this  vicinity,  sliipping  all 
through  tiie  country.  In  addition  to  tliis  busi- 
ness, the  firm  has  a  dour  and  feed  store  opposite 
the  market  on  North  Illinois  Street,  where  they 
do  a  large  wholesale  and  retail  business.  I  Ic 
is  tlie  father  of  six  children:  Tony,  Mary  C. 
Lena  .1.,  Anna  L.,  George  M.  and  Edward.  The 
family  are  members  of  St.  Peter's  Catiiolic  Church 
and  enjoy  the  society  of  a  large  circle  of  friends. 
Mr.  Sehlinger's  fellow-citizens  persisted  in  elect- 
ing him  to  the  ottice  of  Alderman,  but  he  declined 
the  honor  with  thanks  and  positively  would  not 
serve,  the  cares  of  a  wide  extending  and  steadily 
growing  business  requiring  all  his  lime. 


m>^~<m= 


JAMES  L.  PERHYMAX.  M.  D.  In  tracing 
the  sjenealos'v  of  the  PcnvuKin  faniilv.  wc 
find  tliat  its  members  were  originally  fnuii 
England,  and  that  the  first  branches  that 
took  root  on  American  soil  were  three  brothers, 
James,  John  and  David,  who  came  here  witli  Lord 
Calvert,  brother  to  ]>ord  ISaltimore,  in  Kio'i.  and 
formed  a  colony  in  Maryland.  One  became  sec- 
retary to  Lord  Calvert,  another  was  a  member  of 
the  first  Colonial  Parlia  i.ent,  and  the  third  be- 
came prominent  in  the  frontier  Indian  wars.  The 
great-grandfallier  of  our  subject  held  an  ai]point- 
ment  under  the  King  of  England  which  refiuired  his 
residence  in  the  colony  further  South,  in  fact,  m 
the  Carolinas,  he  being  something  of  an  executive 
otKcer  and  military  protector. 

James  S.,  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  liorn 
in  Carolina  and  reared  to  martial  life.  During 
tlie  Revolutionary  War,  he  was  witli  the  Colonists, 
and  reached  the  rank  of  Colonel  under  Oen. 
Wayne.      He  participated    in    the    liattles  of  Sara- 


toga, Germantown,  Brandywine  and  Yorktown. 
After  the  war,  he  settled  in  Claiborne  County, 
Tenn.,  and  married  Jliss  Nancy  Coudra^',  becom- 
ing the  father  of  a  large  family.  His  son,  Charles 
Mattison,  fatlier  of  our  subject,  was  born  there  in 
180t),  and  there  made  his  home  until  1-832,  when 
he  came  to  Illinois,  settling  near  Lebanon,  St. 
Clair  County.  Later,  he  moved  to  Jefferson  City, 
Mo.,  where  lie  died  in  I8,51.  He  was  a  man  of 
superior  mental  attainments,  being  far  ahead  of 
the  majority  of  men  in  his  choice  and  use  of  lan- 
gii.age.  The  great  ability  to  talk  or  write  well  is 
cliaiacteristic  of  the  Perryman  family,  and  iii!in\ 
of  its  members  have  attained  distinction  as  oialdis. 

Charles  ^I.  I'errymau  was  married  in  Tennessee 
in  1829,  to  Miss  Louisa  J.  Collingsworth,  a  na- 
tive of  Claiborne  County,  Tenn.,  her  birth  also 
occurring  in  1814,  she  being  the  daughter  of  a  Rev- 
olutionary soldier.  Dr.  James  L.  Perrj'man,  tlie  eld- 
est and  only  survivor  of  four  sous,  was  born 
Aitril  11,  1831.  His  brother  Erederick  died  in  his 
lifleenth  year;  Bluford  Hamilton,  the  third 
brother,  became  a  prominent  physician  and  died 
in  1860;  and  Horace  M.,  the  youngest,  was  also 
educated  in  medicine  and  gave  great  promise  of  a 
brilliant  career,  but  was  cut  down  by  the  reaper. 
Death,  in  1870,  when  tliirty-two  years  of  age. 
Tlic  two  brothers  last  named  left  children,  most 
of  whom  found  a  comfortable  and  pleasant  home 
with  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Perryman,  and  aie  now  grown 
up  and  settled  in  life. 

Dr.  Perryman.  the  original  of  this  notice,  en- 
tered McKendree  College  when  in  his  sixteenth 
year  and  took  a  full  course,  manifesting  at  an 
early  age  a  diligent  interest  in  the  acquisition  of 
knowledge.  He  was  graduated  in  1849,  and,  hav- 
ing the  study  of  medicine  in  view,  entered  the 
oflice  of  Drs.  W.  W.  and  J.  A.  Roman  at  Belleville, 
where  he  remained  for  some  time.  Later,  he  took 
two  full  courses  in  the  ^lis.souri  State  I'niveisity, 
at  St.  Louis,  being  graduated  with  the  degree  of 
.M.  D.  After  pr.acticing  for  a  short  lime,  he  en- 
tered and  w.as  graduated  from  the  .St.  Louis  JMed- 
ical  College,  and  then  took  a  course  of  surgical 
lectures  in  JetTcrson  Medical  College,  in  Phila- 
delphia, and  also  in  the  College  of  I'iiysicians 
and  Sursjeons  in  New  York  Citv. 


432 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Our  subject  intended  to  become  a  Professor  in 
the  Universit}'  of  Missouri,  but  his  father's  death 
disarranged  his  plans,  as  it  threw  the  entire  care 
of  tlie  famil.y  upon  him.  He  took  charge  of  tlie 
family  and  educated  his  ))rothers  in  medicine  until 
the}^  became  self-supporting.  Tlie  Doctor  is  a 
ph3'sician  of  established  reputation,  and  has  stead- 
ily risen  in  the  channels  of  medical  life.  He  is 
actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession 
and  is  one  of  the  eminent  physicians  of  the  county. 
He  is  progressive  and  advanced  in  his  ideas,  and 
is  a  member  of  all  the  medical  societies.  Polit- 
ically, lie  affiliates  with  the  Republican  party,  but 
has  never  cared  to  hold  office.  He  often  takes  the 
stump  during  heated  political  campaigns  and,  as 
he  has  the  family  gift  of  oratory,  he  is  warmly 
welcomed  everywhere. 

On  the  20th  of  April,  185;"),  Dr.  Perrymaii  mar- 
ried Miss  Virginia  Bradsby,  daughter  of  Richard 
Bradsby,  an  old  settler  of  Kentuckj^,  whose  fa- 
ther, William  Bradsby,  and  brothers  were. Revo- 
lutionary soldiers,  going  from  Virginia  to  join 
Washington's  command.  William  emigrated  to 
Kentucky  with  Daniel  Boone  and  was  active  in 
the  events  that  made  Kentucky  the  "dark  and 
bloody  ground."  Richard  Bradsb}'  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1804,  expecting  to  go  to  Missouri,  but  not 
being  able  to  cross  the  river,  settled  in  tins  State. 
His  death  occurred  on  the  5th  of  September,  1875. 

Our  subject  is  possessed  of  all  those  qualities 
that  make  a  successful  and  popular  physician.  He 
is  urbane,  pleasant  and  sympathetic,  and  a  .very 
attractive  conversationalist,  his  mind  being  well 
stored  with  history,  literature,  poetry,  philosophy, 
etc.  As  a  surgeon,  he  has  gained  a  wide-spread 
and  enviable  reputation,  and  is  one  whose  career 
has  been  marked  by  success.  He  is  one  of  the 
substantial  men  of  the  county,  has  a  very  elegant 
home  in  this  city,  and  is  surrounded  by  all  the 
comforts  of  life.  He  has  been  in  active  practice 
for  over  forty  j-ears  and  gives  his  attention  prin- 
ci|)ally  to  diseases  of  women,  nervous  diseases  and 
surgery'.  No  physician  in  the  county  has  a  better 
record  in  his  profession  than  he. 

The  Doctor  speculates  in  lands  and  mines  in 
Colorado,  and  owns  much  good  farming  land  in 
Missouri  and    Illinois.     lie  has  an  adojited  daugh- 


ter, Anna  Mary  Schaedel  Perryman,  who  is  now 
seven  years  of  age,  and  he  has  reared  nine 
nephews  and  nieces,  never  having  had  any  chil- 
dren of  his  own.  The  Doctor  is  a  member  of  tlie 
Catholic  Church,  but  his  wife  holds  inemliershiii 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


i^mm^^^wmm 


/^EORGE  J.  IMUSKOPF,  one  of  the  rising 
jlj  (— ,  young  farmers  of  St.  Clair  Township,  is  a 
^^1  gentleman  who  combines  independence  and 
self-reliance  with  energy,  and  with  these  qualities 
is  bound  to  make  a  success  of  whatever  he  under- 
takes. Our  subject  was  born  at  High  Prairie,  in 
Millstadt  Township,  on  the  21st  of  April,  18fi6, 
being  the  youngest  of  three  children  born  to.Tohn 
and  Catherine  (Probst)  Muskopf. 

The  father  of  .Tohn  Muskopf,  IIenrj',died  March 
3,  188;?,  aged  eighty-five,  and  his  wife,  Charlotte 
Muskopf,  died  March  2,  1882,  aged  seventy-six. 
These  estimable  peoiile  came  from  (Tcrmany  in 
1835,  and  settled  in  St,  Clair  County  on  a  farm. 
The  maternal  grandfather  is  still  living,  a  vener- 
able old  gentleman  of  seventy-seven,  making  his 
home  in  Saxtou,  Millstadt  Township.  His  wife, 
Catherine,  however,  died  about  sixteen  years  ago 
when  nearly  seventy  years  of  age.  The  grand- 
parents on  both  sides  were  honored  and  respected 
pioneers  of  this  great  State.  John  Muskopf  died 
May  5,  1871,  his  wife  having  been  called  to  her 
heavenlj'  home  October  16,  1867.  Both  these 
good  people  breathed  their  last  in  Millstadt  Town- 
ship. They  had  three  children:  Catherine,  who 
died  in  infancy;  .lohn,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
seven;  and  George  .J.,  our  subject. 

George  .1.  Muskopf  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm  in  Millstadt  Township,  and  received  a  com- 
mon-school education,  as  do  almost  all  of  the 
farmer  boys  of  this  generation.  While  yet  a  young 
man  he  started  to  support  himself,  working  on 
farms  in  various  i)laces  in  Southern  Illinois  and 
Eastern  Missouri,  and  the  experience  thus  gained 
fully  equipped  him  for  the  serious  duties  of  life. 
Returning  to  the  scenes  of  his  childhood,   our  sub- 


jf^i    '  r  A^*^*     '    '-100*  '  "'■ 


yL^ 


O/y^^ 


^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


435 


ject  bouglit  the  farm  wliei'e  ho  now  resides,  in  St. 
Clair  Townsliip,  two  years  ago.  It  is  a  fine  tract 
of  eighty  acres,  known  as  the  .\ngust  place,  wiiere 
was  l)Orn  Mrs.  Elizaltelii  Bornman.  the  oldest  liv- 
ing i)crson  born  in  St.  Clair  Township,  a  sketch  of 
whose  life  appears  elsewhere  in  these  pages.  Here 
he  has  made  a  comfortable  home  for  himself  and 
family,  whert-  they  reside,  enjoying  the  respect 
and  confidence  of  all  their  neiglibors. 

^Ir.  JIuskopf  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Sophia  Miller,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Mary  ^lillex, 
who  are  still  living,  residing  aljout  one  and  one- 
quarter  miles  north  of  Floraville.  Tlie  cere- 
mony took  place  April  1.  1888.  in  Floraville, 
Millstadt  Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Muskopf  have 
two  children:  Otto,  aged  three  yeai-s,  and  John 
Edwin,  nearlj'  two.  Our  subject  is  indepen- 
dent in  politics,  always  voting  for  the  best  roan 
in  his  estimation  for  an  office,  regardless  of 
party  lines.  Ilis  high  sense  of  honor  and  gen- 
eral fitness  foi  any  of  the  township  offices  are  well 
known  by  all  the  voters  of  the  township,  and 
there  is  no  doubt  but  that  he  will  be  called  upon 
in  the  future  to  fill  at  various  times  most  of  the 
offices  that  lie  within  the  gift  of  the  people  of  the 
township.  Mr.  Muskopf  and  his  wife  are  consist- 
ent members  of  the  Evangelical  Church. 


r  ♦^•S-^ 


\I?()IIX  RA^'K.  Xo  l)etter  representative  of 
honest,  upright  manhood  can  be  found  than 
the  above-named  gentleman,  an  infiuential 
)  citizen  of  Favetteville.  He  is  a  native  of 
Alsace,  which,  at  the  time  of  his  birth  (1843),  was 
a  French  province,  but  is  now  owned  by  Prussia, 
having  been  lost  to  France  in  the  late  Franco- 
Prussian  war. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  David  and 
Catherine  Rank,  both  natives  of  France,  the  father 
born  in  1820  and  the  mother  in  1817.  David 
Rank  spent  his  early  life  in  his  native  village,  and, 
.as  soon  as  be  was  old  enough  to  be  of  service,  was 
placed   b}-   his    father  in  a  woolen   mill,  where  he 


learned  the  trade  of  a  weaver.  He  was  quite 
young  when  he  married  Catherine  Kocher,  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  eight  children,  tlu-ee  of 
wlioin  were  born  in  France  and  five  in  .Vmerica. 
The  onl\  surviving  members  of  the  family  arc 
.lolin.  and  ^lary,  now  the  wife  of  John  Neice. 

David  Rank,  accompanied  bj'  his  wife  and  three 
children,  emigrated  to  this  country  in  the  year 
1846,  and  settled  at  Belleville,  111.,  where  lie 
worked  for  eight  years  as  a  brick-maker.  .\  few 
hundred  dollars  was  the  extent  of  his  iiKuieved 
possessions,  but  after  obtaining  the  work  which 
seemed  to  him  most  lucrative  in  the  vicinity  where 
he  located,  his  true  thrifty  nature  asserted  itself, 
and  in  18.51  he  moved  to  Fayetteville  and  bought 
vill.age  proi)erty.  He  continued  the  business  of 
brick-making  in  his  new  place  of  residence,  where 
he  owned  his  own  plant,  and  conducted  a  most  ex- 
cellent business  in  this  line  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  Fayetteville  in  185.").  A  man  of  up- 
right principles  and  strong  personal  characteris- 
tics, he  w.as  an  ardent  believer  in  the  Catholic 
faith  and  a  member  and  generous  supporter  of  the 
church.  His  widow  is  still  living,  and  makes  her 
home  near  her  son  John.  She  is  beloved  for  iier 
amiable  and  womanh^  qualities. 

The  gentleman  with  whose  name  we  opened  this 
biographical  sketch  commenced  his  acquaintance 
with  the  realities  of  life  at  the  early  age  of  thir- 
teen, at  which  period  he  accompanied  his  father 
to  the  brickyard,  and  there  assumed  the  duties 
his  youthful  years  allowed  him  to  perform.  He 
worked  at  this  trade  until  the  war  of  the  Union 
broke  out,  when,  fired  with  youthful  but  ardent 
ambition  for  the  land  of  his  adoption,  he  enlisted 
in  Company  F,  Ninth  Illinois  Regiment,  and, 
under  the  command  of  Cen.  Sherman,  went  to  the 
front.  Among  the  one  hundred  and  ten  battles  in 
which  he  participated  were  those  of  Ft.  Donelson, 
Sliiloh  and  Corinth.  He  was  captured  at  Resaca 
.and  placed  in  Andersonville  prison,  where  he  re- 
mained twelve  months.  From  Andersonville  lie 
was  taken  to  Cliarlestown,Ft.  Lawrence  and  Wil- 
mington, and  finally  transferred  to  the  I'nion 
r.anks.  He  received  many  wounds  during  the  cam- 
paign, one  being  a  gun-shot  in  the  face,  received 
at  Ft.  Donelson,  and  he  was   shot   in  the  left  side 


436 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


and  face  at  Shiloh.  At  Resaca  lie  was  wounded 
in  tlie  head,  and  also  received  a  wound  in  his  leg, 
which  resulted  in  his  capture  by  the  eueni}-.  After 
serving  the  cause  of  the  Union  nobly,  he  was  mus- 
tered out  at  Springfield,  111.,  April  12,  1865. 

After  returning  home  from  the  war,  John  Rank 
married  Miss  .Johanna  Waeltz,  a  daughter  of  Will- 
iam and  Barbara  (Dressel)  Waeltz.  To  them  were 
born  ten  children,  six  of  whom  are  yet  living: 
Kmma,  wife  of  Martus  Aberle;  INIary,  John, 
Adolph,  Edward  and  Johanna.  After  his  mar- 
riage, our  subject  immediately  commenced  life  as 
u  farmer,  in  which  capacity  he  remained  for  fifteen 
years,  devoting  himself  to  the  pursuit  of  agricul- 
ture with  no  small  success.  As  he  advanced  in 
years,  however,  the  vicissitudes  of  army  life,  and 
the  wounds  received  in  his  country's  cause,  com- 
menced to  tell  on  his  system,  and  he  became  a  con- 
firmed invalid.  His  indefatigable  courage  during 
his  many  encounters  with  the  enemy  won  for  him 
the  commendation  of  his  superior  officers,  and,  as 
a  reward  for  his  services,  he  is  to-day  the  recipient 
of  Uncle  Sam's  bounty'  to  the  extent  of  $72  per 
month;  among  the  highest  pensions  paid  toanysol- 
dier  of  the  late  war.  After  losing  his  health,  he 
moved  to  the  village  of  Fayctteville,  where  he  lives 
a  retired  life,  respected  by  all  who  are  honored  with 
his  acquaintance.  He  is  with  the  Republican  party 
as  one  of  its  most  ardent  adherents,  and  east  his 
first  Presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  for  his 
second  term. 


KNRY  BOEMKU.  The  intelligent  gentle- 
man whose  sketch  it  becomes  our  pleasure 
to  place  before  the  public  is  a  teacher  in  the 
^^  graded  school  of  Millstadt,  111.  He  has  a 
very  |)lcasant  home  in  this  city,  which  he  built  in 
1888,  and  there  he  lives  in  comfort,  surrounded  by 
his  books  and  music  and  attended  In'  his  charm- 
ing wife. 

IVIr.  Boemer  of  this  notice  is  the  son  of  Casper 
Boemer,  and  his  birth  occurred  January  31, 1859, 
at  tlie  old  homestead,    where  he  was  reared  from 


childhood.     This  was  the  home  of  his  parents  and 
is  situated  one  and  one-half  miles  west  of  Millstadt. 

Our  subject  attended  the  district  school  during 
boyhood  and  as  soon  as  of  proper  age  he  went  to 
St.  Louis,  and  there  attended  the  excellent  com-- 
mercial  college  of  Bryant  and  Stratton,  graduating 
from  there  April  26,  1877.  He  taught  school 
in  this  township  for  four  3'ears  and  then  went  to 
the  Normal  College  at  Carmi,  111.,  and  began  teach- 
ing school.  He  was  retained  for  seven  years  in 
Stookey  Township,  and  then  came  home  and  taught 
for  two  years  in  his  home  district.  In  1891,  he 
was  elected  to  a  position  in  the  graded  school  at 
Millstadt  and  has  been  attending  to  his  duties  here 
ever  since. 

Our  subject  has  traveled  quite  extensively  in  the 
Northern  part  of  the  United  States.  He  is  partic- 
ularly interested  in  physical  geography,  and  in 
1880  made  an  extended  trip  through  Wisconsin 
and  Minnesota,  studying  the  geographj',  and  the 
topography  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  and  the  up- 
per part  of  the  United  States,  gathering  many 
facts  and  exploding  many  theories  and  gaining  an 
experience  which  serve  to  make  him  a  more  com- 
petent teacher  than  before. 

Mr.  Boemer 's  first  marriage  united  him  with  Miss 
Katie  Wilkins,  but  the  life  of  this  young  bride  was 
short,  for  in  one  year  she  had  passed  away,  leaving 
little  Katie,  who  was  also  taken.  After  this  break- 
ing up  of  his  household,  Mr.  Boemer  remained  at 
home  until  in  June,  1888,  when  Miss  Katie  Merod, 
the  daughter  of  Mrs.  Frederick  Merod,  became 
his  wife,  and  since  that  time  his  domestic  affairs 
have  been  comfortable  and  pleasant.  One  son, 
Irving,  has  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boemer. 

The  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  claims  this 
worthy  couple  as  members,  and  Mr.  Boemer  is  a 
member  of  the  choir,  his  musical  abilities  making 
the  position  one  of  peculiar  fitness.  Our  sub- 
ject has  all  the  talent  of  his  ancestors  in  music, 
which  he  enjoys  and  understands.  He  is  leader 
of  the  Liederkranz,  which  position  lie  lias  held 
for  a  great  many  years.  He  is  one  of  the 
foremost  workers  in  the  keeping  up  of  this  society 
and  has  been  an  officer  in  it  since  its  organization, 
being  Chairman  of  the  Building  Committee  and  also 
Treasurer,  and  has  had  all   of   the    overseeing    of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


437 


the  work  on  tlie  Society's  building  to  look  after. 
He  lias  taken  a  great  interest  in  all  the  musical  or- 
ganizations of  the  city  anil  has  heen  leader  of  tlie 
band. 

The  Demoeratie  party  has  a  strong  adherent  in 
Mr.  Hoenier  and  his  vote  and  influence  are  given 
for  that  part\-.  lie  is  a  man  of  fine  physical  health 
and  has  accomplished  a  great  deal  of  good  and  has 
attained  a  prominent  position  for  one  of  his  age. 
During  his  vacations  lie  combines  i)leasurc  and 
business  and  travels  for  the  IMervin  School  Supply 
Company  of  St.  Louis.  At  the  last  meeting  of  the 
IJoard  of  .Supervisoi-s  in  October,  1892,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  that  body  .lustice  of  the  Peace  for 
.Millsladl  'rownship. 


\^^^ 


y^;ILLIAM  H.  PHILLIPS.  Here  and  there 
among  the  fertile  farms  of  the  Prairie 
„  ,,  State  maj"  be  found  quiet,  retiring  people 
of  both  sexes  who  have  kept  out  of  the  vexing 
whirl  of  life  and  have  found  peace  and  content- 
ment in  the  surroundings  of  a  retired  home. 
Such  has  been  the  case  with  the  subject  of  our 
.sketch,  who  resides  on  section  18,  Freeburg  Town- 
ship, and  was  born  on  the  SOtli  of  December,  1832. 
His  father  was  Henjamin  Phillips,  a  native  of 
Orange  County,  N.  C,  born  in  1703.  The  father 
removed  into  Tennessee  when  young,  and  was 
reared  there  until  the  opening  of  the  War  of 
1812,  when  he  enlisted  and  took  part  in  the  bat- 
tle of  New  Orleans. 

After  the  war,  Benjamin  came  from  Tennessee 
to  St.  Clair  County  in  1815,  entered  land  from 
the  (iovernment  near  Freeburg,  and  located  on 
section  7,  which  had  been  entered  by  George 
Wilderraan,  and  here  lived  until  the  time  of  his 
death.  His  wife  was  .Sallie  Wildeinian,  daughter 
of  George  Wilderman,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
the  county,  who  bore  him  the  following  childion, 
of  whom  six  are  still  living,  as  follows:  Klizabeth, 
Kmelinc,  Sarah,  .lane,  Eliza  and  our  subject. 
Those  who  hav(-  i)assed  out  of  this  life  were  Maria, 
Nancy.  ^Minerva.  Patience  and  \'iii;iiiia.    This  sol- 


dier of  1812  was  a  valued  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  and  had  served  several  years  as  .lustice  of 
the  Peace. 

Our  .-ubject  lii>t  saw  the  light  on  the  old  home- 
stead on  section  7,  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools,  and  has  lived  all  his  _days  on  the  home 
place.  The  farm  consists  of  one  hundred  and  forty 
acres  of  land  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation,  but 
Mr.  Phillips  does  not  farm  himself.  He  makes  his 
home  with  his  sister  Sarah  .Tane,  who  w.as  born 
on  the  old  place.  Mr.  Phillips  is  a  Democrat,  and 
so  votes  when  he  goes  to  the  polls.  He  h:is  lived 
so  quietly  that  the  great  questions  that  prcxhico 
so  much  angry  discussion  the  country  over  do 
not  disturb  him  in  his  quiet  retreat.  Our  subject 
has  never  married,  yet  in  his  single  estate  has 
doubtless  enjoyed  life  fully  as  much  as  many  who 
have  become  benedicts,  (ientle  and  unobtrusive, 
Mr.  Phillips  accords  to  every  man  the  right  to 
his  opinions.  Honest  and  upright, he  yields  to  all 
what  is  due  in  just  measure.  The  fame  of  his 
deeds  may  never  reach  the  outside  world,  yet, 
after  all,  no  higher  praise  can  be  bestowed  upon 
any  man  than  that  his  life  is  upright,  and  that  no 
wrong  or  oi>pression  was  ever  perpetrated  In-  him. 
Such  may  be  truthfully  written  and  .sai'd  of  kind- 
hearted  William  II.  Phillips. 


■jir^RANCIS  .\.  WILDKR.MAX.  In  every  lo- 
hr{§)  calily  reside  tho.se  who  have  successfully 
'Ai,  '"  accomplished  their  life  work  and  have 
earned  a  .season  of  rest  while  the  work  is  resigned 
to  younger  and  more  eager  hands.  This  is 'the 
case  with  the  suliject  of  the  present  sketch,  who  is 
a  retired  farmer  living  on  section  7,  Freeburo 
Township,  St.  Clair  County,  and  is  a  son  of  Doi- 
sey  Wilderman,  a  native  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  who 
was  born  there  February  11.  17!I2,  the  son  of 
.Joseph  and  Patience  Wilderman. 

The  |)aternal  grandparents  lived  first  near  Bal- 
timore, Baltimore  County,  Md.;  afterward  in 
Pennsylvani;i.  ami  then  decided  to  remove  farther 


438 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


AVest.  They  went  down  the  Ohio  River  and 
stopped  six  months  in  Pittsburg;  thence  proceeded 
to  New  Design,  Monroe  County,  wliere  tliey  re- 
mained but  a  short  time,  when  they  came  to  St. 
Clair  County.  That  was  in  1805,  at  which  time 
Joseph  Wilderman  entered  land  on  section  7,  and 
there  he  made  his  home  until  he  died.  He  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Black  Hawk  War.  The  name  of  his 
wife  was  Patience  Loury,  and  they  were  the  parents 
of  eleven  children.  John  started  with  the  family 
but  left  them  at  Petersburg,  went  South,  and  was 
never  heard  from  afterward.  George,  Levi,  Frank, 
William,  Henry,  James,  Dorse3',  Betsey,  Michael 
and  Sarah  were  the  remaining  children. 

Dorsey  Wilderman,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  married  to  Miss  Phoebe  Carr.  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  Carr,  a  prominent  farmer  of  this 
county  and  an  early  settler,  having  come  here  in 
1790.  After  his  marriage  Dorsey  Wilderman  lo- 
cated on  the  place  where  our  subject  now  lives, 
and  remained  until  the  time  of  his  decease.  He 
left  eight  children:  Priseilla,  Mrs.  Adams,  de- 
ceased; Jacob  lives  in  Franklin  County;  Jeffer- 
son, deceased;  Mary,  who  was  married  to  John 
Chesney,  is  now  dead;  Sallie  is  married  to  Ris- 
den  A.  Moore,  and  lives  near  Belleville;  James,  de- 
ceased; Cordelia  died  at  the  age  of  fifteen;  and 
Charles  lives  near  Equality,  111.  Dorse}'  Wilder- 
man  was  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  died  Aug- 
ust 24,  1857. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  took  place  September 
8,  1832,  on  the  place  where  he  now  resides.  He 
was  educated  in  the  old  subscription  schools  of 
his  day,  and  passed  his  time  on  the  farm, 
doing  much  work  and  taking  his  ease  after- 
ward. His  marriage  occurred  in  1857,  with 
Miss  Martha  Pitts,  the  daughter  of  Kenchen  Pitts 
and  his  wife  Elizabeth.  The  father  of  Mrs.  AVLld- 
erman  was  born  in  South  Carolina  and  lived  there 
until  ten  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  North 
Carolina,  and  three  years  later  removed  to  Tennes- 
see, growing  up  to  manhood  and  manying  there; 
thence  going  to  Morgan  County,  111.,  about  1827, 
and  entering  Government  land  in  this  county, 
about  two  miles  below  Freeburg.  He  died  in 
Nashville,  111.,  in  1875. 

After  his  marriage  our  subiect  contiinied  to  live 


on  this  place,  and  here  his  four  children  have  been 
born.  They  are:  Flora,  who  is  the  wife  of  Dr. 
Hertel,  of  Freeburg,  111.;  Millard,  who  married 
Emma  Herman,  lives  near  Freeburg,  and  is  a 
farmer;  Julius,  who  married  Mary  Wilderman, 
lives  in  this  township;  and  Myrtle,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Henry  K.  Kessler,  who  is  the  foreman  of 
the  Barnard  (iasoline  Stove  Works.  Our  subject 
has  two  hundred  and  twenty-two  acres  of  land, 
and  all  but  fifty  acres  are  well  improved  and  in  a 
good  state  of  cultivation.  He  has  retired  from 
active  labor  himself,  bvit  his  sons  operate  the 
farm  and  raise  grain  principally.  Politically,  he 
is  a  follower  of  Thomas  Jefferson. 

Mr.  Wilderman  has  filled  the  important  offices 
of  School  Trustee  and  School  Director  for  a  long 
time,  and  is  very  much  interested  in  all  things 
looking  toward  the  improvement  of  his  section. 
This  is  one  of  the  representative  families  of  this 
county,  and  of  its  members  old  St.  Clair  may  well 
be  proud.  Energetic,  honest,  progressive,  and 
upright,  these  are  the  kind  of  people  who  will 
build  up  any  section,  and  make  it  to  take  high 
rank  anion"'  the  eonimunitios  of  this  great  State. 


l^'OHN  R,  LYONS.  Among  the  residents  of 
St.  Clair  County  who  have  prosecuted  their 
life  work  successfully  and  are  now  enjoy- 
ing the  fruits  of  their  prudence  and  energ}' 
surrounded  with  comforts,  is  the  gentleman  above 
named,  who  is  now  occup3'ing  a  pleasant  home  in 
Marissa  and  has  a  sufficient  income  to  aff(jrd  him- 
self and  family  a  maintenance  during  the  remain- 
der of  their  lives.  He  was  born  near  Winnsborough, 
Fairfield  County,  S.  C,  in  September,  1814,  and  is 
the  son  of  James  and  Jane  (Elder)  Lyons,  natives 
of  Ireland.  The  parents  were  married  in  the 
Emerald  Isle,  and  on  coming  to  America,  in  Jan- 
uaiy,  1805,  located  in  the  above-named  State, 
where  they  followed  farming.  When  leaving 
their  native  home,  they  weie  accompanied  by  two 
children,  one  of  whom  died  while  en  route  to  the 
United  States. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


439 


Jn  18:33.  Mr.  ami  Mrs.  .lames  Lyons  came  with 
tlu'ir  family  and  few  woiltUy  effei-ts  to  tliis  coun- 
ty, locatinjr  on  public  land  in  Marissa,  within  a 
few  miles  of  where  our  sultject  is  at  present  resid- 
ing. Tliey  reared  a  family  of  four  sons  and  three 
daughters,  four  of  whom  are  still  living  and  occu- 
pying good  positions  in  life.  The  father,  who  was 
a  devoted  member  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian 
Church,  died  in  September,  1866,  while  liis  good 
wife,  who  was  also  a  member  of  that  denomina- 
tion, preceded  him  to  the  better  land  by  a  num- 
ber of  yeai-s,  her  death  occurring  in  1852. 

When  reaching  his  twenty-tirst  year,  .lohu  II. 
Lyons  of  this  sketch  began  life  for  himself  by 
operating  his  father's  farm,  and  he  continued  to 
make  his  home  with  his  parents  until  their  death. 
Young  Lyons  commenced  at  the  bottom  of  the 
ladder,  and  so  successful  h.is  he  been  in  hi*  social 
calling  that  for  a  number  of  years  he  has  lived  re- 
tired, able  to  indulge  in  luxuries  and  recreations 
suited  to  his  yeai-s  and  tastes.  He  owns  five  hun- 
dred acres  of  land,  the  records  showing  him  to  be 
one  of  the  heaviest  tax-payei-s  m  the  township. 
The  entire  amount  luis  been  accumulated  by  energ}' 
and  persevenince.  united  with  economy  and  good 
liusiness  qualifications,  and  the  youth  wlio  may 
peruse  this  sketcli  could  do  no  better  than  emu- 
late his  examjile.  His  life  has  been  well  spent  and 
his  work  well  done,  and  when  death  shall  have 
closed  the  scene,  his  memory  will  be  greatly  cher- 
isiied,  and  the  verdict  of  all  who  have  known  him 
will  be,  "He  has  done  what  he  could."' 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  witli  Jliss  Mary, 
daughter  of  William  and  Nancy  McKey,  w.os  sol- 
emnized -lanuary  I'J,  1843.  Her  parentj-  were 
born  in  Ireland,  where  the  father  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation.  Mr.  Lyons'  pleasant  home  was  presided 
over  and  brightened  by  this  estimable  lady  until 
February  7,  188."),  when  she  passed  away.  .She 
reared  a  family  of  seven  children,  only  one  of 
whom,  William  K.,  is  yet  living.  With  her  husband 
she  was  a  meml)er  of  the  Reformed  Pre.-byterian 
Church,  and  was  alwa\s  found  to  be  acti\e  in 
every  good  work. 

In  the  spring  of  18'J2,  our  subject  visited  his 
old  home  in  South  Carolina,  whicli  w.is  his  first 
trip  to  the  old  place  since  ISo3,     Jt  was  very  hard 


for  him  to  realize  that  he  had  spent  his  boyhood 
days  there,  the  familiar  faces  having  p.assed  away 
and  the  scenes ch.anged,  until  it  seemed  to  him  more 
like  stepping  into  another  world.  Mr.  Lyons  is 
the  oldest  settler  now  living  in  Marissa,  and  al- 
thougli  the  weakest  member  of  his  family  physi- 
cally, has  led  a  very  active  life  and  is  well  pre- 
served for  one  of  his  years.  One  of  his  sons, 
James  (I.,  entered,  the  I'nion  army  when  nineteen 
\ears  of  age,  and  being  taken  sick  with  the  ty- 
phoid fever,  died  at  Ft.  Hinman  in  1863.  For 
years  Mr.  Lyons  worked  for  the  good  of  the 
Rei)ublican  party,  but  he  is  now  laboring  ardently 
for  Prohibition,  standing  high  in  the  councils  of 
that  political  party.  He  is  an  houest,  intelligent 
man,  has  true  hisli  wit,  and  is  a  favorite  with  all. 


=^^  •••  ^i^)^  •?•  •-'•^ 


-^ 


\\r—7//  SLIKPEIJ.  Tilt'  juliject  vf  this  notice  is 
jlp^fe  engaged  in  the  saloon  business  in  the 
/1!>  village  of  New  Athens.     He   is   the  son  of 

Frederick  .Sliejier.  who  was  born  in  Germany,  and 
there  married  Miss  Eleanor  Rockebant,  and  came 
to  this  country  in  1828.  His  first  location  was 
eleven  miles  from  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  fourteen  years;  he  then 
went  to  .St.  J-ouis,  residing  there  until  his  death, 
in  1888.  Three  of  this  family  of  six  children  are 
living,  namely-:  our  subject,  Christina,  and  Meiia, 
who  now  lives  in  California.  The  birth  of  our 
subject  took  place  June  Id,  1831,  on  the  old  home 
place  in  Mis.souri,  and  there  he  grew  to  manhood, 
at  which  time  he  learned  the  trade  of  brick-mak- 
ing, which  he  followed  for  twenty-two  years,  the 
greater  part  of  the  time  being  spent  in  St.  Louis. 

In  1<S60,  our  subject  removed  to  Cairo,  built  a 
house  there  and  opened  a  saloon,  where  he  contin- 
ued seven  months,  and  there  his  eldest  son  was  born. 
About  this  time  he  became  engaged  in  coal  min- 
ing, and  followed  this  business  for  nine  year^. 
He  then  bought  a  farm  three-fourths  of  a  mile 
from  West  Belleville,  removed  to  it  and  lived 
there  for  a  i)eriod  of  nine  years.  He  then  located 
on  a  farm  five  miles  south  of  New   Athens,  which 


440 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


he  still  owns,  consisting  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres.  In  1859,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Augusta  Shank,  daughter  of  Christian  Shank,  of 
Columbia,  111.,  and  eight  children  were  born 
to  them.  The  living  are  Pollen,  Mary,  Louisa, 
AVillie  and  Ida.  Willie  is  opei-ating  his  fatiier's 
farm,  and  the  girls  are  all  married  but  Ida.  Those 
who  died  were:  Robert,  at  the  age  of  thirty-one; 
Louisa,  who  died  at  the  age  of  four;  and  one  who 
died  an  infant. 

Our  subject  belongs  to  the  Lutheran  Church, 
and  is  very  liberal  and  good-hearted.  After  he 
left  the  farm  he  came  to  New  Athens  and  engaged 
in  his  present  business.  Mr.  Slieper  lost  his  wife 
April  12,  1892,  which  has  been  a  great  grief  to 
him,  but  his  children  are  all  doing  well,  which  is  a 
source  of  comfort  to  him.  To  these  our  subject 
dis|)layed  a  generous  spirit  when  starting  them 
out  ill  life.  He  is  a  very  intelligent  and  much- 
traveled  man,  having  passed  many  years  steam- 
l)oatiiig  on  the  ]Mississi|)pi  River,  and  having  made 
trips  all  over  the  I'nited  States. 


^^EORGE  B.  GEL  WICKS,  a  retired  coal  op- 
Ill'  erator,  is  one  of  the  leading  and  most  pop- 
V^!^(  ular  citizens  of  Belleville,  having  come  to 
this  beautiful  little  city  in  1850.  Although 
called  awa}'  from  its  confines  by  the  voice  of  duty 
in  18t)2,  he  returned  to  this  place  when  his  term 
of  enlistipent  expired  and  has  since  made  it  his 
home.  This  place  is  very  dear  to  him,  as  Belle- 
ville is  the  scene  of  his  labors;  and  here  it  is  that  he 
climbed  from  obscurity  to  prosperity  and  made 
tlie  fortune  he  now  enjoys. 

Mr.  Gelwicks  is  the  son  of  George  and  Mary 
Ann  (Stephenson)  Gelwicks.  The  father,  George 
Gelwicks,  was  born  in  llagerstown,  Md.,  where  he 
engaged  in  coacli-making  and  blacksmithing,  but 
came  to  Illinois  soon  after  his  marriage  witli  Miss 
Mary  Stephenson,  of  Baltimore,  making  the  re- 
moval about  1838.  After  arriving  in  Illinois  lie 
settled  in  Calhoun  County  and  engaged  in  schuol- 
teaching.     In  addition  to  liis  efforts  in    an  educa- 


tional line,  he  owned  and  operated  a  farm,  where 
his  death  occurred  in  1849.  Mr.  Gelwicks  left  a 
family  of  five  children  and  a  faithful  and  loving 
wife  to  mourn  his  loss.  The  latter  is  still  living 
and  now  makes  her  home  in  St.  Louis. 

Our  subject  came  to  Belleville  in  1850,  mak- 
ing the  trip  with  his  mother.  After  his  arrival  in 
the  county  an  uncle  took  charge  of  the  little 
fatherless  boy,  and  reared  and  educated  him.  As 
soon  as  he  was  old  enough,  he  relieved  his  uncle 
of  the  burden  of  his  sujiport  and  entered  a 
printing  oflicc,  where  he  remained  until  Jul}-  4, 
1862,  when,  prompted  b^-  a  sense  of  patiiotic  duty, 
he  enlisted  in  Company  F,  Seventieth  Illinois  In- 
fantry. The  regiment  was  sent  to  Camp  Butler, 
Springfield,  111.,  where  our  subject  was  detailed  to 
exchange  prisoners  at  A'icksburg  in  that  same 
year.  In  October,  1862,  he  received  an  lionor- 
able  discharge,  his  term  of  enlistment  having  ex- 
pired, and  he  returned  home. 

At  first  Mv.  Gelwicks  resumed  his  former  occu- 
pation, remaining  in  the  olHce  of  the  Belleville 
Advocate  for  about  six  years,  but  about  that  time 
liis  attention  was  called  to  mining,  and  he  resolved 
to  invest  liis  spare  capital  in  a  mine.  Accordingly, 
he  purchased  a  mine  on  the  Mascoutah  Road, 
which  he  operated  for  seventeen  years.  One  of 
tlie  shafts  was  sixty  feet  deep,  and  the  vein  struck 
was  six  feet  through.  This  so  encouraged  Mr. 
Gelwicks  tliat  he  cleared  off  ten  acres  and  gave 
active  employment  to  twelve  men.  As  was  onlj- 
natural,  our  subject  made  a  hirge  amount  of 
money  from  tiiis  mine,  and  wlien  he  felt  that  it 
was  being  exhausted  he  disposed  of  his  stock. 
Mr.  Gelwicks  lias  lieen  so  successful  in  his  man- 
agement of  mines  that  he  was  offered  the  position 
of  Superintendent  of  the  mines  of  the  Electric 
Light  and  Coal  Company,  having  charge  of  all 
work  underground  in  the  mines  of  the  company, 
and  this  occupies  the  greater  portion  of  liis 
tiire. 

Mr.  (U'lwicks  was  married  to  Miss  May  Cecelia 
IMajors,  born  in  Belleville,  daugiiter  of  John  P. 
iNIajors,  and  thirteen  children  were  born  to 
them,  of  whom  but  six  are  now  living,  namely: 
Marv  C.,  Olivia.  Gertrude.  Laura,  Nora  and  Rich- 
ard.    Our  subject    is    :i    member   of   iiiQ    Ancient 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


441 


Order  of  United  Workmen  and  Iron  Hall.  In  him 
Uie  Methodist  Church  has  one  of  her  stanchest 
menibeis,  and  lie  and  his  estimable  wife  aio  im- 
jiortant  factors  in  that  body.  Through  tlie  Build- 
ing Association  Mr.  (Jehvicks  bought  and  b\iilt  a 
neat  little  homo  in  188.5.  situated  at  No.  1010 
Mascoutah  .\venue.  .Mr.  (u-hvicks  may  well  be 
regarded  as  one  of  the  representative  men  of 
Helleville.  where  so  many  years  of  his  life  have 
been  s|)ont. 


^^^  ONRAD  KII.IAN,  a  pi'ominent  and  pros- 
Ill  r  PC'"*'"''  fni'iner  living  <m  section  4,  Smith- 
\~^  tiiM  Township,  the  suljject  of  the  present 
sketch,  is  the  son  of  John  Kilian,  who  was  born 
in  (lermany  in  1804,  married  Barbara  Reinliart 
there,  and  emigrated  to  this  country  in  1844, 
locating  first  in  St.  Clair  County,  five  miles  north 
from  nelleville,  and  living  there  five  years.  Then 
he  came  to  Smithton  Township,  where  he  bought 
one  hundred  and  five  acres  of  land  at  ^26  per 
acre,  and  kept  on  buying  until  now  two  hun- 
dred .ind  ten  .acres  of  fine  grain  land  and  meadows 
comprise  his  proiierty,  which  he  li.as gradually  paid 
for,  altiiough  poor  when  he  began.  He  has 
had  six  cliildreii,  of  whom  four  are  living,  as  fol- 
lows: Katherine  Sutter,  who  lives  in  St.  Louis; 
Annie  F^lizabeth  Vollralh,  who  lives  in  Kdwards- 
villc;  .Jacob,  who  resides  in  Smithton  Township; 
and  oui'  subject. 

The  birth  of  Mr.  Kilian  of  this  notice  took  place 
August  18.  1832,  in  (u-rinany.  he  being  twelve  years 
old  when  his  father  brought  him  to  this  coiintrv. 
Between  that  time  and  the  time  that  his  father 
bought  the  farm,  Conrad  largely  assisted  him  in 
eveiy  way  possible,  and  it  was  principally  tlirou;i:li 
his  efforts  that  the  place  was  bought  and  paid 
for.  In  course  of  time,  our  subject  married 
Mary  F.  Ripley,  the  daughter  of  William  and 
Elizabeth  Ripley,  her  father  being  a  prominent 
farmer  and  early  settler  of  this  countv,  but  a 
native  of  \'irgini;i.      .Mrs,  (  cmiail   Kilian  was   burn 


and  reared  on  the  old  Ripley  homestead,  and  edu- 
cated in  this  county,  .\ftor  his  marriage,  our  sub- 
ject settled  on  the  place  where  he  now  lives,  and 
has  remained  there  ever  since.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kil- 
ian have  had  Wve  children,  as  follows:  Kllen.  wife 
of  Henry  Marsha,  lives  near  Springfield,  III.;  Eliza- 
beth .Vnn,  wife  of  Heniy  Moeser,  of  Smithton 
Township;  John  E.,  living  at  home  with  his 
father;  Sarah  W,  living  at  home;  and  Mary,  who 
also  remains  under  her  father's  roof. 

There  are  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres  of  good 
land  in  'Slv.  Kilian 's  farm,  and  it  is  well  im- 
proved and  well  cultivated,  fifteen  acres  being  in 
timber.  t)ur  subject  holds  religious  connection 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  there 
his  family  also  worship.  Politically  a  Repub- 
lican, Mr.  Kilian  always  voles  that  ticket,  and  has 
held  the  responsible  ofticcs  of  School  Trustee  and 
School  Director  for  twenty  years,  to  him  lieing 
due  the  excellent  school  organization  of  his  dis- 
trict. 


--*- 


=^=^>-^^<i 


■5— 


"^OHN  T.  WARD.  The  birthplace  of  the  sub- 
ject of  our  sketch  was  Turke}-  Hill,  St.  Clair 
County,  111.,  the  date  of  his  birth  being 
_  October  28,  1830.  He  was  the  son  of  hon- 
orable parents,  his  father  being  John  W,Hrd,  a  na- 
tive of  South  Carolina,  born  in  1796,  and  his 
mother  Mary  Hill,  born  in  1801  in  I'ennsylvania. 
In  the  year  ISOfi,  the  father  and  grandfather  of 
our  subject  made  the  trip  overland  to  Illinois, 
making  a  settlement  on  Hazel  Creek,  near  where 
our  subject  was  born.  Then  the  country  was  in 
n  wild,  unsettled,  uncultivated  state  and  the  In- 
dians well-  very  numerous  and  troublesome. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  lad  of  ten  years 
when  he  reached  this  State.  He  grew  uj)  like  a  giant, 
.•ind  seemed  to  thrive  on  the  hardships  of  that 
time,  taking  part  in  the  I  ndian  wars  on  the  Missis- 
sippi, and  doing  his  share  in  subduing  the  savages. 
His  corn  wiu*  raised  in  a  field  where  the  citj^ 
of  Belleville  now  stands.  He  remained  near  Tur- 
key Hill  until  183G,  when  he  removed  to  P.elleville 
and  lived  in  that  city  for  eighteen  years, and  then 


442 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RFX'ORD. 


came  to  the  place  on  which  our  subject  now  re- 
sides, bej'ond  the  western  limit  of  llic  city.  Ills 
useful  life  ended  April  23,  1868. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  a  typical  pioneer 
woman  and  her  experiences  began  early  in  life. 
On  emigrating  to  Illinois,  she  and  her  mother 
came  down  tlie  Ohio  River  by  boat  and  tlien 
walived  the  distance  between  that  stream  and 
St.  Clair  County.  Our  record  of  her  life  is  not 
as  complete  as  the  biographer  desires,  but  we  know 
that  a  part  of  her  family  took  a  prominent  place 
in  the  early  struggles  with  the  savages.  Her 
brother  David  lived  to  be  ninety  years  old  and 
was  one  of  the  early  Indian  fighters.  Mrs.  Ward 
died  in  September,  1883.  Only  two  children  were 
born  of  this  marriage,  our  subject  and  his  brother 
Mark,  who  now  resides  in  Wellington,  Kan.  The 
latter  has  been  twice  married,  his  first  wife  be- 
ing Mary  Jane  Kirkpatrick,  one  child  resulting 
from  this  union.  His  second  wife  was  Elinor 
Wilderman  a  cousin  of  Judge  A.  S.  Wilderman,  of 
Belleville;  there  arc  three  children  by  this  marriage. 

Our  subject  was  reared  in  Belleville  until  ho  was 
about  fifteen  years  of  age.  From  1845  to  1848, 
he  attended  McKendree  College  at  Lebanon,  111., 
and  after  he  left  there  he  engaged  as  a  clerk  for 
one  .year,  but  at  the  expiration  of  tiiat  time  he 
went  back  to  the  farm.  This  he  found  both  pleas- 
ant and  profitable  and  lie  has  made  it  the  business 
of  his  hfe.  The  marriage  of  Mr.  Ward  took  place 
IMay  1,  1841),  to  Miss  Lucy  Ash,  the  estimable 
daughter  of  Christopher  and  Nancy  Ash,  who  were 
natives  of  Ireland  and  the  State  of  Virginia,  re- 
spectively. The  children  who  have  been  added 
to  the  household  in  these  years  are  as  follows: 
William  Edgar,  who  is  a  lawj-er,  married  Lizzie 
Phillips  and  resides  at  Belleville  and  has  a  family 
of  five  children;  Walter  Lee,  who  married  Amelia 
Davis,  resides  on  the  home  place  with  his  six  chil- 
dren; Albert  Grant,  who  married  Bertha  Louisa 
Freikert,  since  deceased,  resides  in  Belleville  with 
his  two  children;  Louis  Thomas,  who  was  lecoiitly 
married  to  Miss  Philopena  Bauer,  lives  on  a  farm; 
Pjlla,  Kate,  Fannie  Beatrice  and  Mary  Louisa  are  at 
home.  The  first  wife  of  Mr.  Ward  died  and  he 
married  her  sister  Catherine  in  March,  1878. 

Mr.  Ward  has  been  a  successful  horse-breeder  and 


has  confined  himself  to  Hanibletonian  stock,  being 
one  of  the  first  in  this  section  to  recognize  the  fact 
that  imported  stock  was  the  best  investment.  Both 
I  offices  of  Highway  Commissioner  and  School  Direc- 
tor have  been  filled  by  him  to  the  satisfaction  of 
tlic  communitj'.  Our  subject  is  a  believer  in  the 
doctrines  of  the  Republican  party  and  has  voted 
that  ticket  for  many  years.  In  his  religious  con- 
victions, he  follows  the  teachings  of  Jolin  Wes- 
ley. Mr.  Ward  has  lived  in  his  present  liouse 
for  thirty-three  years  and  his  first  home,  built 
forty-three  years  ago,  is  now  occupied  by  one  of 
his  sons. 


>--^#^Mi'^i"i^ll^€ 


■jfjOIIN  liERrELOTII.  Tlie  suliject  of  this 
short  sketch  is  a  farmer  residing  on  section 
18,  Siiiilhton  Township,  in  St.  Clair  County. 
His  father  was  Peter  Berteloth,  who  was  born 
in  Germany  and  was  reared  there.  He  was  also 
married  in  that  country  to  Miss  Anna  Barbara 
Kilean.  AVhen  he  first  came  to  this  country,  he 
located  in  Smithton  Township,  where  he  bought 
land  and  where  his  son  now  lives.  Onl^'  two  of 
his  children,  Adam  and  our  subject,  arc  now  living. 
He  owned  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land 
which  he  had  earned  himself,  and  died  in  1870 
after  a  life  of  honest  toil;  his  wife  is  still  living. 

Our  subject  was  born  on  the  1(5 th  of  October,  1842, 
in  Germany  and  was  but  nine  years  old  when  he 
came  to  this  country.  He  went  to  the  district 
schools  and  learned  very  quickly,  as  all  of  the  .young 
Germ.an  lads  do,  often  putting  to  shame  the  Amer- 
ican 3'outh.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Ida  Weinel, 
the  daughter  of  George  Weinel  and  was  born  in 
St.  Clair  Township.  Her  father  was  bom  in  Ger- 
many and  came  to  tliis  county  first  settling  in 
St.  Louis,  wlience  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County. 
He  had  the  following  children,  of  whom  only  one 
beside  the  wife  of  our  subject  is  living:  Ida,  Fred- 
erick, George,  Katherine,  Lcna,Wilheliiiina,  Louisa, 
Magdnlena  and  Henry.  Frederick  is  a  farmer  liv- 
ing in  Kansas.  George  ^Veillcl  was  a  member  of 
the  Lulherai)  Cliurch  when  a  young  msn,  but  later 


ey/fyyi^tJ-'^-^'<^,         cJ  ly 


UL^?/ 


inyiTld^ 


(n^i'^J^i^-^'-Oiy^ 


.x>^^^ 


,i^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  lUOORAl'UlCAL   RECORD. 


417 


in  life  joined  llie  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Henry  ;ind  Fioflorick  were  both  in  thi>  Civil  War 
and  till'  r<iiinci-  died  tlu're.  The  ni<itlii'i-  <if  Mrs. 
Hcrlololh  was  Caliicrine  Skaor  wlio  was  horn  and 
niaiiicd  in  (iiTniaiiy. 

After  iiis  liappy  marriage  our  subject  located  on 
the  place  where  he  now  lives,  and  lias  faithfully 
and  industriously  followed  his  business  as  fariim' 
ever  since,  lie  built  his  present  comfortable  resi- 
dence in  1XX4.  He  cultivates  fifty  acres  of  his  own 
and  twenty  beloufring  to  his  mother.  He  raises  grain 
and  is  ver\  successful.  He  has  a  pleasant  and  in- 
telligent family  of  six  children:  .\my,  Magdalene, 
Ida.  .lohn,  Albert  and  ^^^•lller.  In  his  political 
preference,  Mr.  Berteloth  is  ;i  Kepublii^an  and  votes 
with  that  party.  His  church  cdiinection  is  with 
the  good  people  ulio  follow  the  rules  laid  down  by 
.lohn  AVesley.  This  family  is  pleasant  and  hos[)i- 
table  and  there  is  no  place  in  which  the  worthy 
stranger  lindsa  warmer  welcome  tiiau  al  the  board 
of  tliis  large-hearted  German  citizen. 


j^.ETKR  M.  ROMKISKR.  .Men  are  to  be 
idged  by  achievement,  aiul  it  is  always 
safe  to  accept  residls  .-is  a  proof  of  the 
possessions  of  the  powers  and  capaliilities 
which  lead  up  to  them.  Of  successes  in  the  busi- 
ness world  which  have  Iteen  earned  by  tiie  exercise 
of  sound  judgment,  thorough  l)usiness  tact  and 
indomitable  energy,  there  is  no  more  eminent  e\- 
ami)le  in  this  .section  of  the  country  than  I'eter  M. 
Romeiser,  who  is  now  at  the  head  of  a  large  retail 
clothing  house  in  Belleville.  In  these  days  of 
competition,  it  is  merit  that  wins  In  the  aiiMia  of 
busine.ss,  and  the  high  commercial  character,  the 
discriminating  judgment,  the  eye  that  .sees  and  the 
executive  ability  that  is  enabled  to  improve  op- 
portunities, are  attributes  which  are  jiossesscd  by 
Mr.  Romeiser  in  a  marked  degree. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Steinau.  Electorate  of 
Hesse,  Oermany,  November  11.  1X12,  but  left  Ids 
native  land  when  less  than  lifleeu  years  of  age,  and 

21 


in  August,  1857,  urossed  the  ocean  in  a  sailing-ves- 
sel. After  a  voyage  of  ninety  days  from  Bremen, 
lie  arrived  at  New  Orleans  In  the  latter  part  of 
November.  From  there  he  jouriuivcd  by  steamer 
to  St.  Louis,  after  whieh  he  went  to  Waterloo,  111., 
where  he  clerked  in  .-i  general  store  until  the  out- 
break of  the  Civil  War.  In  .lune.  KStU,  he  en- 
listed at  Belleville  as  a  private  in  Company  V. 
Twenty-second  Illinois  Infantry,  then  in  camp  at 
the  Belleville  Fair  grounds. 

Mr.  Romeiser  was  a  participant  in  the  battle  of 
Belmont,  was  through  the  New  Madrid  and  Island 
No.  10  cam|)aign,  and  later  was  in  the  siege  of 
Corinth,  Miss.,  during  which  time  the  battle  of 
Farminglon,  Miss.,  was  fought.  During  the  sum- 
mer and  fall  of  the  same  year,  he  w.as  with  his  regi- 
ment at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  on  the  ;50th  and  31st 
of  December,  1«()2,  he  was  in  the  famous  battle  of 
Murfreesboro,  where  his  regiment  was  almost  an- 
nihilated. After  that  battle  he  w.as  appointed  one 
of  the  color-bearers  of  his  regiment,  and  went 
through  the  Tullahoma  campaign,  and  Was  in  the 
battle  of  Chickamaug.'i,  where  he  was  wounded, 
and  where  he  would  have  fallen  into  the  hands  of 
the  enemy  had  not  his  regiment  commander 
helped  him  otf  the  field.  He  remained  in  the  field 
hospital  until  shortly  before  the  battle  of  Mission- 
ar,y  Ridge,  when  he  re-joined  his  regiment,  al- 
though he  was  still  suffering  from  his  wound.  He 
took  part  in  that  battle,  his  regiment  being  a  part 
of  Gen.  Sheridan's  famous  division. 

On  the  27th  of  November.    IKii.).   Mr.  Romeiser 
reeeixed  the  following  letter  from    the   command- 
ing officer  of  his  regiment,  which    he  cherishes  as  a 
proud  memento  of  the  war  for  the  rnion: 
Ilfad  Qitarlers  22d  III.  Inf. 

Chaltniwfiga,  Tenn.,  Xoc.  27.  '03. 
Si'i-ijl.  lioiwizer.  Com.  F. 

Sir: — 1 2»'enent you  ivith  a  Serr/eant'.s  aarrant  in 
Inkcn  of  my  admfrution  of  your  courcu/e  and  i/ood  con- 
diii-t  in  the  battles  of  Chivkamawja  and  Cliattanoo/./a 
foin/hl  on  the  lOlh  A-  -JOth  of  Seplemlier  and  25th 
of  jVoi:.,  ISO,')'.  I  Iruxt  you  will  live  tij  carry  our 
banner  as  brarely  us  yni  bare  hcn'tofore  done  until 
this  Rebellion  is  cruslnil. 

F.  Sirann-ick. 

Lt.  Col.  Com'dy  liey. 


448 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


After  the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge,  Mr.  Ro- 
iiieiser  went  with  his  regiment  to  East  Tennessee, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1864  became  a  part  of  Sher- 
idan's command.  He  was  a  participant  in  the  At- 
lanta campaign  as  far  as  New  Hope  Church,  and 
w.a.s  in  tlie  battle  of  Resaca.  In  June,  1864,  the 
term  of  the  enlistment  of  the  regiment  liad  ex- 
pired, and  Mr.  Romeiser  returned  with  it  to  Spring- 
field, 111.,  where  he  was  honorably  discharged  on 
tlie  7th  of  July.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  en- 
tered a  store  at  Columbia,  111.,  where  he  clerked 
until  October.  1865,  when  he  entered  a  commercial 
college  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  took  a  course  in  that 
institution.  In  the  spring  of  1866,  he  accepted  a 
position  as  salesman  in  a  M^holesale  clothing  house 
in  St.  Louis,  where  he  remained  until  the  1st  of 
January,  1868,  when  he  gave  up  his  position  to 
accept  a  situation  in  a  commercial  house  of  Rotter- 
dam, Holland.  However,  he  longed  to  be  back  in 
the  country  whose  flag  he  had  borne  in  time's  of 
l)cril,  and  in  1869  he  returned  to  the  United  States, 
and  taking  Greeley's  advice  to  J'oung  men  to  "go 
West,"  in  March  of  that  year  he  found  himself  on  a 
homestead  on  the  Solomon  River  in  Cloud  County, 
Kan.  Hardly  had  he  settled  there  when  there 
was  an  Indian  outbreak  in  that  section,  and  all  the 
settlers  having  families  were  compelled  to  seek  safe- 
ty farther  back.  The  men,  mostly*  those  without 
family  ties,  formed  themselves  into  a  militia  com- 
|iany,  which  Mr.  Romeiser  joined,  and  with  which  he 
served  during  the  summer  and  fall  of  1869.  In 
Ihe  spring  of  1870  he  went  back  to  his  claim  and 
commenced  farming,  which  occupation  he  con- 
tinued with  indifferent  success  until  the  spring  of 
1873,  when  he  rented  his  land  and  went  to  St. 
Louis. 

In  June,  1873,  Mr.  Romeiser  came  to  Belleville 
and  accepted  a  situation  with  George  A.  Bradford, 
then  a  prominent  clothier,  with  whom  he  remained 
until  1878.  In  August  of  that  year  he  rented  a 
small  store,  which  then  occupied  a  portion  of  the 
site  of  the  present  store  building,  and  bj'  Septem- 
ber he  was  ready  to  open  his  establishment  to  the 
public.  Emil  Geil  was  then  his  first  and  only  as- 
sistant. In  1879  Charles  A.  Grossart,  who  at  that 
lime  was  little  more  than  thirteen  years  of  age,en- 
Icii'd  the  store.     I'.oth  Mr,  Geil  and  Mr.  Gros.sart 


proved  themselves  excellent  business  men.  As  a 
partial  acknowledgment  of  their  faithfulness  and 
ability  they  were  made  participants  in  the  business 
when  it  was  merged  into  a  stock  eompanj',  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1892,  with  a  fully  paid-up  capital  of  *50,- 
000.  Mr.  Romeiser  became  President;  Emil  Geil, 
Vice-president;  and  Charles  A.  Grossart,  Secre- 
tary. 

Taking  into  consideration  the  very  conserva- 
tiye  character  of  Belleville,  the  growth  of  the  busi- 
ness has  been  phenomenal.  Within  two  years  from 
its  beginning,  the  store  had  to  be  enlarged;  this 
in  turn  was  soon  found  to  be  too  small,  and  in 
1883  the  [jresent  store  building  was  erected.  Of 
the  two  floors,  43x86  feet,  only  the  lower  one  was 
used  as  a  salesroom  at  first,  relegating  unseasonable 
goods  and  duplicates  to  the  second  floor.  But  the 
rapidly  increasing  trade  demanded  larger  assort- 
ments and  more  room  for  the  customei's,  and  the 
second  floor  was  changed  into  a  salesroom,  and  now 
these  two  verj'  large  rooms  are  actually  insufflcient 
to  accommodate  the  ever-increasing  trade,  and 
from  present  indications  it  seems  but  a  question  of 
time  when  additional  room  must  be  provided. 

When  Mr.  Romeiser  entered  the  commercial 
arena  in  this  city,  in  1878,  "A  fair  field  and  no  fa- 
vor" was  inscribed  upon  his  banner,  and  he  has 
ever  given  careful  consideration  to  the  needs  of 
the  public,  and  has  made  the  lai'ge  establishment 
over  which  he  presides  a  recognized  synonym  for 
all  that  is  popular,  progressive  and  honest.  His 
personal  character  is  as  high  as  his  business  repute, 
his  honorable  deportment  in  all  the  affairs  of  life 
commanding  the  confidence  and  respect  of  all  who 
know  him.  He  is  a  member  of  Ilecker  Post  of 
the  (rrand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  was  twice 
elected  its  Commander.  At  the  Grand  Arm^'  State 
Encampment  held  at  Springfield  in  1892,  he  was 
elected  a  delegate  to  the  National  Encampment 
held  at  Washington,  D.  C,  in  September,  1892. 

On  the  18th  of  May,  1876,  Mr.  Romeiser  married 
Elise  Hilgard,  and  the}'  are  the  proud  parents  of 
the  following-named  children:  Theodore,  Leonore. 
Emma,  Petra,  Edwin,  Corona  and  Roland.  In 
1889,  Mr.  Romeiser  erected  an  elegant  residence  at 
No.  228  Abend  Street.  It  is  a  two-story  brick 
bujldinu',  ('(intaining  ten  rooms,  improvcil  with  all 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


449 


modern  conveniences,  and  cost  *  1 0,000.  Every- 
thing in  liis  house  and  about  the  grounds  shows 
that  he  possesses  excellent  taste  and  is  a  man  of 
refinement  and  culture.  His  husy  life  has  not  pre- 
vented him  from  active  participation  in  all  worthy 
projects  for  the  advancement  of  the  material  inter- 
ests of  the  city.  His  career  furni  lies  one  of  the 
most  notable  examples  of  success  in  the  commcrcifll 
history  of  the  place,  and  advancement  has  come  to 
no  one  more  worthy,  or  who  has  earned  it  more 
fairlv  than  he. 


'i=™^^+^l 


oris  (JKANER,  the  gentleman  to  whom 
the  attention  of  the  reader  is  called  in  this 
short  sketch,  holds  the  important  position 
of  County  .Surveyor  for  St.  Clair  Connt3',  having 
been  first  elected  to  that  office  in  November,  1877, 
and  so  creditably-  has  he  discharged  the  duties  of 
his  position  that  he  has  be'en  re-elected  continu- 
ously ever  since.  Our  subject  is  a  native  of  this 
county,  having  been  born  in  St.  Clair  Township. 
February  12,  1853,  being  the  only  son  of  George 
V.  and  lx)uise  (Guentz)  Graner,  natives  of  Hesse- 
Cassel  and  Leipsic,  .Saxony,  respectively. 

The  father,  George,  was  born  in  (ierniany,  in 
1822,  and  there  learned  the  occupation  of  civil 
engineer.  When  he  emigrated  to  this  country, 
in  1849,  he  located  in  .Shiloh  Township,  this 
county,  and  entered  upon  the  duties  of  surve3-or. 
As  very  little  of  the  country  had  been  surveyed,  a 
fine  field  was  before  him.  and  he  laid  out  a  large 
number  of  the  farms  and  towns  of  this  locality.  lie 
held  the  position  of  United  States  Assessor  utider 
President  Lincoln  and  was  one  of  the  most  prom- 
inent men  of  the  county.  In  addition  to  his  other 
occupations,  the  father  of  our  subject  g.ive  i)ri- 
vate  inst:-uction  in  mathematics  and  continued  in 
the  discharge  of  his  duties  until  death  intervened, 
August  28,  1875.  George  Graner  married  Mrs. 
Guentz,  who  came  to  this  country  in  IMIS. 
She  bore  her  husband  but  one  child,  oiii-  miK- 
ject.  IJy  a  former  marriage  she  had  one  son. 
Henry  (iuenl/..  ;i  .Iu<liceof  the  Peace  in  Belleville. 


Her  death  occurred  in  1880,  and  her  loss  was 
deeply  felt  by  her  affectionate  son  Louis. 

Ixjuis  Graner  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  the  neighborhood,  and  also  studied  civil  engin- 
eering under  his  learned  father.  With  such  a 
teacher,  he  could  not  help  being  a  good  survo^'or, 
and  his  first  work  was  done  on  the  Cairo  Short 
Line  as  Assistant  Surve^-fjr.  So  satisfactory  was 
it  that  he  was  given  charge  of  the  survey  for  the 
Illinois  it  St.  Louis  Railroad  from  ]>elleville  to  St. 
Liiuis.  Much  additional  railroad  labor,  as  well  as 
practical  surveying  throughout  the  town  and 
county,  has  been  performed  by  our  subject.  When 
not  engaged  in  railroad  work,  the  citizens  of 
Belleville  embrace  the  opportunity  to  appoint  this 
talented  gentleman  to  some  office  where  his  skill 
will  benefit  the  town,  being  City  Engineer,  having 
filled  that  office  for  some  time. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  to  Miss  Au- 
gusta Meyer,  of  Alma,  Kan.,  occurred  May  28, 
1876.  This  charming  lady  was  born  in  St.  Louis, 
August  11,  1858,  and  is  a  daughter  of  August 
Meyer,  a  merchant  of  that  city.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Graner  have  been  born  five  bright,  intelligent 
children,  as  follows:  George,  Louisa,  Emma,  Au- 
gusta and  Matilda.  This  family  occupies  an  ele- 
gant home  in  Highland  Addition  to  Belleville,  sur- 
rounded by  every  modern  convenience,  and  here 
this  highly-respected  and  esteemed  gentleman  is  to 
lie  found  at  all  times,  when  the  cares  of  his  business 
do  not  compel  him  to  be  absent,  in  the  midst  of 
his  wife  and  cliildicn. 


'•    »    ^{ 


lACOB  S(  inVAi:(;EL.  The  gentleman 
whose  life  it  isoui-  [trivilege  to  present  to 
our  readers,  is  one  of  the  enterprising  young 
farmers  of  .Smithton  Township,  St.  Clair 
County.  He  is  of  f;erman  descent,  his  father, 
Charles  Schwaegol.  having  been  burn  in  Ger- 
many, but  came  to  America  in  1H45,  locating 
in  Millstadt  Township,  where  he  made  his  home 
aixl  h.-is  since  resided.  He  worked  perseveringly 
and  faithfully,  and  i>  now    enjoying    the  fruit«  of 


Wi 


450 


PORTEAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


that  industry,  being  regarded  as  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial men  of  the  township,  as  well  as  one  of  the 
wealthiest. 

It  is  this  townshii)  that  can  claim  llie  honor  of 
being  the  liirthplace  of  our  subject,  for  here,  on 
^larcli  14,  18(50,  a  son  was  born  to  Mr.  Schwaegel, 
Sr.,  who  was  destined  to  become  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  The  name  of  Jacob  was  bestowed 
upon  him,  and  here  he  was  reared  and  educated, 
learning  to  manage  a  farm  on  his  father's  estate. 
In  due  time  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Louise  Munier,  who  was  the  daughter  of  Hya- 
cinth and  Anna  (Iless)  Munier,  natives  of  France, 
and  to  this  union  have  been  born  three  bright, 
interesting  children:     Joseph,  Adolph    and    Otto. 

In  1885  our  subject  located  on  his  present  farm 
on  section  ;)(),  Smithton  Township,  St.  Clair 
County,  where  lie  has  a  line  property,  upon  which 
is  raised  chiefly  grain.  Mr.  Schwaegel  is  a  be- 
liever in  the  doctrines  and  teachings  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church.  In  political  matters  he  is  a  fol- 
lower of  the  ininciples  enunciated  by  Thomas 
Jefferson,  upholding  the  doctrines  of  Democracy 
in  everv  particular.  He  is  very  industrious  and 
enterprising,  and  will  make  his  mark  in  the 
township,  where  he  and  his  family  are  already  re- 
garded with  respect  and  esteem  b}'  their  hosts  of 
friends. 


I  ACOB  KILIAN.     The  subject  of  this  short 
sketch  resides  on  section  8,  Smithton  Town- 

Jl  shii),  St.  Clair  County.  The  father  of  this 
/  gentleman  was  John  Kilian,  who  w.as  born 
and  reared  in  Ilesse-Cassel,  Germany,  and  was 
there  married  to  Miss  Barbara  Reinhart.  He  was 
a  tiller  of  the  soil  in  iiis  native  land,  and  decided 
to  continue  that  calling  in  a  section  where  the  re- 
turns would  be  greater  for  the  time  expended. 

Reaching-  the  United  States  in  1845,  he  first 
located  in  St.  Clair  County,  about  four  miles 
north  of  Belleville,  but  this  location  not  being 
,-Mli>rMctory,  he  rciioved    to    the    farm    south    of 


Belleville,  which  has  been  his  home  ever  since. 
Only  four  of  his  famil}'  of  six  children  remain,  as 
follows:  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Y.  Vollrath,  living 
at  Edwardsville,  III.;  Katherine,  the  widow  of 
John  Sutter,  living  in  St.  Louis;  Conrad  and 
Jacob,  living  at  home.  Two  children  died  in 
infancy. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  occurred  January  7, 
1838,  near  Ilesse-Cassel,  Germany,  and  about  seven 
years  of  his  life  had  been  passed  when  his  father 
emigrated  to  this  country.  Jacob  was  educated 
in  the  district  schools,  and  obtained  a  fair  educa- 
tion for  the  times.  In  1863,  he  decided  to  make  a 
home  for  himself,  and  went  about  it  bj-  manying 
Miss  Sarah  Merrill,  the  daughter  of  Sylvester 
Merrill,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  who  had  come  to 
St.  Clair  County  when  a  young  man  and  had  set- 
tled at  Turkey  Hill,  three  miles  east  of  Belleville, 
where  Mrs.  Kilian  was  born  and  reared.  She  was 
next  to  the  youngest  of  thirteen  children.  Her 
father  was  quite  a  prominent  man  in  the  county, 
having  been  School  Commissioner  for  St.  Clair 
County,  a  fine  farmer  and  a  very  wealtly  man. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Kilian  located  on  the 
place  where  he  now  lives,  which  was  bought  in  the 
year  1859,  it  then  having  no  improvements  on  it, 
but  he  went  to  work  with  a  will,  and  now  has  one 
of  the  finest  places  in  the  district.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kilian  have  five  children,  who  have  grown  up  to 
be  comforts  to  their  parents.  They  are  Emma, 
wife  of  Heniy  Sensel,  living  in  St.  Louis;  Waller.  ' 
living  near  Trenton,  a  farmer;  Susie,  wife  of 
George  Hartnugel,  living  in  St.  Louis;  George 
and  Annie,  who  are  at  home. 

Our  subject's  fine  farm  contains  one  hundred 
and  seventy  acres  of  land,  all  well  improved,  and 
on  which  are  raised  the  best  of  crops,  attention  be- 
ing also  paid  to  stock-raising.  Mr.  Kilian  also  has  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Summer- 
field,  which  is  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  he  belonging  to  the 
German  and  she  to  the  English  branch.  In  his 
political  belief,  Mr.  Kilian  is  a  Republican,  and 
upholds  the  principles  of  that  party  in  every  way 
in  his  power.  Before  cU>siiig  this  brief  sketcli  of 
a  veiy  pioniincnt   man   in    his    district,    we    may 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


4.')1 


mention  that  his  landed  possessions  amount  to 
five  hundrod  and  four  acres  of  the  finest  Illinois 
soil.  The  two  hundred  and  fourteen  acres  wiiicli 
lie  owns  near  Trenton  are  as  good  land  as  there  is 
in  that  vicinity,  and  are  occupied  hy  his  son  Walter. 
This  family  is  well  and  favoral)ly  known  in  this 
locality,  its  members  being;  honest,  hard-working 
and  CJod-fearing  peoi)le. 


itn^  r.  Hr,l.Mr.KK(iER.  TIic  name  with  uhlch 
iNf  "'*■  ''*'^'^  this  biography  needs  no  inlroduc- 
Ji\V  tion,the  owner  l)eing  well  known  in  public 
^'  and  private  life  as  a  citizen  of  high  repute 
in  Fayetteville,  St.  Clair  County.  Mr.  Ileiniberger 
was  born  in  Mascoutah,  this  county,  in  the  year 
1838.  his  parents  being  Gustav us  .and  Mary  (La- 
fontaine)  Ileiniberger.  Mr.  Ileimberger,  Sr.,  w.as 
born  near  the  banks  of  the  Rhine, at  a  place  called 
Si)eyer.  Bavaria,  Germany,  in  1HU9:  the  mother  of 
our  subject  was  born  in  Cirlsrulie,  Germany, 
August  29.  1818,  and  died  NOvember  i:?.  1877. 

Our  subject's  father  was  educated  in  the  world- 
famed  college  of  Heidelberg,  Germany,  and  after 
finishing  his  collegiate  course  adopted  the  pro- 
fession of  attorney.  He  was  a  man  of  distindive 
traits,  and  soon  after  entering  his  jirofe.ssional 
career  became  identified  with  a  political  f.iction 
which  at  tliat  time  was  obnoxious  to  the  (Jerman 
(iovernment,  and  had  to  fiee  his  native  land.  He 
reached  America  in  1833.  and  located  near  Belle- 
ville, 111.  Here  he  dropped  his  profession  and  Ix- 
came  an  hotel-keeper  at  Mascoutah.  When  the 
Mexican  War  broke  out,  Mr.  Ileiniberger,  .Sr.,  who 
was  then  in  the  South,  enlisted  in  the  Tliird 
Louisiana  Regiment  at  New  Orleans.  He  was  se- 
verely wounded  at  Tampico,  and  lost  the  use  of 
his  left  arm.  Being  a  very  highly  educated 
man  and  master  of  seven  langu.ages,  he  was 
appointed  Spanish  interpreter  for  (Jen.  Shields 
during  the  remainder  of  tlie  war.  In  1819,  after 
the  close  of  the  Mexican  .War,  he  went  to  Cali- 
fornia and  was  eng.aged  in  mining,  but  not  being 
successful  in  this  line,  he  departed  from  California 


and  located  at  Guatemala.  Central  .\nierica.  where 
he  was  engaged  in  trading  and  boating.  From 
this  last-mentioned  place  we  trace  him  to  >'alpa- 
laiso,  Chile,  and  from  V.alparaiso  to  Brazil,  where 
he  w^as  engaged  as  a  forem.an  in  a  di.amond  mine 
for  several  years.  His  next  location  was  Culw, 
where  he  was  known  as  a  tob.icco  exporter.  From 
Culia  he  went  to  New  Orleans,  but  left  that  city 
in  18,5.5  because  his  political  views  did  not  co- 
incide with  those  held  by  the  people  of  the  Cres- 
cent City,  as  he  was  an  anti-slavery  man. 

Although  our  subject's  father  was  engaged  in 
many  different  kinds  of  business,  he  was  never  a 
linancial  success.  He  was  a  well-known  newspaper 
correspondent  for  many  leading  newspapers  dur- 
ing his  travels,  and  was  a  man  of  marked  natural 
ability.  He  departed  this  life  on  the  old  Hilgard 
farm,  near  Belleville,  in  the  year  1857.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  w.as  one  who  was  very 
much  respected  in  this  community  on  account  of 
her  amiable  disposition  and  the  keen  management 
which  she  displayed  in  her  home  affairs,  and  dur- 
ing her  husband's  wanderings  it  was  her  abil- 
ity which  kept  the  family  together.  She  departed 
this  life  in  the  year  1882. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  began  life  on  his  own 
responsibilities  at  the  age  of  twelve  years.  He 
obtained  his  first  emiiloyment  from  his  grand- 
father, who  then  owned  a  drug-store  at  Mascoutah. 
His  next  position  w.as  that  of  a  clerk  in  a  general 
merchandise  store  at  Belleville,  and  from  there  he 
went  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  watch m.aker.  After 
learning  his  trade,  the  firm  with  whom  he  was  em- 
ployed broke  up  in  businesss,  and  he  went  to  St. 
Louis,  where  he  became  engaged  as  a  gunsmith, 
lie  remained  at  this  last  work  Imt  a  short  time 
and  returned  again  to  Belleville,  where  lie  took  a 
position  as  clerk  in  a  store. 

In  1861,  our  subject  enlisted  in  Companies  K 
and  F,  Ninth  Illinois  Infantry,  under  Grant  .and 
Sherman,  During  the  war,  he  took  [lart  in  sixty- 
three  eng.agements,  the  most  important  of  which 
were  Ft.  Donelson,  rittsburg  Landing.  Corinth 
and  Atlanta,  At  Corinth,  he  received  a  sunstroke, 
which  necessitated  his  going  to  the  hospital  for  a 
few  weeks.  He  had  the  distinguished  honor  of 
beinir   color-bearer    for    his    regiment   three  years 


452 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  never  received  a  wound  or  was  taken  pris- 
oner. He  received  liis  discharge  fiom  the  army 
on  the  28th  of  August,  1864,  at  Springfield,  111. 

After  returning  home  from  the  war,  our  sub- 
ject became  engaged  as  a  clerk  in  Belleville.  He 
served  various  firms  in  this  capacity,  and  for  sev- 
eral years  was  known  in  the  community  as  one  of 
the  most  popular  men  engaged  in  this  pursuit. 
November  8,  1866,  formed  a  new  era  in  his  life, 
as  on  that  date  he  married  Miss  Anna  Hermann, 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Anna  Hermann.  The  re- 
sult of  this  union  has  been  four  children,  who 
are  Emma,  wife  of  Henry  Voskamp;  Anna,  Gus- 
tavus  and  Herman. 

Mr.  Heimberger  believes  that  the  best  American 
citizen  is  he  whose  possibilities  of  a  good  educa- 
tion are  not  limited,  and,  with  that  end  in  view, 
has  liberally  educated  his  family  botli  in  the  Ger- 
man and  P^nglisli  branches.  He  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican, and  is  a  member  of  Hecker  Post  No.  443, 
(4.  A.  R.,  at  Belleville.  He  was  for  many  years 
a  member  of  St.  Clair  Lodge  No.  24,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  of  Belleville. 

In  the  year  1880,  Mr.  Heimberger  located  at 
Fayetteville  and  opened  an  office  as  real-estate 
agent  and  Notary  Public.  He  also  represents  one 
of  tlie  foremost  and  best-known  fire  insurance 
companies  in  the  West,  and  during  the  past  twelve 
years  has  built  up  a  large  and  lucrative  business 
in  these  lines.  He  is  respected  as  a  citizen  and 
.solid  business  man  of  Fayetteville,  and  is  n  man 
of  more  tlian  ordinary  intelligence  and  ability. 


r^ 


=^ 


'OSEPII  EDWIN  MILLER.  One  of  the 
best,  most  intelligent  and  scientific  fanners 
of  St.  Clair  Township  is  the  gentleman 
'  whose  sketch  is  now  under  consideration. 
His  home  farm  comprises  one  hundred  and  sev- 
enty-two acres  of  tine  land  and  is  situated  on  sec- 
tion 32.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject 
was  Peter  Miller,  who  served  under  Napoleon 
Bonaparte  from  1793  to  1800,  and  was  a  member 
of   tlie  Old  Guard,  the   reply   of  whose  Sergeant, 


Cambronne,  at  Waterloo,  "The  Old  Guard  dies 
but  never  surrenders,"  has  gone  the  rounds  of  tlie 
world. 

Our  subject  was  born  .lune  8,  1842,  two  miles 
east  of  Belleville.  His  fatlier,  Michael  Miller,  was 
a  native  of  Herbitzheim,  Alsace,  then  in  France, 
and  was  born  December  31,  1811,  and  died  July 
16, 1883.  His  mother  was  Cliristena  Karlskind,  born 
in  Langdorf,  Lorraine,  also  tlien  in  France,  Sep- 
tember 12,  1813.  She  was  one  of  a  family  of  two 
sons  and  seven  daughters,  of  whom  Mrs.  Cather- 
ine Kupferle,  now  a  resident  of  St.  Louis,  is  the 
only  survivor.  Her  fatlier,  Sebastian  Karlskind, 
served  in  the  wars  of  Napoleon,  and  was  seri- 
ously wounded  at  Austerlitz;  her  mother  died  in 
France.  In  1832,  her  father  came  with  the  chil- 
dren to  America,  and  landed  in  New  Orleans, 
where  he  remained  until  1838;  he  then  came  to  St. 
Clair  County,  and  settled  on  a  farm  about  three 
miles  northwest  of  Belleville,  where  he  passed  the 
remainder  of  his  days,  dying  October  5,  1890,  in 
the  seventy-eighth  year  of  his  age,  a  well-known 
and  respected  citizen  of  the  county. 

Our  subject's  father  was  fifteen  years  of  .age 
when  his  parents  came  to  America,  bringing  the 
little  family  with  tlicm.  They  landed  in  New 
York  July  4,  1826,  on  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,  on  which  day 
two  signers  of  that  immortal  document,  John 
Adams  and  Thomas  Jefferson,  passed  out  of  life. 
The  family  of  Mr.  Miller  settled  in  Lewis  County, 
N.  Y.,  then  a  new  county.  After  remaining  there 
a  short  time,  they  removed  to  Cincinnati,  thence, 
in  1831,  to  New  Orleans,  whore  Peter  Miller  died. 
In  1833,  the  father  of  our  subject  came  to  Illinois, 
and  settled  on  eighty  acres  of  land  on  Ridge  Prai- 
rie. In  1834,  he  went  to  New  Orleans,  but  re- 
turned in  1837,  and  purchased  a  tract  of  land  on 
which  he  resided  permanently.  In  1838,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Christena  Karlskind,  and  si.K  chil- 
dren were  the  fruits  of  this  union:  Lena,  wife 
of  N.  J.  Bieljel  (see  sketch);  Peter,  who  lives 
on  Turkey  Hill,  two  miles  east  of  Belleville,  mar- 
ried Barbara  Pairol,  has  two  children  and  is  a 
farmer.  The  other  brothers  and  sisters  are,  D.  F., 
who  lives  three  miles  east  of  Belleville;  William 
J.,  of  Turkey  Hill;  and  Mary,  Mrs.  Henry  Eckart. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


453 


Our  subjeet  was  tlie  the  tliird  child  of  tlie  fam- 
il.\-,  and  grew  up  on  the  farm,  always  taking  a  deep 
interest  in  it;  he  received  a  good  common-school 
education  and  then  attended  the  Christian  Brothers' 
College,  in  Si.  Louis,  for  three  jears,  or  until  lie 
was  eighteen ;  he  then  attended  a  commercial  school 
in  Belleville,  returned  to  the  farm,  and  in  1866 
took  a  pleasure  trip  to  California,  remaining  aw.iy 
one  year.  The  marriage  of  our  subject  took  place 
June  9,  1870,  with  Miss  Eva  C.  Amrael,  daughter 
of  Martin  and  Frances  .\mmel,  who  was  born  June 
15,  1851,  and  died  February  24,  1880.  Six  children 
were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller,  three  of  whom 
have  passed  away.  The  living  ones  are  as  follows: 
Matilda,  aged  eighteen;  Luretta,  aged  sixteen;  and 
Clementine,  aged  fourteen.  May  17,  1881,  Mr. 
Miller  was  married  to  Miss  .losephine  Glad,  daugh- 
ter of  Eugene  and  Catherine  Glad.  Six  children 
have  come  into  the  household  since  that  time,  and 
they  are  known  by  the  following  prett\-  names: 
Ida  Eva,  Angenctte,  Lena,  J.  Edwin,  Albert  Eu- 
gene and  Lee  Warren. 

yir.  Miller  has  for  years  been  very  prominently 
before  the  public  .as  an  advanced  .agriculturist  and 
stock-raiser,  having  devoted  his  efforts  in  the 
latter  business  to  the  importing  and  breeding  of 
pure-blooded  Holstein  cattle,  of  which  he  now  has 
one  hundred  head  on  his  place.  In  additi(jii  to 
his  home  pl.ice,  our  subject  has  seventy  acres  in 
section  6,  and  all  of  his  land  is  cultivated  in  the 
most  improved  and  scientific  manner.  He  has 
served  .as  a  member  of  the  United  States  Crand 
Jury  and  on  the  grand  and  petit  juries  of  the 
county,  has  filled  the  office  of  Township  Super- 
visor for  two  terms,  and  has  been  both  Highway 
Commissioner  and  School  Director.  He  is  at  pres- 
ent President  of  the  Southern  Illinois  Dairy  Asso- 
ciation, and  h.as  served  as  Director  of  the  St. 
Clair  County  Fair,  is  President  of  the  St.  Clair 
County  Fanners'  Club,  and  Master  of  the  St.  Clair 
County  Grange,  and  holds  the  position  of  Lec- 
turer of  the  Turkey  Hill  Grange.  He  is  a  fre- 
([uenl  and  valued  contributor  to  the  best  stock 
and  agricultural  journals  of  the  day,  and  is  a 
graceful  and  convincing  writer. 

The  personal  appearance  of  our  subject  empha- 
sizes Ills  known  charactei',  hi*  thougiilfiil  counten- 


ance and  deliberate  manner  telling  of  ment.al  ac- 
quirements. He  is  a  Democrat  in  his  polit- 
ical opinions,  and  a  great  admirer  of  Grover 
Cleveland,  and  regards  Napoleon  and  Cleveland  as 
the  two  great  men  of  modern  times.  In  one  he 
admires  the  military  genius,  and  in  the  other  his 
statesmanship  and  lofty  ide.as  of  what  should  con- 
stitute the  political  life  of  a  republic. 


^OHN  S.  WILDEHMAN.  The  sul)ject  of 
this  sketch  resides  on  section  lH,  Freeburg 
Townshii),  St.  Clair  County,  1 11.  He  was  the 
son  of  Joseph  Wilderman,  who  was  the  son 
of  George  Wilderman,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
the  county.  Joseph  Wilderman  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, came  to  this  county  about  1805,  and  first 
located  where  James  Wilderman  now  lives,  in 
Freeburg  Township.  His  wife  was  Mary  Margaret 
Stuntz,  whose  father  was  also  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers, having  come  here  as  early  as  Josei)h  Wil- 
derman. 

Joseph  AVildcrman  lived  and  died  on  the  place 
which  he  had  entered  from  the  Government, 
lie  left  the  following  children:  George,  Lovina, 
A'irginia,  Nancy,  Edward,  IMay,  Eleanor,  Joseph, 
Josephine,  John  and  Jerome.  Of  these  five  are 
still  living,and  these  are:  Joseph,  John;  Mary,  wife 
of  Nathan  Fitz,  of  Kansas;  Eleanor,  the  wife 
of  Mark  Ward,  a  farmer  of  Kansas;  and  Josephine, 
wife  of  Charles  Hertel,  of  Freeburg.  111.  Joseph 
Wilderman  w:us  asuccessful  farmerand  a  good  man. 
His  death  occurred  July  16,  1871. 

Our  subject  was  born  December  4,  1834,  at  the 
old  homestead  place  in  Freeburg  Township,  where 
he  w.as  reared.  He  was  married  in  1857,  to  Miss 
Christy  Ann  Hill,  daughter  of  Joseph  Hill,  who  was 
born  on  the  farm  where  the  Green  Mount  Ceme- 
tery now  is  located  in  Belleville.  The  grandfather 
of  Mrs.  Wilderman  was  Peter  Hill,  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  this  county.  She  wi\.s  reared  in  Smith- 
ton  Township. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Wilderman.  of  tiiis 
sketch,  first  located  in  Siiiithtoii   Township  on  sec- 


454 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


tion  14,  where  he  lived  for  twelve  years,  when  he 
removed,  in  the  I'nll  of  1870,  to  where  he  has 
resided  ever  since.  Our  subject  has  had  but 
one  child,  Josepli,  who  married  Miss  Matilda, 
daughter  of  Jacob  Gauch,  of  Smithton  Township, 
wlio  lives  on  the  farm  with  his  father.  Tliere  are 
two  hundred  and  eiglity  acres,  two  hundred  of 
which  are  where  he  now  lives.  lie  has  all  the  land 
under  good  cultivation  and  raises  great  crops  of 
grain. 

Mr.  Wilderman  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  is  one  of  the  strongest  pillars,  assisting  it 
with  heart  and  soul,  and  is  a  Trustee  in  the  church 
in  Freeburg.  Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat  and 
believes  firmly  in  the  tenets  of  that  party.  He  has 
been  one  of  the  Trustees  of  the  School  Board  and 
has  long  been  one  of  tlie  Directors  of  the  district 
school.  Mr.  Wilderman  belongs  to  a  well-known 
and  representative  family  in  tiie  county  and  one 
of  whom  tlie  people  invariably  l)ear  good  testi- 
raonj-. 


"ill'  OIIN  HENRY  P.ESTE.  Tliis  successful  far- 
mer resides  on  section  26,  Freeburg  Town- 
ship.    He  was  born  in  the  province  of  West- 

phalia,   Germany,    August    16,    1823,   and 

there  was  reared  to  manhood.  In  1852,  he  came 
to  th(i  United  States  and  located  in  Fayetteville, 
111.,  where  he  worked  two  years  in  a  sawmill  and 
about  one  year  on  a  farm.  His  marriage  occurred 
in  1854,  when  he  wedded  Miss  Mary  Rose,  whose 
parents  were  born  in  Germany.  In  1859,  he  bouglit 
the  farm  where  he  now  lives. 

Wlien  Mr.  Beste  reached  Fayetteville,  his  means 
were  so  low  that,  to  use  his  own  expression,  he  "did 
not  own  a  copper  cent."  He  realized  that  much 
hard  work  was  necessary,  but  by  the  exercise  of 
economy  and  lionest  efforts  he  has  succeeded.  His 
first  purchase  was  forty  acres  of  wild  timber  land, 
upon  which  he  located  in  1860  and  commenced  the 
work  of  clearing.  At  the  present  time  he  has  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres,  the  first  eighty  cleared 
through  his  own  arduous  toil.  He  lias  been  a  liard- 


working  man  and  has  acquired  his  property  by  dili- 
gence and  thrift.  His  farm  is  well  improved  and 
in  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  When  he  lirst 
took  possession,  he  put  up  a  temporary  house, 
which  he  replaced  in  1875  with  the  neat  and  com- 
fortable frame  dwelling  that  now  stands  on  the 
place. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beste  are  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren, all  of,  whom  have  been  spared  to  them. 
Mary  married  Christopher  Etling;  John  Henry 
married  Mary  Miller;  Louisa  and  Emma  live  at 
home;  and  Louis  Edward  assists  his  father.  The 
family  attends  St.  Paul's  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church  at  Freeburg,  of  which  Mr.  Beste  is  one  of 
the  charter  ineint)ers.  and  in  which  he  is  now  a 
Trustee  and  a  very  prominent  member.  He  has 
been  a  very  liberal  supporter  of  the  church  and 
has  taken  a  deep  interest  in  all  public  enterprises 
for  the  good  of  the  neighborhood.  For  six  years 
past  he  has  served  as  School  Director  and  has 
taken  a  deep  interest  in  all  educational  matters 
in  the  township,  and  has  given  his  children  every 
advantage  in  his  power.  His  youngest  daughter, 
Emma,  has  developed  great  talent  in  music,  which 
she  has  studied  both  at  home  and  under  the  best 
instructors  of  Belleville. 

Politically,  Mr.  Beste  is  a  Republican  and  has 
voted  that  ticket  ever  since  the  first  canvass  of  the 
lamented  and  beloved  President  Lincoln.  As  a 
citizen,  he  is  always  on  the  side  of  every  social 
and  moral  reform;  as  a  neighbor,  he  is  kind;  and 
as  a  friend,  stanch  and  true.  The  [loor  and  dis- 
tressed find  in  him  a  cheerful  helper,  to  whom  no 
appeal  is  made  in  vain. 


m>-^^<B 


ii7  GUIS  MILLER.  It  is  to  one  of  the  most 
ll  (^  prosperous  and  inlluential  fanners  of  Smitli- 
lIL^ton  Townshi))  tliat  we  call  the  attention  of 
our  readers  in  this  brief  sketch.  Our  subject  is  the 
son  of  Louis  Miller,  a  native  of  Germany,  wlio 
came  to  America  in  1842  with  his  parents  and  lo- 
cated in  Centreviile,  111.  There  he  remained  dur- 
ing the  winter,  and  in  the  spring  of  the  following 


RESIDENCE  Cr     L0UI5     M  1  LLER  ^   5EC.  30.,  S.'VliTHTON    T?.,  ST.  CLAl  R   CO.  J  LL. 


RtSiOEiiC'  or  .JLihK    ri::iH\     3Z5  7  L ,  CEC.  2G.,  f"RE£Hu  HO  TP^ST.Cl/. 


VN*' 


KjRtrait  and  biographical  record. 


A-,: 


year  removed  to  a  farm  of  eiglity  acres  which  liis 
father  purchased  for  him.  He  married  Christina 
I'dech  and  tliey  became  the  parents  of  Bve  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  are  still  living.  They  are:  Kath- 
erine.wifeof  Fred  Heomer,  of  Millstadt  Township; 
our  subject  and  his  twin  brother,  Philip,  the  latter 
of  whom  lives  in  Millstadt  Township;  .lacob,  living 
on  the  old  farm,  and  Christina,  who  also  lives  at 
home  with  her  mother.  The  father  of  this  family 
died  August  13,  1889.  He  had  been  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  for 
many  years  and  w.as  highly  esteemed.  .Vt  the 
time  of  his  death  he  ownej  six  hundred  and  seven 
.acres  of  good  land  and  was  well-to-do,  although 
he  had  come  to  this  county  very  poor. 

Our  subject  was  born  November  20,  18.')2.  on 
the  old  home  place  in  Jlillstadt  Township,  and 
here  he  and  his  twin  brother.  Phiiip.  were  educated 
in  both  English  and  German.  The  brother  still  lives 
in  the  township  where  they  were  born  and  reared, 
but  our  subject  has  his  fine  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty-seven  acres  on  section  ."50,  Smith  ton 
Township.  The  land  is  highly  cultivated  and  is 
devoted  to  general  farming,  in  connection  with 
which  Mr.  Miller  is  successfully  operating  as  a 
stock-raiser. 

Mr.  ililler  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
wife,  who.se  maiden  name  wa.s  Margaret  Hertel, 
died  in  the  year  1878,  one  year  after  their  marriage. 
His  second  wife  was  5Iiss  Louisa,  daughter  of  Jos- 
eph and  Anna  B.  (Coeh)  Veile.  The  marriage 
ceremony  was  celebrated  in  187'J,.and  they  are  the 
parents  of  si.'c  children,  namely:  Matilda,  aged 
twelve  yeai-s;  Louis,  eleven;  Albert,  nine;  Ellen, 
seven;  Selma,  four;  and  Caroline,  who  is  two  years 
old.  The  children  are  bright  and  intelligent  and 
give  promise  of  a  useful  future. 

Joseph  A'eile,  father  of  Mrs.  ^Miller,  was  born  in 
(Germany  November  2,  1831.  After  emigrating 
to  this  country,  he  settled  in  St.  Clair  County, 
where  he  became  prominent  in  p\iblic  affairs.  For 
fire  3-ears,  he  held  the  office  of  County  Commis- 
sioner, in  which  position  he  served  acceptably.  He 
was  elected  to  represent  his  district  in  the  Legis- 
lature and  his  services  here  were  so  satisfactory  to 
his  constituents  that  he  was  twice  re-elected,  serv- 
ing three  terms  as  Representative.     At  the  time  of 


his  death,  which  occurred  September  21,  1892,  he 
was  Postmaster  at  Millstadt. 

Mr.  Miller  is  one  of  the  prominent  members  of 
tlio  farmers'  organization,  and,  politically,  he  is  a 
strong  Republican.  In  every  relation,  he  has  de- 
ported himself  as  a  Christian  and  an  enterprising 
business  man.  Now  in  the  prime  of  his  useful  life, 
he  is  surrounded  by  the  comforts  resulting  from 
his  own  efforts,and  is  enabled  to  give  his  children 
the  best  of  advantages. 


-2<SA^i®^;S-j: 


g-^n^?fe 


^^  J.  LISCIlKi;.  one  <if  the  leading  citizens 
(l(  „,  of  Mascoutah,  was  born  near  Red  15ud, 
^^^'  Randolph  County,  111.,  on  the  15th  of  Feb- 
ruary, ISiir).  and  came  to  this  city  when  about  a 
year  old  with  his  parents.  He  attended  the  pub- 
lic schools  until  fifteen  years  old,  when  he  started 
out  in  life  for  himself,  his  first  work  being  to  learn 
the  cooper's  trade,  which  he  followed  until  Sept- 
enilier.  1872.  At  that  time  he  turned  his  attention 
to  newspaper  work,  and  entered  the  employ  of 
Fred  Dilg.  who  was  publishing  the  ^Lascoutah  -Ih- 
zeiger,  and  carrying  on  a  job  printing  office  and  who 
was  also  Postmaster.  Mr.  Lischer  learned  the  print- 
ing trade  and  also  officiated  as  Deputy  Postmaster. 
He  helped  publish  the  M.ascoutah  Anzekjer.  the 
German  weekly  newspa|)er,  which  was  established 
by    Mr.  Dilg  in  187(!. 

Mr.  Lischer  continued  in  the  cm|)loy  of  that 
gentleman  until  January,  1880,  when  he  abandoned 
the  printer's  trade  and  began  clerking  in  a  general 
merchandise  store  for  Fred  J.  .Scheve.  He  was 
afterward  in  the  employ  of  John  AVolz,  the  suc- 
cessor of  his  former  employer,  and  continued  to 
act  as  his  salesman  until  July,  1889,  when  he  went 
to  St.  Louis  and  clerked  in  that  city  for  about  a 
year  and  a  half,  or  untd  December,  1890.  At  that 
time  he  returned  to  his  first  love,  the  printing 
office,  securing  employment  with  John  AVinkler, 
who  in  the  meantime  liad  obtained  control  of  the 
.4«2f('g'e)\  where  he  remained  until  M.ay  1,1891,  when 
he  bought  out  Mr.  Winkler.  He  is  now  the  sole 
owner  and  editfir  of  the  aliove  paper.   It  is  a  weekly 


458 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


newspaper  published  in  the  interests  of  the  German 
citizens  of  this  community  and  it  lias  secured  a 
liberal  patronage,  which  it  well  merits.  Mr.  Lis- 
cher  is  a  young  man  of  good  business  ability,  well 
informed,  and  has  the  high  regard  and  confidence 
of  the  entire  conimunitv. 


U'S 


ilLLIAM  ORTGIER.  This  successful  man- 
ifacturer  of  carriages  is  located  at  Nos. 
335  and  337  Collinsville  Avenue,  East  St. 
Louis,  where  he  has  a  large  brick  building,  50x90 
feet,with  two  stories  and  basement.  The  latter  is 
for  storing  iron,  the  first  floor  being  used  for  the 
smith  shop  and  for  wood  work,  as  well  as  for  stor- 
age, and  the  second  story  is  the  paint  and  trim- 
ming room.  This  is  the  largest  manufactory  of 
buggies  of  any  kind  in  the  county. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Carson  Ortgier, 
born  in  St.  Louis  of  German  parents.  He  carried 
on  the  business  of  teaming  in  his  native  city  until 
1840,  when  he  located  in  St.  Clair  County  on  the 
Collinsville  plank  road,  now  a  part  of  the  city. 
Here  he  began  farming  and  continued  it  until  he 
died  in  1859.  lie  had  accumulated  a  property  of 
one  hundred  and  ninety  acres  of  improved  land, 
which  is  now  owned  by  our  subject.  The  father 
was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  died 
regretted  by  a  large  circle  of  friends.  The  mother 
of  our  subject  was  Annie  Brenning,  born  in 
Hanover,  Germany,  who  came  with  her  sisters 
to  St.  Louis  when  but  eight  years  of  age.  Slie  sur- 
vived her  husband,  her  death  occurring  in    1885. 

Mr.  Ortgier,  of  this  sketch,  was  the  third  in  a 
family  of  six  children,  only  four  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing. He  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  was  an  at- 
tendant at  the  district  schools  until  he  was  fifteen 
years  of  age,  when  lie  was  sent  to  AVarrenton, 
Mo.,  and  attended  college  there  for  more  than  two 
years,  lie  returned  to  the  farm  and  was  married 
in  East  St.  Louis  in  1875  to  Miss  Rosa  Allen,  who 
was  born  in.  Collinsville,  111.  He  continued  farm- 
ing on    the   home   place  until  1882,  then  started  a 


carriage  shop  on  Collinsville  Avenue  and  remained 
there  one  year,  when,  in  1883,  he  leased  here  and 
built,  but  his  business  increased  so  rapidly  that  he 
concluded  to  enlarge.  Consequently,  he  bought 
four  more  lots  and  erected  his  present  building. 
He  is  a  fine  workman,  a  practical  carriage-maker 
by  trade,  and  thoroughly  understands  his  work 
and  superintends  it.  He  employs  from  ten  to 
twelve  hands  and  has  two  forges.  Mr.  Ortgier 
rents  his  share  of  the  farm  to  others  that  he  may 
give  his  undivided  attention  to  his  manufactorj^, 
Onr  subject  has  built  a  nice  residence  facing 
Main  Street,  in  which  is  a  family  of  six  children, 
who  make  it  a  happy  home.  They  are  George, 
Adah,  Olivette,  Chester,  Eorrest,  and  an  infant. 
Mr.  Ortgier  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  convic- 
tions and  has  held  the  otlice  of  School  Director  in 
his  district.  He  belongs  to  the  order  of  Modern 
Woodmen  and  is  a  man  highly  respected  by  his 
business  acquaintances,  his  neighbors,  and  by  all 
who  know  him. 


I^H^H^l 


lERNIlARD  HARTMANX  is  prominently 
identified  with  the  commercial  life  of  Belle- 
I'lfM)!!)  ville,  being  now  President  of  the  Star 
Brewery  Companj^,  and  holding  the  same 
position  in  the  Belleville  Distillery  Company.  In 
no  industry  carried  on  in  the  city  have  the  advan- 
tages of  local  situation  and  surroundings  been 
utilized  with  more  important  results  than  in  this 
great  enterprise.  There  has  been  vast  improve- 
ment made,  both  in  the  quality  of  the  product  and 
the  facilities  for  manufacture,  in  recent  years,  .and 
the  process  of  brewing  and  distilling  on  the  mod- 
ern plan  now  requires  the  investment  of  large  capi- 
tal and  the  employment  of  a  greatly-increased 
number  of  men.  This  brewing  company  has  a 
capital  stock  of  1100,000  and  a  surplus  of  ii45,()00. 
Bernhard  Ilartmann  was  born  in  Ankum,  Pro- 
vince of  Hanover,  Germany,  May  11,  1840,  and  is 
the  son  of  Dr.  Bernhard  and  Christina  (Meyer) 
Hartmann,  both  natives  of  the  Fatherland.  AVhen 
sixteen  years  of  age,  the  elder  Mr.  Ilartmann  went  to 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


459 


Amsterdam,  Holland,  and  clerked  in  a  dry-goods 
sU)ie  there  for  eight  years.  In  1864,  he  came  to 
the  I'nited  Stales,  locating  in  Belleville,  111.,  and 
in  ISGo  started  a  grocery  store  in  partnership  with 
his  brother,  continuing  here  until  IXli,  when  he 
and  his  brother  formed  a  partnership  in  the  Star 
Hrewery,  under  the  firm  name  of  Hartmann  Bros. 
In  1881,  Mr.  Hartmann  became  sole  owner,  and 
continued  the  buMuess  until  1887.  when  his  son 
Walter  became  a  partner,  the  latter  being  secretary, 
treasurer  and  manager.  The  capacity  of  this  great 
enterprise  is  annually  fifty  thousand  barrels,  and 
the  owners  have  recently  built  a  new  brewery. 
The  new  plant  cost  $-200,00(t,  and  has  an  air-line 
railway  south,  extending  to  the  plant  of  the  stock 
house.  This  line  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $50,000. 
The  plant  is  located  in  North  Belleville,  on  a  tract  of 
twenty-one  acres,  with  two  ponds  and  two  artesian 
wells.  Employment  is  given  to  thirty  men.  One 
hundred  thousand  bushels  of  malt  and  fifty  thou- 
sand pounds  of  hops  are  used  nnniially.  and  the 
malt  is  made  on  the  premises. 

The  Belleville  Distillery  Company  was  organized 
in  1888  with  our  subject  as  president;  Walter,  treas- 
urer and  secretary;  and  Hubert  Hartmann,  our  sub- 
ject's brother,  .is  bookkeeper;  and  Mr.  Kmil  Seigel 
is  also  on  the  staff.  The  cap.icity  is  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  thousand  bu.shels  of  corn,  rye 
and  malt,  making  seven  hundred  and  fifty  thou- 
sand gallons  of  spirits,  with  internal  revenue  of 
*()75,OO0  per  year.  The  yeast  product  is  four  hun- 
dred thousand  pounds  annually,  and  they  have  a 
capital  stock  of  ¥47,000.  The  plant  is  located  on 
Main  Street,  Belleville,  and  twenty  men  are  em- 
l)loved.  Mr.  Hartmann  is  also  one-third  owner 
of  the  Belleville  Steel,  Iron  and  Nail  Works,  the 
l)lant  of  which  cost  *85.0()0.  He  is  a  Director  in 
the  Sucker  State  Drill  Company,  and  is  a  Director 
in  the  Belleville  Saving  Bank. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  18t)7.  Mr.  Hartmann  was 
married  to  Mrs.  Anna  Berg,  of  Belleville,  and  their 
union  has  l>een  blessed  by  the  birth  of  the  follow- 
ing children:  Walter;  Christiane;  Hubert;  Bern- 
hard,  a  student  in  Germany;  Hans,  in  the  drug 
business;  Hermann;  Anna;  Rolf;  and  Louise.  Mr. 
Hartmann  has  also  an  extensive  ice  plant,  with  a 
capacity  of  twenty-five  tons  per  day.  and  three  ar- 


tesian wells,  two  at  the  brewery  and  one  at  the 
distillery.  The  bottling  establishment  is  on  Main 
Street.  Our  subject  is  a  gentleman  whose  gre.at 
energy  and  business  s.agacity  have  largely  con- 
tributed to  the  success  of  the  city  in  this  branch 
of  trade.  His  liquoi-s  are  of  a  high  grade,  and 
are  known  far  and  wide  for  their  rich  flavor.  .Sys- 
tem in  management  and  merit  in  goods  have  se- 
cured for  the  house  its  position  of  leadership, 
while  its  ample  resources  and  unsurpassed  facili- 
ties give  every  advantage  for  the  successful  prose- 
cution of  the  business,  which  maintains  a  high 
rej)utation. 


EV.  WILLI.\M  H.  TOMUXS.  The  schol- 
arly man  whose  life  record  we  now  at- 
tempt to  place  before  the  public  is  the  ef- 
ficient and  well-beloved  pastor  of  the  St. 
Mary's  Mission  at  East  St.  Louis,  HI.  The  grand- 
father of  our  subject  bore  the  family  name  of 
William  and  was  a  native  of  Gloucestershire,  Eng- 
land, where  he  was  engaged  in  coal  mining,  but 
came  many  j-ears  ago  to  America  with  his  family 
and  located  in  the-rich  valley  of  Dut<>liess  County, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  died. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  also  named  Will- 
iam and  was  born  in  Gloucesteisiiire,  England.  I'n- 
til  eighteen  years  of  age  he  remained  in  his  native 
country,  then  came  to  America,  and  soon  bought  a 
farm  at  Tomkins  Cove,  in  Rockland  County.  X.  V., 
and  started  in  the  business  of  gardening  and  fruit- 
growing. He  has  become  a  well-known  horticul- 
turist, is  very  much  respected  in  his  neigliboihood, 
and  lives  in  comfort  on  his  beautiful  farm.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  The  mother  of 
oursubject  was  .lane  Armstrong. born  in  the  county 
of  Tyrone,  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  the  daughter  of 
Robert  Armstrong,  a  farmer  in  the  Xorth  of  Ire- 
land, who  came  to  the  United  States  and  located 
in  Rockland  County,  N.  Y.,  and  became  a  farmer. 
His  ancestors  were  of  English  blood  and  he  w.as  a 
member  of  the  Church  of  England  until  coming 
to  America,  when  he  became  an  active  member  of 


460 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  Protestant  Methodist  faith  and  was  a  local 
preacher.  Our  subject  was  the  eldest  in  a  famil}' 
of  five  children  and  was  born  at  Fishkill  Landing 
ii)  Dutcliess  County,  N.  Y.,  .lanuary  28,  1848.  He 
was  reared  at  Tomkiiis  Cove,  which  is  on  Ihe  Hud- 
son, forty  miles  above  New  York  Citj'. 

From  the  age  of  seven  years  until  eighteen,  our 
subject  was  able  to  assist  his  father  on  the  farm. 
He  .attended  the  common  schools,  which  were 
only  held  about  three  months  in  the  winter,  but 
.as  he  was  very  ambitious  he  spent  his  evenings  in 
reading  and  study,  so  that  at  the  .age  of  eighteen 
years  he  received  a  certificate  and  taught  school  in 
the  old  schoolhouse,  his  first  Alma  Mater.  At  the 
age  of  twenty  years,  he  began  to  prepare  for 
college  and  pursued  a  course  of  study  for  one 
year  under  the  care  of  his  pastor.  Rev.  E.  Gay.  In 
1868,  he  entered  St.  Stephen's  College  at  Annan- 
dale,  N.  Y.,  .and  took  a  course  of  five  years,  gradu- 
ating with  the  degree  of  A.  B.  He  next  entered 
the  General  Theological  Seminary  in  New  York 
City  and  graduated  from  that  institution  in  1876. 
Our  subject  was  then  made  Deacon  b}'  Bishop  Pot- 
ter, and  given  charge  of  the  missionary  work  at 
Stone  Ridge  and  Rosendale,  where  he  built  his  first 
church.  It  is  a  beautiful  stone  structure,  and  re- 
flects great  credit  upon  the  pastor  and  the  parish 
which  assisted  him. 

Mr.  Tomlins  was  made  a  priest  in  ,lune,  1877, 
and  was  the  beloved  rector  of  this  ch.arge  until 
1879.  At  Ihis  time,  at  the  request  of  Bishop 
Seymour,  he  came  to  the  diocese  of  Springfield, 
111.,  and  was  pl.aced  in  charge  of  the  missionary 
work  at  Mattoon;  and  here,  during  his  pastorate, 
an  old  Baptist  Church  was  bought,  renovated, 
beautifully  fitted  up  and  made  ready  for  the  wor- 
ship of  the  members  of  this  parish.  Soon  afterward, 
lie  accepted  a  call  to  St.  Paul's  Cliurch  at  Rantoul, 
Champaign  County,  HI.,  and  remained  there  three 
3ears,when  he  resigned  to  become  rector  of  St.  Paul's 
Church  at  Albion,  Edwards  Count}',  111.  His  pas- 
torate there  w.as  of  three  years'  duration  and  then 
he  w.as  appointed  priest  in  charge  of  St.  Mary's 
Mission  at  East  St.  Louis,  in  September,  1886. 

When  Mr.  Tomlins  took  charge  here,  he  knew 
he  liad  undertaken  a  herculean  ta.sk.  The  town 
had  the  name  of  being  "tough,"  and  of  a  danger- 


ous character,  but  this  earnest  man  entered  upon 
his  duties  boldly  and  cheerfully,  and  in  a  short 
time  made  many  friends.  He  seems  to  possess  the 
very  qualities  needed  for  successful  mission  work, 
and  his  heart  is  in  it.  In  1888,  this  good  man 
secured  one  hundred  .and  fifty  feet  on  Ohio  Avenue 
and  Sixth  Street  and  there  erected  a  commodious 
building,  and  in  1889  he  began  service  in  it.  The 
earnest  pastor  had  the  satisfaction  of  having  it 
blessed  January  21,  1889,  by  the  Bishop.  It  is  a 
fine  mission  house  and  consists  of  a  residence  for 
the  clergyman,  a  chapel,  .and  apartments  for  a 
day-school.  The  beginning  here. was  a  little  dis- 
couraging as  he  had  only  a  dozen  communicants,- 
but  now  they  number  over  eighty.  Mr.  Tomlins' 
work  is  principall}'  among  working  people  and  so 
broad  is  his  sympathy  and  so  real  is  his  religion, 
that  he  has  great  influence  among  those  who  often 
look  in  vain  for  real  friends. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  began  the  editing  of 
a  monthly  paper,  to  be  issued  in  the  interest  of  his 
mission.  The  first  number  appeared  in  1887,  and 
it  now  has  a  circulation  of  about  one  thousand 
copies.  Mr.  Tomlins'  life  is  devoted  to  his  work. 
A  service  is  held  every  day  in  the  year  and  five 
services  on  Sunday.  He  gives  religious  instruc- 
tion in  the  school  every  day,  besides  teaching 
Latin.  Mr.  Tomlins  h.as  a  great  assistant  in  his 
life  work  in  the  person  of  his  estimable  wife,  whom 
he  married  in  Mattoon,  III.,  in  August,  1880.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  C.  Booth,  and  she  was 
reared  and  educated  in  Chicago.  Six  lovely  chil- 
dren have  come  to  bless  his  happy  home,  who 
are  as  follows:  Genevieve  Seymour.  William 
Henry,  Cyril  Booth,  Francis  Tlieron.  Cleorge 
Osmond  and  Florence  Irene. 

Mr.  Tomlins  holds  honored  membersliip  with 
the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  and  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Eastern  Star.  In  his  priestly  connec- 
tion, he  belongs  to  the  Confraternity  of  the  Blessed 
Sacrament  and  the  Guild  of  All  Souls.  Our  record 
cannot  close  without  repeating  that  this  hard- 
working pastor,  who  has  formed  the  subject  of  our 
writing,  h.as  ministered  so  successfully  in  his 
Master's  work  because  he  h.as  gone  where  most 
needed.  He  has  not  sought  the  highest  pl.aces, 
and  his  past  must  be  to  him  a  pleasant  retrospect, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


461 


revealing  to  his  e^'es.the  changes  wrought  through 
his  labors  in  behalf  of  the  great  head  of  the  church. 
.Tesus  Christ. 


\t_^  ON.  CUKIST  LISCIIEH.  one  uf  the  promi- 
|f)J)  nent  citizens  of  Mascoulah  and  an  honored 
.!^^'  pioneer  of  the  county,  lias  long  been  iden- 
(^  titled  witii  the  liistory  of  this  eomuuinity. 
llis  father,  Conrad  Lisclier,  was  born  in  Weiugar- 
ten.  Germany,  and  came  to  this  country  in  1835, 
making  his  first  location  in  Siiiloli  A'alley  upon 
the  Henson  farm,  wliere  he  remained  a  year.  He 
then  removed  to  the  Morclock  farm,  where 
he  spent  alwut  a  year  and  afterward  went  to  St. 
l.ouis,  where  he  died  of  the  cholera  in  July,  1849 
his  remains  being  there  interred.  He  left  a  wife 
and  two  sons.  The  brother  of  our  subject,  Henry 
Li-scher,  is  now  President  of  a  bank  and  editor  of 
a  paper  of  Davenport,  Iowa.  In  I8.i3,  Mrs.  Lis- 
cher  came  with  her  children  to  M.aseoutah,  where 
lier  death  occurred  in  1867. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  St.l.ouis  and  learned  the  trade  of  a  confec- 
tioner, but  not  finding  it  congenial  learned  the  trade 
of  a  carpenter,  at  which  he  worked  from  1851  until 
1865.  In  1853,  he  came  to  Mascoutah,  where  he 
followed  carpentering,  and  .as  he  wa-s  an  expert 
workman  did  a  good  business;  but  when  the  war 
broke  out  he  laid  aside  all  business  cares  to  enter  the 
service  of  his  country.  He  responded  to  tiie  call  of 
President  Lincoln  for  seventy-live  thousand  troops 
and  joined  Company  E,  Ninth  Illinois  Infantry, 
serving  as  Orderly-.Sergeant.  Afte'r  l^is  lirst  term 
had  expired  he  re-enlisted  a.»  a  member  of  Company 
1$,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-fourth  Illinois  Regi- 
ment, serving  as  First  Lieutenant.  He  was  a  faith- 
ful and  valiant  soldier,  always  found  at  liis  post 
of  duty. 

In  the  year  1862,  Mr.  Lischer  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  Balsz,  of  St.  Louis.  I'nto  them  were 
born  four  children,  three  sons  and  a  d.augh- 
ter,  all  of    whom    are   yet  living,  namely:    John 


IL,  Adeline.  Louis  and  George  William.  'I'lio 
mother  of  this  family  died  in  1868.  Mr.  I.is- 
cher  afterward  married  again,  his  second  union  be- 
with  Caroline  Freand,  who  after  the  death  of  her 
father  was  reared  by  her  gnuidmother.  Unto  them 
have  been  born  five  children:  Charles,  Robert, 
Ueno,  Amelia  and  Peter,  all  of  whom  are  living. 

Mr.  Lischer  takes  considerable  interest  in  civic 
societies.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity, the  Odd  Fellows'  and  the  Knights  of 
Honor  and  has  (lUedall  theotlices  in  these  various 
organizations.  In  politics  he  is  a  supporter  of  the 
Democracy  and  was  the  fli'St  Mayor  of  JIascoutah 
after  the  organization  of  the  city.  He  has  filled 
the  olHce  for  three  terms  with  credit  to  him.self 
and  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  constituents.  He 
served  as  Clerk  under  the  town  organizations  and 
for  nine  years  was  a  member  of  the  School  Rjard, 
proving  his  friendship  to  the  cause  of  education 
by  his  efficient  service  in  the  interests  of  the 
schools.  He  h.as  ever  borne  his  part  in  the  up- 
building and  development  of  the  county's  best  in- 
terests and  is  a  prominent  and  influential  citizen, 
highly  respected  throughout  the  community,  where 
lie  has  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances. 


m 


W  OSI  AH  P.  HILL.  Emerson  says".\ll  history  is 
only  biography,"  and  we  find  this  especially 
exemplified  in  the  community  in  which  Jo- 
_  siah  P.  Hill  resides.  Its  history  is  only  the 
biography  of  the  lives  of  a  few  men,  chief  among 
whom  is  our  subject,  who  resides  on  .section  2, 
I'rairie  du  Long  Township.  He  was  here  born  May 
12.  1828,  on  the  farm  which  Ins  father  entered 
friiiii  the  Government,  and  he  holds  a  patent  for 
land  signed  by  four  of  the  Presidents  of  the  United 
States. 

In  this  county  Mr.  Hill  received  his  education 
in  a  log  schoolhouse,  common  to  the  early  da^'S. 
Hard-working  and  industrious,  it  was  not  his  priv- 
ilege to  enjoy  the  sports  to  which  the  boys  of  the 
present  generation  are  accustomed.  When  ready 
to  establish  a  home  of   his  own,  he    was  united  in 


462 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RPXORD. 


marriage  with  Miss  Jane,  daughter  of  Nathaniel 
Smith,  who  came  to  St.  Clair  County  as  early  as 
1810.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hill  have  been  born 
seven  children,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 
Nathaniel  S.  is  a  telegraph  operatoi'  at  Pontine, 
JU.;  Robert  M.  lives  at  AVellington,  Kan.;  .lohn 
manages  an  elevator  for  the  Crown  Milling  Com- 
pany, at  Freeburg;  Walter  M.  clerks  in  a  store  at 
Webster,  Mo.;  Mary  Jane  is  the  wife  of  J.  H.  Jones, 
and  lives  in  Pontiac;  and  Clara  A.,  who  married 
J.  P.  Holconib,  died  a  year  after  marriage,  leaving 
one  son.  The  mother  of  these  children  died  De- 
cember 22,   1878. 

The  pleasant  home  of  Mr.  Hill  is  presided  over 
by  his  cultured  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Martha  Livers,  and  became  his'  wife  January  KJ, 
1881.  She  was  born  in  ]Monroe  County,  near  Ilar- 
risonville,  111.,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Joseph 
Livers,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  who  came  to 
IMonroe  County  when  a  boy.  By  trade  he  was  a 
blacksmith,  and  followed  farming  in  connection 
therewith.  He  was  the  father  of  five  children,  of 
whom  Mrs.  Hill  was  the  first-born.  During  the  early 
Indian  Wars  he  served  in  defense  of  the  Govern- 
ment, and  was  an  upright,  public-spirited  man. 

The  farm  of  Mr.  Hill  comprises  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  fertile  land,  and  in  addition  to  this 
he  IS  the  owner  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in 
Franklin  County,  which  he  rents.  In  religion 
he  shared  the  belief  of  Robert  Ingersoll  and 
Thomas  Payne.  He  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  the 
Republican  platform,  and  was  one  of  the  four 
members  of  the  first  Republican  convention  ever 
held  in  this  county.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Supervisors  for  six  years,  served  as  Justice  of 
the  Peace  for  four  years,  and  during  the  late  war 
held  the  position  of  enrolling  officer  of  the  dis- 
trict. In  1880,  he  served  as  Census  Enumerator, 
and  has  filled  other  local  positions  of  trust  and 
responsibility.  With  one  exception,  he  is  the  old- 
est settler  in  Prairie  du  Long  Townsliip,  and  lias 
been  a  witness  to  its  rapid  progress  during  all  the 
years  of  his  residence  here,  aiding  as  far  as  pos- 
sible to  promote  its  welfare. 

The  grandparents  of  our  subject  were  Jonathan 
and  Ruth  (Majjle)  Hill,  the  former  born  in  New 
Jersey,  of  English    parentagf .     In  early    manhood 


he  moved  to  Erie  Count3-,  Pa.,  where  he  spent  his 
remaining  years.  The  children  born  to  himself  and 
wife  were  William,  who  died  near  Freeburg,  this 
State;  David,  father  of  our  subject;  Sarah,  Mrs. 
Thomas  AVright;  Jonathan  and  Henry,  deceased; 
and  Polly.  Mrs.  Ward.  David  Hill  was  born 
in  Erie  County,  Pa.,  March  10,  1794.  His  father 
died  when  he  was  a  small  boy,  leaving  the  mother 
with  six  children  to  support  and  educate,  although 
her  means  were  very  limited.  AVith  her  children, 
she  removed  in  1808  to  Illinois,  and  settled  on 
Turkey  Hill,  St.  Clair  County.  Here  she  was  obliged 
to  undergo  the  hardships  common  to  a  new  country, 
and  at  times  found  it  necessary  to  bar  the  doors  as 
protection  against  wild  animals.  After  a  faithful 
life,  she  passed  away  at  the  old  home. 

David  Hill  married  Isabella,  daughter  of  Zach- 
ariah  Burnett,  who  came  to  Illinois  from  Wayne 
County,  Ky.  The  first  employment  of  Mr.  Hill  was 
that  of  pulling  blades  of  corn  in  the  field  which  was 
afterward  the  site  of  the  present  public  square  of 
Belleville.  He  served  one  and  one-half  years  in 
the  War  of  1812,  as  a  member  of  Jacob  Short's 
company,  which  was  under  (!ov.  Edwards'  com- 
mand. Although  he  had  no  school  advantages  in 
early  life,  he  was  studious  and  observing,  and  ob- 
tained a  practical  knowledge  that  served  him  to 
good  purpose.  He  was  a  local  ISIethodist  preacher 
and  often  appeared  before  his  audiences  in  his  bare 
feet.  A  natural  orator  and  a  well-informed  man, 
he  was  considered  an  able  expounder  of  the  Gos- 
pel and  an  interesting  preacher.  He  was  a  good, 
conscientious  man,  and  much  respected  bj-  all  who 
knew  him.  He  died  August  6,  1881,  mourned 
throughout  the  community  where  he  so  long  re- 
sided. 

The  family  of  which  our  subject  is  a  member 
consisted  of  sixteen  children,  the  following  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity  and  survive:  Crawford 
A.,  who  lives  in  Cape  Girardeau,  Mo.;  our  subject; 
Peter  C,  whose  home  is  in  Benton, III.;  Jane  Ann, 
wife  of  Charles  Wilderman;  and  Mary  Angeline, 
wlio  married  Oliver  Charles,  and  lives  in  Mis- 
souri. The  deceased  are  Ruth,  wife  of  Ed 
Terrill:  Isabella,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eigh- 
teen; John,  whose  death  occurred  when  sixteen; 
David     A.,    wlm     was    killed     in      the    Mexican 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


463 


War  in  1847;  Ileury,  who  died  about  1880;  Jona- 
tlia)i,  wliose  death  occurred  in  Springfield,  Mo., 
in  Februar;/,  1890;  and  .si.\  who  died  before 
reacliing  maturity.  C'rawfor()  A.  and  Peter  arc 
both  pensioners  of  tlie  Civil  War.  .\  sister  of  our 
subject's  father,  wliile  living  in  Hrie  County.  Pa., 
at  about  the  .age  of  tiiree  years  was  carried  off  by  a 
pantiierand  partially  devoured.  A  very  extended 
search  w:i.s  made  at  the  time  by  the  entire  ncigh- 
boriiood.  but  tiiey  failed  to  find  the  missing  child. 
A  distant  neighl)or  dreamed  of  the  occurrence,  and 
also  of  tiie  place  where  the  remains  were,  and  on 
a  .second  search  being  made,  the  remains  were  found 
under  a  fallen  tree-top.  Our  subject  has  some  val- 
uable old  family  relics  in  the  way  of  manui<cript 
dating  Kick  to  the  beginning  of  tlie  nineteenth 
ccMlur\-. 


ellAHLESCiHOSSMANN.  Among  the  manv 
fine  farms  which  attract  the  stranger's  eye 
in  this  |)art  of  St.  Clair  County,  the 
one  belonging  to  the  subject  of  our  sketcii  de- 
serves especial  mention.  Tiie  ownerof  this  pleas- 
ant piece  of  ground  is  Charles  Grossmann,  who 
is  of  CJerman  birth  and  extraction.  The  father 
of  this  gentleman,  also  named  Charles,  came  to 
this  country  in  1832,  having  been  born  in  Ilesse- 
Darmsladt,  (Jermany,  in  the  latter  jiart  of  tlie 
eighteenth  century,  and  was  rcaied  in  that  coun- 
tr}-  to  a  life  of  toil. 

The  father  of  our  subject  married  ISIiss  Klizabeth 
Dehn  in  his  native  land,  and  when  the  family  had 
been  increased  by  five  children,  he  resolved  to 
seek  a  wider  field  for  his  offspring  than  lie 
had  ever  found  for  himself.  Hence,  in  18.'52,  he 
took  the  good  wife  and  the  live  children,  Louis. 
Margaret,  Barbara,  George  and  our  subject,  and 
sailed  away  far  over  the  sea  to  America — so  lunic 
ago  has  this  land  been  the  hope  of  the  ])oor  and  op- 
pressed in  other  clinu's.  After  arriving  here,  one 
more  child,  Eleanor,  was  added  to  thefainilv.  Not 
at  all  dismayed  at  so  many  little  hungry  mouths 
tu  feed.  Mr.  (irus-mann  lui'l    his    worthv    wife   set 


to  work.  They  made  their  way  to  St.  Clair  County 
immediately  and  entered  land  of  the  Government 
where  his  son  now  lives.  Mere  the  father  be- 
gan improvements  and  worked  aw.ay  until  he 
owned  a  fine  farm  and  his  children  were  all  com- 
fortably off.  Mr.  Grossmann  had  ^50  when  he 
reached  this  country,  and  that  money  he  expended 
for  two  cows  and  found  he  had  made  no  mistake  in 
so  using  it.  He  built  the  family  a  house  and 
made    many    improvements    before    his    death   in 

1  SIkS. 

Our  suliject  w.as  born  in  Hesse-Darmstadt,  in 
(icrmany,  June  .'?.  1832,  and  wa-s  about  two  weeks 
old  when  he  began  his  travels.  His  memory  of 
the  long  ocean  journey  is  natur.ally  not  a  very 
distinct  one,  l)ut  he  well  remembers  what  a  wilder- 
ness this  country  was  when  he  became  old  enough 
to  notice  his  surroundings.  He  can  yet  see  the  for- 
est and  underbrush  which  were  cleared  away  by  his 
father,  and  where  now  his  eyes  only  note  the  great 
fields  of  waving  3'ellow  grain,  or  the  rustling  corn, 
he  can,  in  memory,  see  the  primeval  forest  or  the 
burned  stumps  of  the  beginning  of  civilization. 
His  educaticm  was  neces.sarily  of  the  most  limited 
kind,  and  his  time  was  so  occupied  that  if  the  ad- 
vantages had  been  better,  he  would  scarcely  have 
had  time  to  enjoy  them. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  took  place  in  I8,5.i, 
when  he  was  united  to  Miss  Ivatharinc  Kellv,  who 
was  a  native  of  Hesse-Darmstadt  also.  She  lived 
but  eight  years,  and  by  that  time  there  were  five 
children,  of  whom  four  are  still  living.  They  are, 
Charles  C.  and  Louis,  who  live  in  Smithton  Town- 
ship; George,  who  lives  in  Millstadt  Township;  and 
Lizzie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Yeille  and  lives  in 
this  township.  Katharine  died  at  the  age  of  three 
years.  The  second  marriage  of  ]\Ir.  (irossmann 
took  place  in  this  county,  when  he  was  united  to 
Jliss  Katharine  Ilartman,  who  was  a  native  of 
Penn.svlvania.  By  that  marriage  there  were  two 
cliildren:  .ALary,  who  is  the  wife  of  (iustav  Kttling. 
who  conduct*  the  hotel  at  Floraville;  and  Jacob, 
who  remains  at  home. 

.\fter  the  demise  of  the  second  Jlrs.  (Jrossmann, 
our  subject  felt  his  loneliness,  and  it  w.as  not  until 
he  found  the  pr(>senl  good  woman  to  occupy  Iiis 
liome  llial  he  grew  happy  ag.Tin.      Ills  present  wife 


464 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGKArilJCAL   RFXORD 


was  Mrs.  Margaret  Stahl,  dauglitei-ofrhilip  Jockel, 
who  was  bom  in  Ilesse-Darmstadt,  the  old  home 
of  her  liusband,  and  came  here  in  1854.  This 
marriage  took  place  Deceuibfr  <j,  1875,  and  two 
children  have  resulted  from  tliis  union,  William 
Frederick  and  -John'  H.,  who  are  at  home.  The 
farm  of  Mr.  Grossmauu  consists  of  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres,  all  well  improved  and  now  under 
the  best  cultivation.  On  this  land  he  raises  corn, 
oats  and  potatoes,  but  wheat  is  the  principal  crop. 
The  famil}'  of  Mr.  Grossmauu  are  members  of  the 
Evangelical  Church,  and  give  it  their  endorsement 
and  support.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  George- 
town Treubund,  and  he  has  held  the  office  of 
Deputy  Master  of  the  lodge.  Politically,  Mr. 
Grossmann  is  a  Republican  and  believes  that  a 
proper  following  of  the  principles  of  that  party 
will  lead  the  country  into  the  greatest  prosperity. 


IhM  ICIIAEL  lIARR(:)Li:),.Su|)eriutendeutof  the 
East  St.  Louis  Electric  Street  Railroad  Com- 
pany,tills  his  responsible  position  in  a  man- 
ner that  reflects  credit  upon  himself  and 
the  company.  He  is  a  native  of  the  Emerald 
Isle,  born  in  County  Limerick  on  the  '2Sth  of  Jan- 
uary, 1865,  and  his  father,  Thomas  Harrold,  as 
well  as  his  grandfather,  John  Harrold,  were  natives 
of  the  same  place.  The  latter  was  a  comfortable 
farmer  in  his  native  country,  and  there  passed  his 
entire  life. 

Thomas  Harrold  followed  in  the  footsteps  of  his 
ancestors,  who  for  many  generations  had  been 
farmers,  and  tilled  the  soil  with  fair  success  dur- 
ing his  days.  He  married  Miss  Kate  JjOng,  who 
was  also  a  native  of  County  Limerick,  and  their 
union  was  blessed  by  the  birth  of  eiglit  children, 
all  of  whom  arc  now  living,  but  only  one  in  Amer- 
ica. The  parents  were  highly  respected  in  their 
native  county  and  were  identified  with  the  Cath- 
olic Church. 

The  original  of  this  notice,  who  was  the  third 
in  order  of  birth  of  the  above-mentioned  children, 
was  reared  on  a  farm  adjoining  the  town  of  New- 


castle West,  and  was  trained  to  the  duties  of  the 
farm  at  an  early  age.  He  attended  school  in  his 
native  country,  secured  a  good,  practical  educa- 
tion, and  in  188.3  crossed  over  to  this  side  of  the 
Atlantic,  leaving  Queenstown  in  the  spring  of  that 
year.  After  reaching  New  York  City,  he  was  em- 
ployed at  the  wharves  for  three  years,  and  in  1886 
he  came  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  began  working  for 
the  Union  Depot  Street  Railway  Company  as  a 
conductor.  He  continued  in  that  capacity  for 
over  four  3ears,  and  was  there  when  the  electric 
cars  thst  came  into  use.  Being  thoroughly  con- 
versant witli  the  different  branches  of  the  road, 
he  was  sent  to  East  St.  Louis  by  the  company  as 
superintendent  in  charge  and  manager  of  the 
street  railway. 

Our  subject  was  the  first  superintendent  ap- 
jjoiuted  to  operate  the  road  and  was  elected  to 
that  position  in  February,  1891.  He  is  a  most 
capable  man  for  the  position,  thoroughly  under- 
stands every  detail  connected  with  it,  and  is 
wide-awake  and  thorough-going.  He  is  a  member 
of  St.  Patrick's  Catholic  Church,  contributes  lib- 
erally to  its  support,  and  in  politics  is  a  stalwart 
Deniocrat.  In  all  public  enterprises  he  takes  a 
leading  part,  and  he  is  recognized  by  all  as  a  first- 
■  class  citizen. 


eHARLES  ;\IAUER.  One  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful men  in  the  hardware  line  in  East  St. 
Louis  is  tiie  original  of  this  .sketch,  who 
was  born  at  Freeport,  111.,  March  28,  1853,  and 
was  the  son  of  C.  F.  Mauer,  born  in  Ihe  Province 
of  Saxony,  Germany,  where  he  followed  the  trade 
of  a  baker.  The  father  married  there  and  came  to 
America  in  1848,  going  to  Freeport,  where  he  re- 
mained until  about  1856;  then  he  went  to  Bloora- 
ingtoii,  HI.,  and  began  his  trade,  but  died  there  in 
186.'i.  Tlie  mother  of  Cinr  subject  was  Elizabeth 
Lederman,  born  in  (iermany,  who,  after  the  death 
of  her  husliaiiil,  look  tlu'  family  to  I'ekin,  where  she 
iiDW  resides. 


'Ayn. 


'  u 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECOlJb 


467 


Our  siihject  was  the  second  youngest  in  a  family 
(if  live  chiklrcu,  and  was  reared  in  the  towns  of 
Telvin  and  Hlooniington  until  1«70.  There  he  re- 
ceived a  good  coninion-scliool  education,  and 
wiieu  eleven  years  of  age  was  put  to  learn  the 
trade  of  a  tinsmith,  hut  at  sixteen  he  decided  to 
lieeome  a  miller  and  worked  at  this  for  two  years; 
subsequently,  in  the  fall  of  187",  coming  to  St. 
l.ouis,  he  immediately  found  employment.  In  the 
spring  of  1871,  he  crossed  the  Mississippi  and 
went  into  the  emi)loy  of  C.  llauss,  of  Kast  St. 
l.ouis,  with  whom  he  remained  until  1878. 

Mr.  .Mauer  then  started  in  business  for  himself 
un  C'oliinsville  Avenue  with  a  stock  of  hardware 
and  tinware,  and  liere  he  has  been  in  business  since, 
and  has  been  so  successful  that  in  1883  he  built 
the  brick  block  he  now  occupies.  It  is  30x1(10 
feet  and  has  two  stories  with  basement  and  eleva- 
tor. In  his  immense  tin  shop,  he  employs  a  num- 
ber of  men,  and  in  1891  he  started  a  branch  store 
in  Madison.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  First  >.'a- 
tional  Hank,  a  man  of  wealth,  owning  valuable 
real  estate,and  m  1892  laid  out  the  Charles  ^Mauer 
Addition  to  East  St.  Louis.  Mr.  Mauer  was  mar- 
ried in  St.  Louis  County,  Mo., to  Miss  A.  II.  Luge, 
who  is  a  native  of  St.  Louis  County,  and  they 
have  two  children,  Charles  and  Edward.  Although 
a  stanch  Democrat  in  his  political  convictions,  he 
is  not  aggressive,  and  socially  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias.  Mr.  Mauer  is  well  known  as 
a  good  citizen,  and  as  such  receives  the  respect  of 
thecomnuinitv. 


J'  I  OII.N  MAILK.  This  gentleman  is  President 
I  of  the  Manic  Coal  Company  at  ISelleville. 
I  '  wliich  was  incorporated  with  a  ca|(ilal  stuck 
,^_/'  of  *10,00()  and  has  the  following  ollicers: 
•lohn  Maule,  President;  Frank  Maule.  Vice-pres- 
ident and  Treasurer;  and  Robert  Maule.  Suiierin- 
tendenl  and  Manager.  He  also  lu-longs  to  the 
National  Coal  Company,  which  has  a  capital  stock 
of  *  1(1,000  and  the  same  oflicers. 

John  Maule  was  born  in  Claekmannanshire.  .hui- 

22 


nary  5,  1837,  and  passed  his  childhood  yeai-s  in 
Stirlingshire,  Scotland.  His  parents,  Alexander 
:in(I  Margaret  (Hall)  Maule,  died  when  he  was  very 
yciuiig,  and  he  w.as,  therefore,  obliged  to  be  self- 
supporting  from  an  early  age.  He  came  to  the 
United  States  in  \H:)l,  and  began  working  in  a  coal 
mine  live  miles  from  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  where  he  con- 
tinned  for  twelve  years.  In  18G3,  he  went  to 
Casey  ville,  on  the  Ohio  >t  Mississippi  Hailroad,  and 
opening  up  a  mine  began  operating  for  himself. 
After  remaining  there  seven  years,  lie  sold  the  mine 
and  sunk  another  on  the  Vaudalia  Railroad,  which 
he  named  the  Abbey  !Mines.  He  became  a  large  oper- 
ator, emjiloying  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  men 
and  shipping  twenty-five  carloads  of  coal  every  day. 
He  had  the  first  large  mine  there,  and  was  yery 
successful  until  he  sold  out  to  the  railroad  in  1868. 
His  next  venture  was  that  of  sinking  a  mine  to  a 
depth  of  five  hundred  feet,  but  he  failed  to  get 
coal. 

Ill  1868,  Mr.  Maule  came  to  Belleville  and  opened 
a  mine  on  the  Pittsburg  Road, mainly  for  the  local 
m.ukel.  After  exhausting  the  coal  supply  there, 
he  sunk  a  mine  on  the  Helleville  it  Carondelet 
Hailroad,  in  1886.  This  is  known  as  the  INIanlc 
Mine  and  has  a  slope  entrance,  with  all  running 
machinery.  He  h.as  an  annual  lease  of  one  hundred 
and  ten  acres,  and  furnishes  coal  for  the  largest 
furn.aees  of  P.ellevillc.  He  supi)lies  the  railroad 
from  the  Helleville  Steel  Works  to  Cairo,  and  the 
Short  Line  Railroad,  the  former  consuming  five 
thousand  bushels  a  day,  with  two  locomotives  and 
one  hundred  and  forty -six  cars.  This  plant  repre- 
sents *7;'),00(),  altliough  it  is  capitalized  at  *1 00.000. 
The  National  ^liiie  is  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile 
west  of  the  Maule.  and  is  a  shaft  on  the  Helleville 
iV  Carondelet  Railroad,  with  complete  equipments 
for  shaft  mining.  The  Maule  mine  is  operated  by 
eoiii()re.ssed  air  and  runs  a  railroad  to  all  parts, 
hauling  fifteen  hundred  feet  with  a  cable  wire. 
The  company  has  ollicesand  yards  at  No.  17  Clark 
Avenue,  and  also  in  East  St.  Louis.  Our  subject 
divides  his  time  between  his  two  places  of  business, 
making  his  home  in  Helleville. 

The  career  of  Mr.  ^faule  has  in  many  respects 
been  a  remarkable  one,  .-ind  furnishes  an  illustra- 
tion of   the  power  of  industiy.     Without   friends, 


468 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  without  even  five  cents  in  Lis  pocket,  he 
came  to  Belleville,  where  now  he  is  one  of  the 
most  prosperous  citizens.  He  owns  real  estate  in 
the  city,  probably  to  the  amount  of  |i25,000,  which 
does  not  include  his  fine  brick  residence  at  No.  1 15 
Franklin  Avenue. 

Mr.  Maule  first  married  Miss  Margaret  Archibald, 
of  Scotland,  born  near  Stirling,  he  having  sent  for 
her  to  his  old  home.  She  died  in  August,  1870, 
leaving  four  children,  as  follows:  Maggie,  wife  of 
John  Doan,  of  St.  Louis;  Jeannette,  wife  of  Fairly 
Nelison,  of  St.  Louis;  Francis  and  Robert.  After- 
ward, Mr.  Maule  married  Sarah  Waadless,  of 
Casey ville.  111.  Tiiey  have  six  children:  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  George  Roth  of  this  city;  William,.  Alex- 
ander, James,  Eugene  and  Arthur.  They  are 
highly  respected  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order 
of  United  Workmen  and  the  Knights  of  Honor. 
He  has  been  Alderman  for  the  Third  Ward  and 
was  appointed  by  the  Governor  State  Exam- 
iner of  Mines  of  Illinois.  Here  is  an  exannile 
where  honest,  thrifty  industry  has  ol)t.iined  its 
deserved  reward. 


^p^EORGE  SCHROEDER.  The  subject  of  the 
III  _^  present  ijotice  is  an  enterprising  .young  man, 
'^^1  located  at  No.  iM9  Illinois  Avenue,  East  .St. 
Louis,  where  he  manufactures  those  necessities  of 
hot  weather,  soda  and  mineral  waters,  and  conducts 
a  Weiss  beer  brewery.  He  was  born  in  St.  Louis, 
June  2(1.  18()6,  and  his  father  was  Edward  Schroe- 
der,  a  native  of  Germany,  who  came  to  America 
when  a  young  man  and  located  in  St.  Louis, 
starting  the  business  which  the  son  carries  on.  Two 
l)artners  were  first  connected  with  liim.  but  ulti- 
mately he  bought  them  out  and  conducted  the 
l)nsiness  successfully  alone.  Afterward  .selling 
out  here,  he  went  to  Cairo  and  started  the  same 
industry,  but  finally  disposed  of  his  plant  there 
and  returned  to  St.  Louis,  and  in  1867  came  to 
jvist  St,  Louis,  becoming  tlir  originator  of  llic  sod.n 


and  mineral  water  business  in  this  place.  Starting 
from  the  bottom,  he  worked  himself  right  up  by 
that  perseverance  which  belongs  to  his  race.  The 
worthy  father  died  in  July,  1887,  in  the  fifty-third 
j'ear  of  his  age. 

Tiie  mother  of  oiu-  subject  was  Mary  Keinders. 
born  in  Germany,  the  daughter  of  Prof.  August 
Reinders,  who  was  a  te.acher  in  his  European  home, 
but  who  led  a  retired  life  after  coming  to  East  St. 
Louis.  Her  husband  die<l  in  this  city,  but  she  still 
lives  here  and  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church. 
Our  subject  was  the  second  eldest  in  a  family  of 
four  children,  and  was  reared  in  East  St.  Louis, 
attending  the  public  school  here,  and  then  was  sent 
to  the  Washington  I'niversity  foi  three  years. 
From  a  boy  he  was  familiar  with  the  details  of  his 
father's  business,  and  on  the  latter's  death  took 
charge  of  it,  conducting  it  for  the  family  under  the 
firm  name  of  E.  Schroeder  &  Co.  Mr.  Schroeder 
was  the  manager,  and  in  1892  bought  the  entire 
interest  out,  and  has  since  conducted  it  alone.  In 
1889  he  put  in  improvements  and  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  Wei.ss  beer.  The  plant  has  steam 
power  and  is  in  every  waj-  the  largest  and  best 
equipped  in  the  city  for  that  business.  His  building- 
is  35x85  feet,  and  has  two  stories.  His  marriage 
took  place  in  June,  1890,  with  Miss  Bertha  Schaub, 
daughter  of  George  Schaub,  a  hardware  merchant 
in  this  city.  One  little  one  has  come  to  brighten 
his  home,  a  daughter,  Viola.  Mr.  Schroeder  is  a 
Democrat  in  his  political  opinions,  and  is  possessed 
of  a  laudable  ambition  to  make  a  success  of  his  life 
in  all  that  goes  to  make  up  a  worthy  manhood. 


-^ 


vr^K  MANUEL  WEBB  is  the  son  of  Henry  and 
|U)  Louisa  (Spiecer)  Webb,  who  were  both  born 
iL^  in  the  village  of  Barley  Hill,  Staffordshire, 
England.  The  birlii  of  Emanuel  Webb  occurred 
in  Caseyville.  Ky.,  on  the  8th  of  February,  1844, 
and  he  now  m.akes  his  home  in  Caseyville  Town- 
ship, 111.  His  father  grew  to  manhood  in  his  na- 
tive town  and  received  his  education  in  the  com- 
nioil  .-i-liools.   .'\s  iiis  parents  were  yi-ry  poor  lie  was 


POUTRAIT  AM)  I'.K  K  ;i{Al'Il'(  AL    KMX'OKI). 


469 


obliged  in  eail}'  life  to  commence  to  work  at  hard  la- 
bor, and  as  tliey  lived  in  a  mining  district,  he  there- 
fore commenced  working  in  the  coal  mines,  which 
occnpatioii  he  followed  during  bis  slay  in  Kng- 
land.  Ill  lf<l<i.  he  set  sail  upon  tlie  broad  Atlantic 
for  America  and  after  landing  in  the  United  SUitcs 
went  lirsl  to  Pennsylvania,  wiierc  he  remained  for 
a  time  and  afterward  removed  to  Kentucky.  lie 
w:is  engaged  in  coal  mining  all  liis  life,  and  after 
staying  for  some  time  in  the  liisl-n;iinpd  State,  re- 
moved to  Illinois,  where  hi'  worked  in  the  coal 
minis  of  different  parts  of  the  State,  lie  was  mar- 
ried in  Pennsylvania,  to  Miss  Spiecer,  and  unto 
them  were  born  seven  children,  two  of  w^honi  sur- 
vive: Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  .1.  V.  Humstead,  and 
our  subject.  His  death  occurred  about  the  year 
1 854, and  his  wife  was  again  married  this  lime  to 
Peter  lirown.  She  lived  until  Christmas  Day  of 
1891,  when  she  passed  awav  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine 
years. 

Kmaniiel  WClili  li\f(l  under  the  parental  ro<jf 
until  he  had  grown  to  inanliuud.  In  ISi;.').  he 
started  in  the  coal  mines  and  f<ir  ten  years  labored 
there.  He  purchased  a  farm  of  twenty-four  acres 
in  187.')  with  the  means  which,  by  strict  economy 
and  frugality,  he  liad  carefully  saved  from  his 
wages.  He  has  carried  on  the  business  of  farming 
for  many  years  with  good  success.  In  1881,  he 
entered  the  general  merchandising  business  with 
P.  (iaven,  and  has  since  been   very  successful. 

On  the  17th  of  November,  187(1,  Mr.  Webb  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  I..  Muilberger,  a 
daughter  of  Louis  and  Louisa  Muilberger.  Mrs. 
AVebb  departed  this  life  on  the  27th  of  .luly.  1871. 
Our  subject  was  again  married,  in  187.").  .Miss  Sarah 
Mfiwe,  who  was  a  daughter  of  William  and  Lucy 
Mowe,  becoming  his  wife.  Tv  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  Webb 
have  been  born  live  children:  ld;i  1?..  .Vlbcrt.  I'.iiiily 
L.,  William  E.  and  Henry  t'. 

Mr.  Webb  has  always  been  a  friend  ti>  edneation 
and  is  a  lirm  believer  in  the  ellicacy  of  good 
schools  and  the  best  of  teachers.  He  has  given  his 
children  the  best  educational  advantages,  and  has 
served  ns  School  Treasiu'er  of  the  township  since 
1887.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Caseyville 
T,odge  No.  42t!,  I.  O.  O.  ]•"..  and  in  ISC")  became  a 
member  of  Lf>dge  No.  43,  of  t'ollin>\  ille.     I'oliti- 


cally,  he  is  an  advocate  of  the  Democratic  party. 
He  is  truly  a  self-made  man,  liaving  risen  from  the 
lowest  rounds  of  life,  financially  considered,  to  his 
present  measure  of  success  and  prosperity.  lie  has 
always  fulfilled  the  duties  of  citizenship  in  a  faith- 
ful manner  and  is  a  loyal  citizen  of  this  com- 
munity. For  many  years,  he  has  been  a  respected 
and  highly-esteemed  resident  of  this  eounty,  an<l 
by  his  integrity  and  geiiiid  frieniliiness  has  made 
a  host  (if  friends. 


^ii-^-1^11^^%^ 


■^  ICHOLAS  S'rxVl'B,  who  owns  and  operates 
two  hundred  and  lifty  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
l,Jli,  tion  35,  Shiloh  Valley  Township,  is  a  na- 
tive of  France.  He  was  born  in  .Msace  in  1840, 
and  is  a  son  of  Stephen  and  Mary  (Stuner)  Staub, 
wild  were  also  nati\es  of  the  same  locality,  the 
former  born  in  181:!,  and  the  latter  in  1817.  The 
paternal  grai'dpaients  of  our  subject  were  John 
and  Emma  (Weaver)  Staub,  farming  people  of 
Franee.  Under  the  (larental  roof  the  father  of  our 
subject  grew  to  manhood,  and  on  attaining  his 
majority  he  married  Miss  .Stuner,  then  eighteen 
years  of  age.  Her  parents  were  Nicholasand  Mary 
(De  Hush)  Stuner.  In  the  Staub  family  were  eight 
children,  Nicholas  being  the  eldest.  August  is  the 
second  in  order  of  birth;  .Stephen  and  Daniel  are 
both  deceased;  Hosa  is  the  wife  of  Peter  Young; 
and  .lacob,  .John  and  Peter  complete  the  family. 
It  was  in  18.tO  that  Stejihen  Staub  came  to  Amer- 
ica, lie  left  his  f:imily  in  tlii>  Fatherland  until 
the  following  year,  wlien,  liaving  made  prepara- 
tions for  a  home,  he  was  joined  by  his  wife  and 
children.  He  tirst  rented  land,  as  he  was  in  lim- 
ited circuir. stances,  but  afterward  purchased  a  farm, 
upon  which  he  resided  for  twelve  years.  In  the 
autumn  of  18(>3,  he  came  with  his  family  to  this 
county,  but  was  not  long  permitted  to  enjoy  his 
new  home,  his  death  occurring  in  1865.  His  wife 
yet  survives  him,  and  is  now  li\ing  in  Mascoutah 
Township.  He  was  a  meriilier  of  the  Catholic 
Cliuieh. 

With  his  p:ireiit.s,  Nicholas  Sl;iiib  came  to  Amer- 


470 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


iea.  In  the  spring  of  1863,  he  sought  a  home  in 
1^1.  Clair  County,  and  during  the  succeeding  sum- 
int'i-  worlced  by  the  month  as  a  farm  hand.  It  was 
through  his  influence  that  the  family  came  to  this 
county.  His  boyhood  days  were  quietly  passed  in 
the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads  and  he  remained 
with  his  mother  until  his  marriage,  which  was  cele- 
brated in  1872,  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Stern)  Biebel,  becoming  his  wife.  The 
lady  is  a  native  of  St.  Clair  Count}',  but  her  parents 
were  both  born  in  Alsace,  France.  Having  emi- 
grated to  this  country,  they  became  pioneer  settlers 
of  St.  Clair  County  of  1842. 

The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Staub  has  been 
blessed  with  a  family  of  seven  children,  five  sons 
and  two  daughters,  namely:  Marshall,  Edward, 
Theodore,  Cornelia,  Alfred,  Anna  and  Irvin.  The 
family  circle  3'et  remains  unbroken  and  the  chil- 
dren are  still  under  the  parental  roof.  They  have 
a  pleasant  and  comfortable  home  upon  a  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  in  Shiloh  Valley  Town- 
ship. Mr.  Staub  is  a  rei)resentative  farmer  who, 
by  his  good  management,  enterprise  and  persever- 
ance, has  overcome  the  obstacles  in  his  path  and 
gained  a  comfortable  competence.  Mis  success  is 
well  merited,  and  he  is  now  numbered  among  the 
substantial  agriculturists  of  the  community.  In 
religious  belief,  he  is  a  Catholic,  and  exercises  his 
right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the  Democratic 
jjarty. 


IIKISTIAN  G.  RUEMMLER.  In  order  to 
attain  success  in  business,  it  is  required  of 
a  man  that  he  possess  sound  discietion, 
acute  perception  and  good  judgment.  Men  who 
possess  these  qualities  put  their  character  into 
every  work  they  may  enter  upon,  and  are  among 
the  most  powerful  agents  in  the  progress  of  their 
community.  It  is  of  such  a  man  that  we  write,  a 
man  who,  although  commencing  in  life  poor  and 
without  friends,  has  become  well-to-do  through 
Ilie  exercise  of  these  traits  of  character.  At  the 
present   time,    Mr.    Kiiciiimie)-    is    proprietor  of  a 


hotel  in  the  village  of  Darmstadt,  and  in  addition 
is  doing  efficient  service  as  Postmaster. 

The  birthplace  of  our  subject  is  in  St.  L(ju is 
Mo.,  and  the  year  of  his  birth  1853.  He  is  the  son 
of  Alexander  and  Dora  Ruemmler,  of  whom  fur- 
ther mention  is  made  in  the  sketch  of  the  former, 
presented  on  another  page  of  this  volume.  In  his 
youth  he  attended  the  common  and  private  schools 
of  St.  Louis  and  remained  with  his  father  until  he 
attained  his  majority.  When  fourteen  years  old 
he  entered  his  father's  ihoe  store,  and  learned  the 
trade  of  a  shoemaker,  which  he  followed  for  three 
years.  Afterward  he  engaged  as  a  teamster  for 
five  years,  subsecjuent  to  which  he  learned  the  trade 
of  a  painter  and  followed  that  occupation  for  thir- 
teen years.  Afterward  he  embarked  in  his  present 
business,  in  which,  as  already  stated,  he  has  met 
with  excellent  success. 

The  lady  who  June  12,  1876,  became  the  wife 
of  Mr.  Ruemmler  was  known  in  maidenhood  as 
Elizabeth  Reuss,  and  was  one  of  two  daughters 
born  to  William  and  Cornelis  (Scheckdanz)  Reuss, 
her  sister  being  Augusta,  wife  of  George  Erh. 
When  she  was  ver}'  young  she  was  orplianed  by 
the  death  of  her  mother,  after  which  she  was  taken 
into  the  home  of  her  aunt,  where  she  grew  to 
womanhood.  She  is  a  lady  of  many  excellent 
qualities  of  heart  and  mind,  and  is  universally  es- 
teemed. Two  of  the  seven  children  born  to  INIr. 
and  Mrs.  Ruemmler  died  in  infancy,  and  the  sur- 
vivors are  Alexander,  Jr.;  Christian,  Jr.;  Charles, 
Mary  and  Adam. 

The  growing  village  of  Darmstadt  counts  Mr. 
Ruemmler  as  one  of  its  most  enterprising  citizens, 
and  its  progress  is  due  in  no  small  measure  to  his 
untiring  labors.  Besides  the  property  where  he 
resides,  he  owns  eight  lots  in  the  village,  namely: 
lots  13,  14  and  15  in  the  Mill  Company  Addition, 
and  lots  13,  14,  15.  IC  and  17  in  (Jeoige  l\  Roth- 
meier's  Addition.  He  is  (luite  prominent  among 
the  Rcjjublicans  of  the  community,  and  beside 
the  position  of  Postmaster  which  he  now  holds, 
has  filled  other  offices  of  trust.  In  his  social 
connections,  he  is  identified  with  the  Hum- 
boldt Lodge  No.  15,  U.  O.  T.  B.,  and  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  a  German  order  called  the  Sick  IJencficial 
Association,  was  Secuvtarv  of  the  Heailiiig  Society 


'nt 
Of 


ILLINOIS. 


^n^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


•173 


for  four  }-ears,  and  the  Eatliney  Loan  Association 
of  St.  Louis.  Ill  liis  religious  preference,  he  is  at- 
taclied  to  tlie  doctrinesof  the  Liitlieran  CIumn  li  mihI 
a  faitliful  member  of  tlie  denomination. 


*-^^l 


^^  HAHLKS  TIlOMl'SON  .lONKS  is  one  of 
(11^'  the  prominent  and  influential  men  of  East 
^^^  St.  Louis,  and  has  done  his  full  share 
toward  the  improvement  and  development  of  the 
city  since  his  residence  here.  He  is  superinten- 
dent of  the  St.  Louis  Stociv  Yards,  an  enterprise 
in  which  iiiucli  pride  is  felt  l)y  every  resi- 
dent, and  discharges  the  duties  of  that  posiliou 
in  an  able  and  satisfactorj'  manner. 

Mr.  Jones  w.as  born  .at  Dover  Plains,  Dutchess 
County,  N.  Y.,  on  the  7th  of  November,  ISoO,  is 
of  Welsh  descent  and  belongs  to  an  old  and  prom- 
inent Eastern  family.  Ilis  father,  Jarvis  .Tones, 
was  also  a  native  of  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  and 
the  grandfather  was  a  farmer  in  that  county  all 
his  life,  lie  served  in  the  War  of  1812.  Like  his 
father,  Jarvis  Jones  became  a  prominent  agricul- 
turist, but  in  connection  therewith  he  was  engaged 
in  the  dairy  business  until  1873,  when  he  ^old  out 
and  entered  the  employ  of  the  New  York  Condensed 
IMilk  Company,  the  largest  enterprise  of  the  kind  in 
the  world.  His  son-in-law  was  superintendent  of  all 
the  factories,  six  in  nuinher,  and  he  himself  be- 
came general  foreman.  He  resided  in  the  Empire 
Stale  until  his  death,  in  1H7(;.  He  was  a  worlliy 
and  consistent  member  of  the  ^Icthodist  Church, 
and  in  politics  was  alliliated  with  the  Hepubticaii 
l)arty. 

Tiie  molliei  of  <iur  subjct-t  liore  the  iiiaidcn 
name  of  Julia  'Pliompstin.  and  was  born  in 
Xew  York  State.  Her  fatlier.  Jai\  i>  'riifiiiipsoii. 
was  also  a  native  of  New  York  and  <>(  Scotdi  de- 
scent. He  was  engaged  in  fanning  and  the  dairy 
business  quite  extensively,  having  over  oik;  hun- 
dred cows.  ^Irs.  Jones  is  now  seventy  years  of 
age  and  makes  her  home  in  .New  York.  Tlie 
three  daughters  and  two  sons  horn  to  tliis  union 
were    as  follows:  (Jilhert.   who    was    killed  on  llic 


New  York  &  Harlem  Railroad  when  twenty 
six  3-ears  of  age;  Jennie  (JNIrs.  Bishop),  of  Was- 
saic.  X.  Y'.;  Alice  (Mrs.  Hermans),  of  Carpenter- 
ville.  111.;  and  Ida,  who  resides  in   Wassaic,  X.  Y. 

The  third  in  order  of  birth  of  these  children, 
our  subject  became  familiar  with  the  arduous 
duties  of  the  farm  at  an  early  date,  and  assisted 
his  father  on  the  same  until  eighteen  years  of 
age.  He  received  good  educational  advant.agcs, 
being  graduated  at  Dover  when  seventeen  years  of 
age,  and  was  naturally  possessed  of  a  bright,  ac- 
tive mind.  When  eighteen  years  of  age,  he  went 
to  Alban}',  N.  Y.,  and  there  learned  the  carpen- 
ter's trade.  It  was  arranged  that  his  wages  should 
be  Hfty  cents  a  day,  but  when  pay  day  came  he 
received  11.50  per  day  for  his  services,  and  at 
the  end  of  a  year  he  was  receiving  13. 

After  remaining  in  Albany  for  one  year,  Mr. 
Jones  was  sent  to  East  Buffalo  by  his  emjiloyers, 
who  were  organizers  of  the  stock  yards  in  East  St. 
Louis.  He  was  to  build  an  addition  to  their 
yard  in  East  Buffalo,  and  he  there  remained  for 
one  j-ear.  Returning  to  Albany,  he  remained 
there  until  June,  1871,  when  he  was  sent  by  his 
companj^  to  East  St.  Louis.  He  had  charge  of 
the  carpenter  work  .and  laid  out  the  yards  and  at- 
tended to  other  necessar3'  matters.  In  tiie  fall  of 
1873,  the  yards  were  opened  and  he  then  became 
superintendent  of  the  hog  department,  serving 
in  that  capacity  for  two  years.  After  that  he  was 
general  foreman  until  1877,  when  he  became  su- 
perintendent of  the  entire  yards.  Since  then  these 
3-ards  have  increased  in  importance  and  are  now 
the  third  in  size  in  the  world.  About  one  iiun- 
dred  and  twenty-five  men  are  emjiloyed  during 
the  entirevear  and  an  immense  amount  of  work  is 
done. 

Mr.  Jones  owns  considerable  real  estate  in  the 
city,  including  an  attractive  and  pleasant  residence 
at  Xo.  900  Pennsylvania  Avenue.  He  is  a  stock- 
holder and  Director  in  the  East  St.  Louis  Street 
Car  Company  and  is  a  member  of  the  Second 
Mutual  Building  &  Loan  Association.  He  has 
been  emjjloyed  longer  in  the  stock  .yards  than 
any  other  man  and  is  jiopnlar  with  all.  On  the 
23d  of  September,  1874,  .Miss  Patience  Smith,  a 
native  of  Chicago,  HI.,  became   his   wife.      Her   fa- 


474 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ther  was  killed  in  the  array.  Four  children  have 
been  born  to  this  union:  Clyde,  Jessie  A.,  Earl  T. 
and  Reine  C.  Mr.  .Tones  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason 
and  a  member  of  the  Owl  Club.  In  politics,  he  is 
a  Democrat,  but  does  not  aspire  to  office.  He  has 
been  a  delegate  to  county  and  State  conventions. 


N^^  ATHAN  S.  ROBERTSON  is  a  native  of  this 
I  ]))  county  and  resides  on  section  3,  Prairie  du 
|1\^  Lona:  Township.  He  is  the  son  of  Joel 
Robertson,  who  was  born  in  St.  Clair  County  about 
five  miles  west  of  where  our  subject  at  present  re- 
sides. John  Robertson,  grandfather  of  Nathan  S., 
was  born  in  Pennsj'lvania,  and  came  to  this  county 
in  a  very  early  day,  where  he  bore  his  share  in  re- 
deeming the  Ir.nd  from  its  wild  state.  Joel  Rob- 
ertson was  reared  and  educated  iu  this  county, 
and  when  he  attained  to  manhood  engaged  in 
farming  pursuits,  coming  in  1847  to  the  place 
where  his  son  now  lives.  He  purchased  the  home- 
stead of  Thomas  Temple  and  also  entered  forty 
acres  of  Government  land.  He  took  to  himself  a 
partner  for  life  in  the  person  of  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  Michael  Smith,  the  latter  also  an  early  set- 
tler of  the  county.  The  result  of  this  union  was 
one  child,  Nathan  S. 

Joel  Robertson  was  a  Deacon  in  the  Baptist 
Church,  in  which  he  was  an  active  worker,  always 
giving  of  his  time  and  money  to  the  cause.  His 
wife  died  February  8,  185.'),  and  lie  followed  her 
on  August  28th  of  the  same  year,  leaving  a  void 
in  the  community  which  was  deeply  felt,  not  only 
by  the  church  in  which  he  had  been  so  prominent, 
bvil  in  the  social  and  business  circles,  where  he  had 
been  an  example  of  rectitude  and  probity. 

July  20,  1835,  was  the  natal  day  of  our  subject, 
and  he  was  born  about  four  miles  south  of  Mill- 
stadt,  in  this  county,  and  there  he  spent  his  child- 
hood days  until  twelve  or  thirteen  years  of  age. 
At  that  time  he  removed  to  the  place  where  he 
now  lives,  and  which  has  since  been  his  home. 
His  marriage  with  Miss  Deborah,  the  daughter  of 
Robert  Higgins,  occurred    August   24,  185G.     She 


was  also  a  native  of  Prairie  du  Long  Township, 
and  since  their  marriage  they  have  remained  here. 
Of  their  four  children,  three  are  still  living,  James 
O.  having  died  at  the  age  of  two  years.  Those 
living  are,  Charles  C,  who  is  married  and  resides 
on  his  father's  place;  Cynthia  A.,  the  wife  of 
Thomas  Mc<4uyre,  who  makes  her  home  iu  Ben- 
ton, Franklin  Cniuity.  111.;  and  Clara  ()..  who  lives 
at  home. 

Of  the  one  Inmdred  and  seventy-nine  acres 
owned  by  Mr.  Robertson,  one  hundred  and  fifteen 
are  finel}'  improved  and  kept  in  the  highest  state 
of  cultivation,  and  are  devoted  mostly  to  the 
growing  of  cereals,  wheat  and  corn  being  the  prin- 
cipal crops.  ^Ir.  Robertson  is  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  as  are  also  his  wife  and  daughter, 
Cynthia.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Farmers' 
Mutual  Benefit  Association,  and  of  Lodge  No.  4 18, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  at  Freeburg,  in  which  latter  he  has 
served  as  Steward.  In  i^olitical  matters,  he  affili- 
ates with  the  Democratic  party,  and  has  given 
much  of  his  time  and  substance  to  aid  in  further- 
ing the  principles  of  that  party.  He  has  held  the 
position  of  School  Director,  and  has  also  served  as 
Trustee  of  the  township,  in  both  of  which  offices 
he  has  fulfilled  ail  that  was  expected  of  him  by 
his  friends  and  neighbors,  and  has  proved  himself 
worthy  of  all  trust  reposed  in  him. 


"^NDREW  STOLBERG.  St.  Clair  County 
(Wiu\\  abounds  in  a  fine  class  of  farmers,  who  have 
IS  given  to  this  part  of  the  State  an  excellent 
reputation,  and  have  been  of  liel|i  in 
building  up  its  commercial  and  agricultural  inter- 
ests. The  subject  of  this  sketch  resides  on  section 
ll,Srnithton  Township,  and  is  the  son  of  .John 
M.  Stolberg,  who  was  born  in  Germany  and  came 
to  this  country  with  his  parents  when  a  lioy.  They 
made  their  first  settlement  in  Bellevilli'.  111.,  where 
they  engaged  in  farming,  and  near  wliieli  place 
John  M.  Stolberg  married  Elizabeth  CraiiMM,  who 
was  the  daughter  of  a  farmer. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


47; 


.IdIui  M.  StulliiMi;-  li;i(l  Icii  oliildrt-ii.  seven  of 
wlidiii  arc  still  living-.  Aflcr  his  ni.avnagc,  lie 
lived  on  his  father's  place  for  ten  \-ears  and  then 
l)Ought  the  farm  which  has  descended  to  onr  sub- 
ject. This  consists  of  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  .acres,  on  whidi  .John  M.  put  the  most  of  the 
improvements.  He  and  liis  wife  are  both  living 
in  Belleville,  retired  from  .active  labor,  .tohn  M. 
.Stolberg  understood  agriculture  and  made  a  great 
deal  of  money  upon  the  property,  and  also  upon 
two  farms  which  lie  owns  in  Mis.souri.  Altogether 
he  owns  over  seven  hundred  acres  of  land. 

The  liirUi  of  uur  subject  took  pl.ace  in  IJelle- 
ville,  111.,  ill  IHUI,  but  he  was  reared  upon  the 
farm  and  lias  lived  upon  it  ever  since  coming  to 
it.  His  marriage  occurred  in  the  fall  of  18«!t, 
with  Miss  Annie  Heberer,  who  was  the  daughter 
of  Henry  Heberer,  an  early  settler  of  this  county. 
One  beautiful  little  daugliter,  Hilda,  has  come  to 
bless  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stolberg. 

Our  subject  grows  much  grain,  but  has  also 
raised  some  fine  hogs  and  has  a  fine  herd  of  Gal- 
loway cattle.  He  is  now  farming  three  hundred 
acres  of  land  for  his  father.  Politically,  Mr.  .Stol- 
berg is  a  Democrat  in  his  views  on  public  ques- 
tions, but  is  very  liberal  and  only  desires  to  do 
his  duty  as  a  citizen.  The  father  of  our  subject 
is  known  throughout  the  county  as  a  successful 
agriculturist,  and  there  is  no  doubt  but  that  Mr. 
Stolberg,  .Ir.,  will  keep  u])  the  enviable  reputation 
of  his  .sire. 


^^ 


elTART.ES  ECKERT,  (me  of  the  nun  who 
liave  made  a  success  of  farming  and  grain- 
raising  in  this  favored  part  of  the  State  of 
Illinois,  is  the  gentleman  whose  name  opens  this 
article,  and  who  resides  on  section  2').  .Millsladl 
Township,  in  St.  ("lair  County. 

Nicholas  Eckert,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Hesse-Darmstiidt  in  Germany,  in  the  year 
1805  and  there  he  lived  and  carried  on  a  successful 
trade  as  shoemaker.  He  w.as  one  of  the  early  .set- 
tlers fioni  his  coimtrN-  wImi  caine   to   America    and 


took  part  in  the  war  with  Mexico,  it  was  in  the 
year  1848  that  he  came  into  St.  Clair  County,  111., 
and  settled  on  the  place  where  our  subject  now 
lives.  Here  lie  p.as-sed  his  days  and  died  in  April, 
1888,  leaving  a  family  of  three  children  to  mourn 
his  decease.  They  were:  Catherine,  who  now  is  a 
widow;  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  .biliii  Knlblleisli,  and 
the  subject  of  these  lines. 

Our  subject  was  born  February  8,  1848,  on  the 
place  which  h.as  been  his  Inqipy  home  for  so  many 
years.  He  was  reared  here,  attending  the  district 
schools  in  winter,  and  w\as  early  initiated  into  the 
mysteries  of  farm  life,  and  no  doubt  became  as  tired 
of  the  "chores"  as  have  many  other  farmer  lads. 
His  marriage  took  place  December  25,  1870,  to  Miss 
Caroline  Henneke,  who  was  the  daughter  of  Chris- 
tian llenneke,  who  had  come  to  America  in  1852. 

.'Vfter  this  important  event,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eckert 
set  up  their  household  goods  on  the  pl.ace  where 
they  have  lived  ever  since,  never  having  had  occa- 
sion to  m.ake  any  of  those  changes  which  break  uji 
old  friendships  and  old  associations  to  a  degree 
that  those  who  have  never  been  called  upon  to 
endure  them  cannot  understand.  Of  the  five  chil- 
dren born  to  them  those  gone  before  were 
named  Louisa  and  Nicholas;  and  those  who 
now  fill  the  parental  hearts  with  pleasure  are: 
Charles,  a  manly  boj'  of  eighteen;  Otto  who  is  ten 
and  promises  to  be  .as  fine  a  5'oung  man  as  his 
brother;  and  their  sister  Caroline,  a  maiden  of 
sixteen. 

The  fine  farm  of  Mr.  Eckert  consists  of  one  hun- 
dred and  ninety-nine  acres  of  good  land,  and  as  he 
h.as  adopted  all  of  the  latest  methods  in  the  culti- 
vation of  it,  the  yield  of  grain,  particularly  wheat, 
is  wonderful.  He  h.as  good  and  substantial  build- 
ings, a  fine  residence  and  barns,  and  all  that  he 
requires  to  be  liapjiy  and  contented.  He  has  made 
tlie  most  of  the  improvements  on  this  place  himself, 
and  takes  a  pride  in  seeing  what  he  has  accoiii- 
])lislied. 

Ill  his  political  views,  our  subject  is  a  stanch  He- 
publican,  devoted  to  the  success  of  that  party  both 
in  local  and  National  affairs,  and  ever  anxious  to 
cast  his  ballot  for  the  candidates  selectee]  by  that 
party. 

Socially,  .Mr.  I'',ckci-t  is  a  valued  and  :uti\'e  mem- 


476 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


ber  of  Millstadt  Lodge  No.  567  I.O.  O.  F.,  and  also 
belongs  to  the  Millstadt  Treubund.  He  believes 
these  orders  do  much  good  in  various  waysand  liis 
presence  is  always  welcome  among  his  brethren. 

In  his  church  relations  our  subject  has  long  been 
a  member  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  and 
lie  has  always  been  a  liberal  supporter  of  Gospel 
work.  He  is  a  good  man  and  one  whose  departure 
from  Ixis  accustomed  places  in  [tublic  or  private  life 
would  be  sadly  felt. 


ENRY  KNEWITZ.  We  take  i)leasure  in 
representing  within  this  volume  a  member 
of  one  of  the  leading"  pioneer  families  of 
St.  Clair  County,  and  one  who  has  done 
much  to  promote  the  interests  and  welfare  of  his 
community.  Henry  Knewitz  was  born  on  the  farm 
where  he  now  lives  in  the  year  1841,  the  vson  of 
Gerhard,  and  Mary  (Schneider)  Knewitz,  the 
former  of  whom  was  born  in  Prussia  in  1811,  and 
the  latter  in  Bavaria  in  the  year  1817. 

Gerhard  Knewitz  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  in 
compliance  with  the  exceedingly  strict  laws  of 
the  Fatherland,  his  parents  gave  him  all  the 
advantages  afforded  by  a  good  common-school 
education.  After  leaving  school  he  aided  his 
father  and  adopted  the  occupation  of  a  .  farmer 
as  his  life  calling,  having  no  desire  to  become  a 
tradesman.  As  soon  as  he  attained  an  eligible  age 
he  entered  the  ranks  of  the  German  army,  and 
there  studied  the  tactics  of  war  for  six  j'ears.  After 
leaving  the  army  he  returned  to  his  parents,  with 
the  idea  of  settling  near  them  and  pursuing  the 
even  tenor  of  his  waj'  as  his  father  had  done  before 
him. 

One  of  the  truest  s.a3'ings  handed  down  to  us 
b\'  a  most  illustrious  man  of  letters  is  that,  "  Man 
l)roi)oses  and  God  disposes."  Soon  after  his  return 
from  army  life,  Gerhard  Knewitz  found  that  the 
tide  of  emigration  had  set  in  very  strongly  near 
his  paternal  home,  and,  becoming  imbued  with  the 
spirit  of  enterprise  himself,  he  bade  good-bye  to  the 
Falherland    and    sailed    for    the   United    States    in 


1838.  He  settled  in  Lenzburg,  St.  Clair  County, and 
ver}-  soon  after  his  arrival  in  this  country  bought 
a  forty-acre  tract  of  land,  on  which  he  built  a 
house,  and  devoted  his  attention  to  agriculture 
and  stock-raising.  Industry,  thrift,  patience,  per- 
severance, and  econom.y  all  go  a  long  way  toward 
making  the  hill  of  fortune  easy  to  climb,  and,  being 
possessor  of  these  desirable  characteristics,  Gerhard 
Knewitz  carved  his  way  along  the  rugged  road  to 
fortune,  and  with  the  indomitable  will  that  ever 
succeeds,  soon  increased  his  modest  possession  of 
forty  acres  to  that  of  four  hundred  acres. 

In  1831)  Gerhard  Knewitz  married  Miss  Mary, 
daughter  of  Peter  and  Barbara  Schneider,  an  es- 
timable lady  and  one  calculated  in  every  way  to 
prove  the  helpmate  that  a  man  in  his  circumstances 
needed.  The  result  of  this  union  was  eight  chil- 
dren, four  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  the  others 
being:  Henry,  subject  of  our  sketch;  Gerhard; 
Barbara,  who  is  deceased;  and  Mary,  also  deceased. 
Mrs.  Knewitz  died  in  18.0.5,  leaving  a  wide  and 
sincere  circle  of  friends  to  mourn  her  loss.  Mr. 
Knewitz  married  again,  in  1856,  his  second  wife 
being  Miss  Catherine  Baer,  who  deiiarted  this  life  in 
18C1. 

( lerliard  Knewitz  had  earned  a  competence  as 
one  of  the  early  settlers  in  this  township,  and  to  the 
honorable  acts  of  his  life  was  added  tlie  approval 
of  his  fellow-men.  He  departed  this  life  in  1877, 
and  is  remembered  as  an  upright  citizen,  a  loving 
father,  and  a  man  whose  character  in  every  respect 
was  worthy  of  emulation.  He  was  a  Republican  in 
politics,  but  sought  no  distinction  at  the  hands  of 
his  party.  He  always  adliei-ed  to  the  religious  be- 
lief of  his  early  training  and  was  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  Church. 

Students  of  human  nature  tell  us  that  to  learn  of 
a  man's  ancestors  is  to  learn  what  future  3'ears  are 
likely  to  develop  as  the  man's  characteristics.  The 
gentleman  with  whose  name  we  opened  this  sketch 
had  parents  to  be  proud  of.  A  native  of  St.  Clair 
County  in  its  early  days,  he  enjoyed  the  educa- 
tional advantages  to  be  obtained  in  the  old  log 
sehoolhouse,  the  first  institution  of  learning  built 
in  this  district.  He  afterwards  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  of  the  vicinity.  He  remained  with 
his  parents  until  his  marriage,  which  occurred  when 


RtSiDENCt:  OF    PETER    MILLER,  S  EC.  S  ,FREEBU  RG  TR.ST.  CLAIR   CO.,  I  LL 


RESIDENCE  OF   HENRY    KNEWITZ  ,  SCC.16  ,LENZBURG  TP,,ST.  CLAIRCO.JLL. 


VJ»*^^ 


.^-< 


^^.^«v.\HO\^ 


ov 


\wv^' 


PORTRAIT  AND  P.10(;RA1'IIICA1.   RKCORD. 


470 


he  was  twenty-three  years  old,  his  bride  being 
Miss  Wilhelinina  Baer,  a  daiiffhter  of  Jacob  and 
Wilhelmina  (Kiililman)  Baer.  To  tliis  union  were 
born  four  eliildrun,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy, 
tlie  others  being  Mrs.  II.  Williams  and  Josephine 
M.  Henry  Knewitz  and  wife  are  well-known 
members  of  the  Lutlieran  Church,  which  body 
has  enjoyed  the  support  of  himself,  his  father 
and  grandfather,  lie  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  has  received  from  the  hands  of  his  party  the 
position  of  Tax  Collector  of  the  township,  in 
which  capacity  he  served  three  successive  terms. 
He  has  also  olficiated  as  .'^cllool  Treasurer  several 
times.  He  is  to-day  the  po.ssessor  of  two  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land,  part  of  which  he  inherited 
from  his  father,  and  to  which  he  has  added  by  his 
own  industry  and  toil.  He  resides  on  the  old 
homestead,  and  ranks  among  the  citizens  of  this 
.community  whom  the  younger  generation  may 
safely  ad()|)t  ns  examples. 


-^ ^^- 


l^ETER  :MILLER.  This  successful  farmer  re- 
I  Jl!  sides  on  section  6,  Freeburg  Township. 
!  f^  where  he  has  over  two  hundred  acres  of  fer- 
)  \  tile  land  and  a  beautiful  home,  which  is  a 
model  of  comfort  and  elegance.  He  is  the  son  of 
Michael  Miller,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the 
county,  and  was  born  on  the  old  homestead,  one 
and  one-half  miles  north  of  Belleville.  He  was 
hut  a  small  l>oy  when  his  father  moved  to  Smitlilon 
Township.  His  education  was  commenced  in  the 
district  schools  of  St.  Clair  County  and  was  finished 
at  the  school  of  the  Christian  Brothers,  in  St.  Louis. 
In  1864  occurred  the  marriage  of  I'cter  Miller 
to  Miss  Barbara  I'oirot,  who  was  born  in  Lorraine, 
France,  and  was  fourteen  years  old  when  she  came 
to  this  country.  Her  father,  Xavicr  Poirot,  fol- 
lowed the  trade  of  a  shoem.aker  in  the  Old  Country, 
liut  after  emigrating  to  America  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural iiursuits,  and  still  lives,  having  reached 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty -six  years.  After  mar- 
ri.age  oiu'  subject  located  where  he  now  lives,  on 
Turkev  Hill,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  locations  in 


the  neighborhood.  In  1887,  he  built  the  handsome 
residence  which  now  adorns  the  place  and  he  has 
added  other  improvements  when  desirable.  He 
and  his  wife  are  the  parents  of  two  children: 
Marshall,  who  married  Mis.s  llermena  Sliehl  and 
lives  on  his  father's  farm,  and  .Stella,  who  is  at 
home. 

The  farm  belonging  to  Mr.  Miller  contains  two 
hundred  and  forty -eight  acres,  all  of  which  is  un- 
der a  liigii  state  of  cultivation.  He  carries  on  gen- 
eral farmnig  and  stock-raising,  and  devotes  much 
of  his  time  to  the  breeding  of  fine  Norman  horses, 
for  which  he  has  a  wide  reputation.  He  is  an  ar- 
dent supporter  of  all  good  enterprises,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Farmers'  Mutual  Benefit  Associ.ation, 
of  which  he  is  a  general  organizer  and  a  very  ac- 
tive worker.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Grange 
for  eighteen  years  and  holds  the  ofhcc  of  Master 
in  the  Subordinate  Lfidge  and  in  Pomona  (Grange 
of  St.  Clair  County.  Politically,  he  is  a  strong 
Democrat,  .and  an  energetic  supporter  of  i)arty 
measures.  He  is  often  called  upon  to  make  speeches 
in  the  campaigns,  and  his  elocpience,  keen  discern- 
ment and  familiarity  with  the  Democratic  princi- 
ples are  used  for  the  adv.ancemenl  and  to  secure 
the  success  of  his  ))arty. 


^^  IIARLES  PROBST,  of  whom  we  write,  tlie 
[[!  _  owner  of  the  fine  farm  located  on  section 
\i^  :V1  of  MillstadtTownshi]),  St.  Clair  County, 
is  the  son  of  .John  Christian  Probst,  who  was  l)orn  in 
Saxonv,  Oermany.  in  ISdis.  and  was  reared  there 
and  came  to  this  coiiiilry  in  IH.'il.  lie  lauded  in 
the  great  city  of  Haltinnire,  Md.,  and  came  from 
there  in  w.agons  to  the  fertile  lands  of  St.  Clair 
County.  III.,  rumors  of  which  had  reached  liiiii  in 
his  little  home  in  (iermany. 

The  father  located  in  MillsLadt,  on  laiul  which 
our  subject  now  occupies,  and  entered  eighty  acres 
of  Government  land.  He  found  it  covered  with 
timber,  but  he  went  to  work  cheerily,  clearing  and 
making  trees  into  fencing  and  building  material. 
The  old  gentleman,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  the 


480 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGBAPMCAL  RECORD. 


township,  expcMienced  all  the  trials  of  pioneer  life. 
Ilis  wife,  Miss  Philopeua  Weyngardt,  was  also 
born  in  German\"  and  had  come  to  this  coun- 
tr\-  with  lier  parents  at  an  earlj'  day.  Those 
were  the  days  of  large  families  and  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  John  Christian  Probst  were  born  thirteen 
children,  live  of  whom  are  j'et  living,  namely: 
William,  Fred,  Andrew,  our  subject  and  Charlotte. 
This  hard-M'orking  man  died  about  the  year  1883, 
his  wife  preceding  him  ten  years. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  look  place  September. 
13,  1842,  on  the  old  homestead,  his  present  resi-  [ 
dence,  a  place  of  comfort  and  happiness  for  all  its  \ 
dwellers.  He  was  reared  here  and  went  to  school 
witli  the  other  children  of  the  neighborhood, 
over  bad  roads,  and  sometimes  through  snow  and 
storm;  but  all  unheeded  were  these  trials,  because 
those  were  the  days  when  nothing  better  was 
known  or  thought  of.  Probably  none  of  Mr. 
Probst's  children  can  ever  realize  the  trials  of  a 
little  school  boy  in  the  years  when  their  father 
aiid  mother  attended  the  district  schools.  The 
marriage  of  Mr.  Probst  to  Miss  Margai-etta  Kess- 
linger  was  solemnized  in  1865,  and  by  her  devotion 
and  helpfulness  she  has  shown  what  a  good  wife 
can  do  for  her  husband.  She  is  a  native  of  this 
county  and  was  the  daughter  of  George  and  Eliza- 
beth (Cable)  Kesslingcr,  the  former  an  early  set- 
tler of  the  county. 

Another  side  of  our  subject's  life  is  presented 
to  the  readers  of  this  REconi),  when  we  tell  of 
his  army  experience.  Charles  Probst  was  one  of 
the  brave  men  who  went  out  with  Company  D, 
Forty-third  Illinois  Infantry,  and  his  life  as  a 
soldier  would  fill  a  volume  with  most  interesting 
i-eading.  Participating  in  many  bloody  battles, 
Mr.  Probst  proved  himself  a  man  of  great  pei-sonal 
courage,  finally  receiving  wounds  from  the  effects 
of  which  he  will  never  recover.  A  grateful  Gov- 
ernment bestowed  upon  him  a  pension,  which  he 
has  drawn  since  being  mustered  out  in  1865.  Mr. 
Probst  is  a  highly-esteemed  member  of  Millstadt 
Post  No.  684,  (i.  A.  R.,  and  is  always  an  interested 
attendant  at  the  meetings,  where  old  days  and 
dangers  are  talked  over.  The  fruits  of  his 
marriage  are  nine  children,  seven  of  whom  are 
living,  namely:  .lohn,  living  in  St.  Louis;  Charles, 


residing  at  Twelve  Mile'  Prairie;  Fritz,  at  home; 
Katherine,  wife  of  Fritz  Metzger,  of  Floraville; 
Ida,  at  home,  as  are  also  Emma  and  Edward.  Louis 
and  Sophia  have  been  removed  by  death. 

The  fine  farm  of  our  subject  consists  of  one 
hundred  acres  of  good  land,  which  is  carefully 
cultivated,  wheat  being  the  principal  crop,  but 
much  fine  stock  may  be  seen  on  it.  Since  his  resi- 
dence in  this  township,  Mr.  Probst  has  proved 
himself  a  man  of  honesty  and  good  judgment  and 
has  been  called  upon  to  fill  the  position  of  High- 
way Commissioner  for  the  past  seven  years.  His 
political  views  are  in  accord  with  the  principles 
of  the  Republican  party.  His  family  belong  to  the 
P>angelical  Lutheran  Church  of  Floraville  and 
lead  lives  which  reflect  credit  on  that  connection. 


ERMAX  SPITZXASS.  The  gentleman 
whose  honored  name  api)ears  at  the  heading 
of  this  sketch  is  another  of  the  brave  sons 
of  this  country  with  whom  Germany-  has 
furnished  us.  Mr.  Spitznass  was  the  sou  of  AVilliam 
Spitznass,  a  native  of  Prussia,  where  he  was 
reared  .and  married.  The  lad^'  whom  he  married 
was  Miss  Johanna  Kelch,  with  whom  he  came  to 
this  country  about  1852,  locating  at  Turkey  Ilill, 
where  he  bought  land,  .ind  here  it  is  that  our 
subject  still  resides,  on  the  old  home  plai'C. 
The  father  lived  here  until  1872,  when  he  removed 
to  Belleville,  living  there  for  five  ye.ars,  and  then 
removed  to  New  Athens',  where  he  still  resides,  es- 
teemed and  respected  by  all.  His  beloved  wife 
was  taken  from  him  in  1858,  and  he  has  never 
supplied  her  loss.  This  gentleman  is  a  good, 
brave  and  patriotic  man,  and  served  faithfully  and 
well  in  the  C4erman  army.  He  and  his  wife 
were  the  happy  parents  of  seven  children,  six  of 
whom  are  living,  namely;  Emma,  our  subject. 
Otto,  Richard,  Clara,  Anna  and  Ida,  all  of  whom 
are  a  credit  to  their  father  and  an  honor  t(i  their 
respective  communities.  Otto,  taken  away  liy 
death,  was  deeply  mourned  by  all. 

Our  subject,  as  w.as  before  stated,  is  a   native  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  niOORArillCAL   RECORD. 


481 


Germany,  having  been  born  in    Prussia,   October 

18,  1842,  and  was  only  eleven  years  of  age  wlien 
the  family  made  their  advent  into  this  country  of 
freedom,  and  he  grew  to  manhood  in  the  plni'O 
where  lie  still  lives.  In  the  year  1861,  he  nobly 
responded  to  the  call  of  his  country  and  entered  tiie 
Forty-third  Regiment  of  Illinois  Infantry,  serving 
three  years,  and  taking  |)art  in  the  battle  of  Shiluh. 
as  well  as  numerous  minor  one,s,  in  all  of  wliich  lie 
gave  evidence  of  great  personal  courage  as  well  as 
of  unswerving  attachment  to  the  country  of  his 
adoption.  I'pon  his  return  from  the  war,  our  sulv 
ject  married  .Miss  Rachel  Funk,  who  died  five  years 
afterward,  and  later  he  married  her  sister  Mary.  IJy 
his  first  wife  Jlr.  Spitznass  had  one  child,  and 
nine  were  added  to  his  family  as  the  fruits  of  his 
second  union,  namely;  George,  Otto,  Amelia,  Lou- 
isa, Theodore,  Henry,  Hilda,  Herman  and  a  babe 
unnamed.  Mr.  Spitznass  has  a  fine  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  .--i.xty-nine  acres,  all  in  a  fine  state 
of  cultivation,  on  wiiich  are  carried  on  general  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising.  The  farm  is  on  section  i!, 
Freeburg  Township,  .St.  Clair  County.  Here  our 
subject  has  spent  his  life,  having  a  record  as  an 
lionest,  industrious  agriculturist.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Grange,  in  which  he  has  been  very  active, 
and  politically  is  a  strong  Democrat  .and  takes  a 
deep  interest  in  the  atTairs  iif  his  party. 


f®)lNCKNr(i.  .lOllNSON.      Thi.-  farmer    and 


¥  intelligent  gentleman  living  on  a  fine  farm 
of  one  hundred  acres  of  fertile  Illinois  soil, 
was  born  Sei>tcmber  2.'5,  18."37,  one-half  mile  south- 
west of  his  present  home,  upon  what  is  known  ,'is 
the  ••Phillips  Farm." 

The  father  of  our  sulijcct.  Hardy  .lolinson.  was 
liorn  near  New  Heme,  N.  C.,  and  his  mother, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Mary  Smith,  was  a 
native  of  Columl)ia,  Maury  County,  Tenii.  The 
paternal  grandfather  was  an  old  sailor,  who  was 
in  the  navy  during  the  Revolutionary  War,  and 
died  at  Aberdeen,  Miss.,  at   the  advanced    age    of 


ninety-nine  yeai-s.  His  wife  was  very  oU\  when 
she  passed  away.  The  mother's  parents  were  \h- 
ginians,  who  emigrated  from  Mrginia  to  Kentucky 
at  an  early  day.  Hardy  .Johnson  and  his  wife 
came  to  Illinois  in  1831.  They  had  started  for 
Urownsville,  Mo.,  but  in  passing  through  Franklin 
County,  111.,  were  so  pleased  that  the^-  remained 
there  three  years.  They  came  to  .St.  Clair  County 
in  1H.'54.  and  settled  on  the  place  wliere  our  subject 
was  l)orn. 

The  father  of  \iiKCnt  .Tohnson  died  March  •2(1, 
187(),  at  the  age  of  eighty-one.  He  held  nootticcs 
during  his  life  time,  but  contented  himself  with 
doing  his  duty  by  church,  family  and  State.  The 
devoted  mother  of  our  subject  was  so  overcome 
with  grief  that  she  only  lingered  twenty  days  after 
the  demise  of  her  husband.  Their  marriage  took 
place  in  1821  in  Maury  County,  Tenn.,  and  they 
lived  near  Columbia  for  seveial  \-ears  after  mar- 
iage.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
children:  Louisa,  who  married  for  her  second  hus- 
band J.  D.  Franklin,  a  farmer  living  in  Woodford 
County,  111.  She  had  two  children  by  her  first  mar- 
riage. Flziradied  in  February  1891, aged  sixty-two 
years,  the  wife  of  William  Harris,  of  Nashville,  111., 
and  left  seven  children:  .Mark  died  at  the  home  of 
our  subject  in  188  J,  at  the  age  of  fifty  years;  William 
R.  was  about  nineteen  when  death  claimed  him: 
Mary,  wife  of  Joseph  Whiteside,  died  in  Logan 
County,  III.,  and  IVIargaret,  widow  of  L.  I).  L'oli- 
erts,  who  was  a  mechanic,  but  devoted  himself  to 
farming  during  his  later  j-ears.  She  Inis  been  a 
widow  for  twelve  years,  and  has  one  daughter. 

The  subject  of  this  notice,  reared  on  a  farm  and 
thus  educated  for  his  life  work,  first  attended  the 
local  schools  and  then  took  a  course  in  the  I>elle- 
ville  High  .School.  He  continued  an  inmate  of  the 
paternal  household  until  a  man  in  stature  and  age. 
His  marriage  with  Miss  Emily  Moore  took  place 
on  the  >^i\\  of  October,  1862.  She  was  the  daughter 
of  Uisdon  A.  and  Ann  (Middlekoflf)  Moore.  Her 
father  lives  in  Shiloh  Valley  Townshi]),  about  two 
miles  east,  and  is  an  old  settler  and  iiromineut  citi- 
zen. Mr,  .lohnson  lost  his  wife  in  1870  and  she  left 
one  child,  Mary,  who  married  M.  O.  Wilderman,  and 
had  one  daughter. 

Our  subject  married  a  second  time,  May  20,  1873, 


482 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


this  union  Ijeing  with  Miss  Pinelda  C.  Breese,  of 
Irvington  111.,  daughter  of  John  and  Etheinda 
(Rieff)  Bi-eese,both  deceased.  Her  fatiier  made  Illi- 
nois his  home  in  1849.  Farming  has  been  the 
life  business  of  Mr.  Johnson,  and  his  work  has 
brought  him  happiness  and  success.  Like  his 
father,  he  has  been  a  Democrat  all  his  life  and 
peaceably  upholds  tiie  principles  of  the  party  when- 
ever called  upon.  Our  subject  is  now  serving  the 
township  as  Highway  Commissioner.  Mr.  Johnson 
is  a  fine  looking  man  and  his  quiet,  thoughtful 
countenance  tells  of  reserved  mental  strength. 
His  neighbors  esteem  him  highly  and  liis  friends 
are  greatly  attached  to  him. 


'■      r      ^_ 


„t  Lebanon  is  fortunate  in  having  as  its 
(A:  \\\  pastor  a  gentleman  of  such  large  resources 
\^  and  unquestioned  ability  as  Father (iillen. 
Among  the  people  of  the  community  in  general,  as 
well  as  the  parishioners,  he  is  very  popular, and  his 
geniality  of  manner  and  devotion  to  his  parish 
win  him  many  friends.  To  his  efforts  may  be  at- 
tributed the  large  measure  of  success  which  has 
come  to  the  church  in  recent  years,  and  he  has  been 
largely  instrumental  in  securing  the  erection  of 
the  magnificent  edifice,  which  when  completed  will 
be  one  of  the  most  elegant  churches   in   the  State. 

Father  Gillen  was  born  in  Ileisterburg,  Februarj- 
23,1861.  His  parents,  .John  and  Frances  (Gross) 
Gillen,  natives  of  Germany,  emigrated  to  America 
in  187.')  and  settled  in  Ohio,  where  they  still  make 
their  home.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  received 
the  rudiments  of  his  education  in  the  parochial 
schools  of  his  native  place  and  afterward  en- 
teied  St.  Joseph's  College  at  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
where  he  remained  five  years.  His  literary 
studies  were  subsequently  pursued  at  Teutopolis, 
111.,  where  he  improved  his  excellent  educational 
advantages  to  their  fullest  extent. 

On  the  completion  of  his  studies  at  Teutopolis, 
our  subject  took  a  philosophical  course  of  two 
years  at  Montreal,  Canada,  and  afterward  went  to 


Europe,  commencing  the  studj-  of  theology  at 
Rome  and  remaining  there  for  four  years.  Upon 
his  return  to  the  United  States,  he  was  ordained  to 
the  priesthood  at  St.  Francis,  Wis.,  May  9,  1886, 
and  on  the  14th  of  the  following  month  accepted 
the  pastorate  of  St.  Joseph's  Church  at  Lebanon, 
where  he  has  ever  since  resided.  This  parish  has 
been  established  about  twenty-five  years  and  at 
the  present  time  consists  of  about  sixty-five  fami- 
lies. As  has  been  above  stated,  a  new  church  is  in 
process  of  building,  which  will  cost  $15,000  and 
will,  on  its  completion,  be  a  beautiful  edifice. 

Father  Gillen  is  a  very  popular  priest.  A  man 
of  education  and  great  energy,  to  his  persistent  ef- 
forts is  to  be  credited  the  fact  that  his  congrega- 
tion enjoys  a  steady  numerical  growth.  He  has 
devoted  himself  untiringly  to  the  task  of  raising 
the  money  necessary  for  the  erection  of  the  new 
church  and  has  been  rewarded  with  success.  Mod- 
est and  unassuming,  he  has  labored  not  for  his 
own  temporal  advancement  but  for  the  highest 
spiritual  welfare  of  his  parishoners  and  it  is  not 
strange  therefore  that  he  is  esteemed  liy  each  one 
.as  a  personal  frioiul. 


^f  ARON  STOOKEY.  Among  the  men  who 
iMO|    iiave  filled   public    positions    in    St.  Clair 

III  1\  County,  the  gentleman  above  named  holds 
{^J  a  prominent  place  as  one  who  thoroughly 

understands  the  business  in  which  he  has  been  en- 
gaged, and  fulfills  his  contracts  in  a  reli.ible  and 
conscientious  manner.  He  has  an  extended  ac- 
quaintance, and  the  estimate  of  those  who  know 
him  includes  a  hearty  respect  for  his  private  char- 
acter, as  well  as  their  good  opinion  of  him  as  a 
skillful  manager  of  affairs. 

The  parents  of  the  above-named  gentleman  were 
Simon  and  Hannah  (tiooding)  Stookey,  whose 
family  consisted  of  seven  children,  who  attained 
the  years  of  manhood  and  womanhood.  They- 
were:  Daniel;  Aaron,  our  subject;  Simon  J.,  de- 
ceased; Sarah,  wife  of  Louis  Eyman,  but  now  de- 
ceased;   Hannah    A.,  wife    of    jNIarshall   W.  Weii-; 


PORTRAIT  AN!)  inCGKAl'llIC AL   KKCORD. 


483 


James  M.  and  Melissa  J.,  deceased,  the  latter  of 
wlioiii  was  tlie  wife  of  Fcrdiiiand  Hinckley. 

Simon  Slookfv,  Uic  father  of  our  sulijci-t.  came 
to  St.  Clair  County  with  his  parent.-i  in  the  year 
I.S02  and  settled  near  where  the  city  of  Belleville 
is  now  located.  The  family  brought  all  their 
earthly  effects  with  them  to  the  new  home  on  the 
l)rairies  on  wagons.  The  possibilities  of  this  dis- 
trict as  a  farming  couutr\'  arrested  the  attention  of 
Daniel  Stookey,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
and  he  and  his  wife,  l?arbara  (Whetstone)  Stookey, 
concluded  to  remain  in  this  part  of  the  State. 
Grandfather  Stookey  was  the  American  represen- 
tative of  an  old  and  respected  (ierinan  family, 
part  of  whom  were  earlv  settlers  in  Virginia.  He 
accumulated  quite  a  fortune  in  Illinois,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death  was  the  owner  of  four  hundred 
acres  of  line  farming  land  and  w:»s  known  as  one 
of  the  finest  raisers  of  stock  in  this  section  of  the 
State. 

Simon  Stookey.  the  father  of  our  subject,  lived 
with  his  parents  until  the  time  of  his  marriage, 
when  he  located  on  a  farm  in  Millstadt  Township. 
lie  began  life  on  his  own  account  with  but  limited 
means,  but  soon  accumulated  enough  to  purchase 
two  hundred  and  twelve  acres  of  land.  He  was  a 
man  of  strong  characteristics  and  dauntless  cour- 
age, and  held  many  local  oftices  in  his  township, 
for  many  years  representing  his  county  as  one 
of  its  Commissioners.  He  was  elected  to  the  .State 
Legislature  but  never  honored  that  body  with  his 
presence,  as  soon  after  his  election  to  ottice  he  was 
stricken  with  an  illness  that  proved  fatal  and  de- 
parted this  life  in  the  year  following.  He  w.as  a 
self-made  man  in  the  truest  sense  of  the  word.  A 
natural  student,  he  acquired  his  education  by  dili- 
gent study  after  the  close  of  the  day's  laboi-s,  and 
was  known  as  one  of  the  liest-posted  and  intelli- 
gent men  of  the  community. 

Aaron  Stookey,  with  whose  name  we  introduce 
this  article,  lived  with  his  parents  until  the  year 
18.")"2,  when  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  JIiss 
Mary  .1.  Holcomb.  daughter  af  .lohn  W.  and  Kliza- 
beth  (Cioodner)  Holcomb.  He  (irst  Ijcgan  life  as  a 
farmer,  which  he  followed  a  number  of  yeai-s,  then 
engaged  in  the  livery  business  in  Helleville.  which 
cntcri)rise  he  conducted  successfully  for  a  period 


of  ten  yeare.  lie  also  gained  an  excellent  reputa- 
tion !us  a  judge  of  stock,  and  his  opinion  in  all 
mattei-s  relative  to  the  same  was  relied  on  by  many 
and  older  heads.  A  clear  head, excellent  thinking 
powers,  and  the  ainlity  to  discriminate  are  among 
his  other  manly  attributes,  and  he  isone  of  the  most 
successful  men  of  his  ycai-s  in  St.  Clair  County. 
The  sterling  ([ualities  of  the  grandparents  have 
certainl\-  descended  to  this  representative  of  the 
.stookey  family.  He  has  been  honored  with  nian3' 
jH)litical  oflices  in  the  township,  and  has  at  different 
times  filled  the  positions  of  Supervisor  and  Assessor 
creditably  tohiinself  and  satisfactorily  to  those  who 
placed  him  in  office. 

5Ii\  Stookey  is  a  firm  disciple  of  the  Ke|iulilican 
party  and  lends  his  assistance  to  the  furtherance 
of  its  principles  and  the  support  of  its  tenets  on 
all  necessary  occasions.  The  possessor  of  stanch 
ideas,  he  can  alw.ays  be  relied  on  whenever  he  has 
arrived  at  a  decision.  With  an  intelligent  concep- 
tion of  his  duties  as  a  citizen,  a  feeling  of  good- 
will toward  mankind  and  a  deep  regard  for  his 
family,  he  endeavors  to  honorably  fulfill  all  the 
duties  that  devolve  upon  him,  and  in  so  doing  he 
gains  the  respect  of  all  who  come  in  contact  with 
him. 


# 


W  AMI>  W-  McCri.l.oriill,  Tassenger  and 
I  Freight  Agent  of  the  Air  Line  of  the 
Louisville,  Evansville  it  St.  Louis  Railroad 
at  Helleville,  111.,  is  one  of  the  most 
trustworthy  and  capable  oflicials  on  the  road,  as 
well  as  being  cordial,  accommodating  and  cour- 
teous. He  is  proving  himself  the  right  man 
in  the  right  place,  and  the  railroad  officials  are 
coming  to  realize  this  fact.  He  has  held  his 
inesent  position  since  March,  18112.  but  the 
town  tif  Helleville  has  claimed  him  as  a  resi- 
dent since  18.52,  at  which  time  he  w.as  nine 
yeai-s  of  age.  He  was  born  in  Troy,  Lincoln 
County,  Mo.,  September  4,  1843,  to  (ieorge  and 
Louisa  (Pepper)  McCullough,  the  former  of  whom 
died  at  Florisant,  St.  Louis  County,  Mo.  He  was 
a  native  of  the  Keystone  State,  but  of  Scotch   de- 


484 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


scent,  and  inherited  many  of  tlie  attributes  for 
vvliicL  the  "canny  Scot"  is  noted.  He  was  married 
to  Miss  PeiJper  in  the  Pelican  State,  but  lier  na- 
tive State  was  A'irginia,  where  slie  belonged  to  one 
of  the  F.  F.  A"s.  George  ]McCuHough  was  a  [ihy- 
sician  ami  surgeon  of  considerable  note  in  the 
early  days  of  iMissouri  and  liis  patronage  extended 
over  a  wide  strip  of  territory.  He  pursued  his 
noble  calling  with  much  ability,  until  the  hand  of 
death  cut  short  his  career,  after  which  his  widow 
with  her  family  came  to  Belleville,  in  whicli  city 
they  took  up  their  permanent  abode  in  18.')2.  Her 
family  consisted  of  one  son  and  one  daughter: 
James  AV.,  and  Louisa,  wife  of  Dr.  R.  D.  Valentine, 
of  Springfield,  Mo.     The  mother  died  in  1884. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  given  more  than 
ordinary  advantages  in  his  youth,  for  besides  at- 
tending the  public  schools  of  Belleville,  he  was  an 
attendant  of  the  Christian  Brothers'  Academj',  of 
St.  Louis,  Mo.,  for  two  years,  and,  unlike  many 
young  men,  pursued  his  studies  with  earnestness 
and  zeal  and  acquired  an  education  which  emi- 
nently fitted  him  for  the  practical  duties  of  life. 
His  school  days  were  followed  by  a  period  of  clerk- 
ing in  the  Circuit  Clerk's  office,  but  he  left  it  to 
take  up  arms  in  defense  of  the  Stars  and  Stripes, 
enlisting  in  Company  B,  Seventieth  Hlinois Infan- 
try, in  which  he  rose  to  be  Sergeant-Major 
His  war  record  was  a  clean  and  honorable 
one,  and  during  his  short  career  as  one  of  tlie 
"boys  in  blue"  he  was  noted  for  his  faithful  dis- 
charge of  every  duty  and  for  his  upright  and 
soldierly  conduct.  I'pon  his  return  home,  after 
the  strife  had  ended  by  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Lee, 
he  began  clerking  for  the  old  Major's  Express,  a 
local  express  from  St.  Louis  to  ]5elleville,  on  the 
Cairo  Short  Line,  which  was  the  only  radroad 
between  the  cities.  When  the  road  was  extended, 
the  Adams  Express  Company  took  possession  and 
the  local  express  sold  out,  after  which  Mr.  McCul- 
lough  was  appointed  Agent,  which  position  he  held 
for  twenty-one  years  and  one  month,  resigning  in 
September,  18!)0,  and  renioving  widi  his  family  to 
St.  Louis. 

In  that  city  he  engaged  in  Xhe  commission  busi- 
ness for  one  year,  and,  .-ifter  clerking  a  short  time, 
he  accepted  the  posjlion  of  Agent  oi)   Hie    Ivoiijs- 


ville,  Evansville  &  St.  Louis  Railroad,  at  Belleville, 
which  is  one  of  the  most  important  ortices,  outside 
the  terminal  offices,  on  the  road.  He  lias  six  men 
under  him,  and  manages  Iheiu  wilii  a  degree  of 
abilty  that  is  eminently  satisfactory  to  the  otlicials 
of  the  road.  As  a  man  of  affairs,  he  is  wide-awake 
and  up  with  the  times  in  every  respect,  well  posted 
on  the  general  topics  of  the  daj',  alive  to  the 
interests  of  the  section  in  which  he  resides,  and  is 
generous  and  whole-souled  in  the  use  of  his  means 
in  behalf  of  enterprises  that  commend  themselves 
to  his  excellent  judgment. 

Air.  McCuUough  is  a  member  of  several  secret 
organizations,  among  which  may  be  mentioned  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 
He  was  married  in  Springfield,  Hi.,  December  2.5, 
1867,  to  Miss  Callie  Lorch,  a  daughter  of  Charles 
Lorch.  Six  children — five  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter— have  been  born  to  their  union,  as  follov/s: 
Mary  Estella;  George;  .1.  W.,  Jr.;  Ralph  E.,  John 
Robert,  and  Charles.  Our  subject's  life  has  been  a 
happy  one  and  he  has  endeavored  to  make  others 
happy  likewise,  and  has  assisted  many  a  young 
man  to  gain  a  foothold  on   the   ladder  of  success. 


^Tr^.EV.  R.  D.  WOODLEY,  the  popular  pastor 
|1^  of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of 
<4i\v  Belleville,  III.,  is  a  man  keen  in  perception, 
clear  and  logical  in  reasoning,  and  one 
who  possesses  the  esteem  of  all.  His  church  is  the 
oldest  Protestant  structure  in  the  city  and  is  a  fine 
brick  edifice  with  a  capacity  of  six  hundred 
people,  and  located  on  First  Street,  between  High 
and  Illinois  Streets.  The  audience-room  is  above, 
and  the  church  jjarlors,  lecture-room,  dressing- 
room  and  pastor's  study  below.  This  was  erected 
in  1848.  Adjoining  it  on  tlie  west  is  the  parson- 
age, a  good  two-.--tory  lirick  building,  and  both  arc 
in  good  condition. 

Our  subject  was  lioni  in  Coluinbia,  N.  C,  May 
21,  ISIS,  and  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Mary 
(Wyiuif)    Woodlcy,  natives  also   of  INorUi   Caro- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   KKCORD. 


•185 


lina.    The  father  was  born  on  a  farm  in  that  State, 

;iii(l  (Ml  this  SMiiif  f:iiiii  p;issc(I  his  ciitiic  life.  His 
t'alhor  hull  also  icsiiled  oil  lli;il  furni.  IJi.licrl 
Wviiiic.  tin"  maternal  graiulfalher  of  our  sutiji'ct. 
was  a  iradinj;  North  Carolina  iiolititian  and  a 
yery  prominent  Democrat.  Daniel  Woodlev  was 
born  in  1799,  and  died  in  1881.  His  wife  p.issed 
away  in  18(>2.  IJotli  were  prominent  members  of 
the  Baptist  Clinreli,  and  most  exemplary  and 
worthy  citizens. 

Hev.  K.  D.  Woodley.  the  onl\  ehiid  burn  to  his 
parent*;,  secured  a  good  practical  education  in  his 
native  State,  and  subsecpiently  linished  at  Pough- 
kecpsie,  N.  Y.  Later,  he  was  engaged  in  cultivat- 
ing the  soil,  and  in  connection  branched  out  as  an 
educator,  wielding  the  ferule  with  much  success  in 
his  native  State.  When  about  eighteen  years  of 
age,  he  began  to  be  interested  in  theological 
studies,  but  it  was  not  until  1878  that  he  became 
connected  with  Conference.  In  1881,  he  united 
with  the  White  River  Conference,  in  Arkansas, and 
subsequently  located  at  Poplar  (rrove.  Ark.,  Osce- 
ola, Ark.,  and  Powhatan,  being  then  tran.sferred  to 
Montana  and  stationed  at  Stevensville  and  ^lis- 
soula. 

In  188i),  lie  w'as  transferred  to  the  Southern  Illi- 
nois Conference  and  was  stationed  at  Harrisburg, 
Saline  County,  where  he  remained  two  very  suc- 
cessful years.  After  this  he  was  in  Nashville, 
Washington  County,  for  three  years,  and  from 
there  came  to  Belleville,  where  he  is  now  com- 
raeneing  his  third  year  in  this  church.  He  has  a 
membership  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-Qve,  and 
by  far  the  largest  Protestant  congregation  in  the 
city.  Tiie  church  has  been  unusually  prosperous 
under  his  pastorate,  and  over  one  hundred  and 
twenty-live  have  been  added  to  it.  Financially 
and  in  other  departments,  it  is  in  perfect  condi- 
tion and  the  church  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  South- 
ern Illinois  Conference. 

As  a  minister  of  the  (iosiiel,  .Mr.  Woodlev  has. 
combined  with  logical  reasoning  powers,  a  fair 
share  of  (luliiit  eloquence  and  im press iven ess.  .\ 
man  of  most  i)ositive  convictions,  he  never  hes- 
itates'to  attjick  what  he  knows  to  be  evil,  however 
strongly  it  may  be  enti'encluMl  in  popular  favor  or 
in  whate>er  guise  it  is  foisted  upon  his  attention. 


Broadly  charitable,  he  is,  nevertheless,  pronounced 
in  his  views,  to  which  he  gives  expression  in  no 
uncertain  or  ambiguous  terms  whenever  occasion 
demands  it.  Combined  with  fervent  piety  and  a 
vigorous  intellectualitv,  he  has  that  thoroughly 
practical  knowledge  of  the  affairs  of  ever3--day 
life,  which  makes  him  a  competent  adviser  in 
temporal,  .as  he  is  a  conscientious  adviser  in  spirit- 
ual, matters.  Kindly  in  his  disposition,  cordial, 
warm-hearted  aiul  synii)athetic.  he  is  warmly 
esteemed  by  all. 

Mr.  Woodley  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Tate,  of 
Harrisburg,  111.,  on  the  8th  of  September,  1886. 
and  this  union  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of  three 
interesting  children,  as  follows:  .  Mamie,  Robert 
John  and  Ralph  Daniel.  He  has  al.so  a  daughter, 
Maggie,  b^'  his  first  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Nannie  Rankin;  the  present  Mrs.  Woodley  is  the 
daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  Tate.  Socially,  .Mr. 
Woodley  is  a  member  of  Washington  Lodge  No. 
.■);).  A.  F.  ct  A.  M..  and  also  a  member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Older  of  (iood  Templars. 


-(,,;  DAM   PFEIFFER.     It  is  a  ple.asure  to  the 
§/l1Ii     biographer  to   head  this  sketch  with  the 
name  of  the  man  who  is  in  every  sen.se 
1^  worthy  of  the  distinction  afforded  liy  hon- 

orable mention  among  the  distinguished  citizens 
of  the  community  in  which  he  has  passed  the  ac- 
tive years  of  his  life,  and  the  name  with  which  this 
paragraph  is  introduced  is  that  of  one  whose  con- 
nection with  St.  Clair  County  dates  back  with 
honor  to  himself  and  credit  to  the  community. 

Adam  Pfeiffer  is  the  son  of  Andrew  P.  Pfeiffer. 
who  was  born  in  ( Jermany.  and  the  early  part  of 
whose  life  was  spent  in  Prussian-Darmstadt.  Af- 
ter attaining  manhood's  estate,  he  married  Miss 
Christina  Boltz.  Andrew  P.  followed  the  trade  of 
a  cariienter  in  his  native  land.  lie  emigrated  to 
America  about  the  year  18;32,  and  located  at  St. 
Louis,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  for  ten  years. 
During  the  latter  part  of  his  residence  in  St.  Louis, 
lie  was  known  as  the  keeper  of  a  private  boarding 


486 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPmCAL  RECORD. 


house.  After  the  expiration  of  the  time  luen- 
tioned,  he  left  St.  Louis,  and  located  at  High  Prai- 
rie, Sniithtoii  Township,  where  he  boiiglit  a  farm 
and  lived  for  about  forty  years.  His  next  busi- 
ness enterprise  was  to  trade  his  farm  for  a  house 
and  saloon  iu  Belleville.  His  family  consisted  of 
seven  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  childhood, 
and  five  of  whom  are  living. 

Tiie  subject  of  this  sketcli,  Adam  Pfeiffer,  was 
lnuu  on  High  Prairie,  Smith  ton  Township,  St. 
Clair  County,  on  the  13th  of  March,  1843.  Af- 
ter gaining  a  common-school  education  in  his 
native  township,  he  removed  to  St.  Louis,  and 
worked  as  helper  in  a  foundry.  He  remained 
there  four  years,  and  from  there  went  to  Smithton, 
where  he  was  employed  in  a  flouring  mill.  On  the 
3d  of  December,  1863,  he  married  Miss  Catherine 
Forcade,  daughter  of  Mr.  Louis  Forcade  of  Prairie 
du  Long  Township.  For  two  years  succeeding  his 
marriage,  he  resided  in  Prairie  du  Long  Township, 
after  which  he  removed  to  his  father's  farm  iu 
Prairie  du  Long,  and  from  there  went  to  High 
I'rairie,  where  be  remained  for  nine  years.  His 
family  consisted  of  seven  children,  two  of  whom 
Theressa  and  Maggie,  died  in  childliood.  Those 
living  are  Louis,  Fritz  G.,  Adam;  Louisa,  wife  of 
Philip  Skoer;   and  Katie,  who  lives  at  home. 

Our  subject  is  the  possessor  of  a  fine  farm  num- 
bering some  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  acres, 
of  which  one  hundred  and  seven  are  all  well  im- 
proved, and  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  His 
principal  crop  is  wheat,  and  he  is  known  through- 
out the  country  as  a  very  successful  raiser  of  this 
comnioditj\  He  is  a  member  and  liberal  supporter 
of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Farmers'  Mutual  Benefit  Association,  and  Treu- 
bund  of  Smithton. 

Our  subject  is  a  stanch  Kepulilican,  and  renders 
unstinted  assistance  to  his  party  both  in  municipal 
and  National  elections.  He  is  at  present  School 
Director  of  this  district,  and  also  Collector  of  the 
township,  to  which  latter  office  he  was  elected 
in  the  fall  of  1891.  His  principles  are  those  of 
a  true  American,  and  he  believes  that  every  man 
ought  to  vote  according  to  his   own   convictions. 

Adam  Pfeiffer  inspnes  a  warm  interest  in  all 
with  whom  he  comes  in  CDUtrct.     He  is  a  man  of 


genial  and  kindly  disposition,  one  whose  friend- 
sliii)  is  sought,  and  with  whom  an  acquaintance  al- 
ways develops  into  a  kindlier  feeling.  He  is  one 
of  the  solid  men  in  the  vicinity  of  his  home,  and  a 
true  American  citizen  in  the  fullest  sense  of  the 
term. 


m>-^¥r<m 


"jr^KED  B.  MERRILLS.  The  original  of  the 
\f-^}  present  sketch  is  one  of  those  pleasant  and 
ik^  energetic  gentlemen  of  whom  it  is  safe  to 
predict  success.  Mr.  INIerrills  opened  a  law  ollice 
in  Belleville  in  1889,  and  has  been  for  some  time 
with  the  law  firm  of  Koerner  AKoerner.  He  was  born 
August  20,  1864,  iu  this  county,  and  was  the  son 
of  Fred  and  Catherine  (Bayakin)  Merrills.  The 
father  was  also  born  in  this  county,  in  what  is  now 
St.  Clair  Township,  April  14,  1818,  was  educated 
here  in  the  common  schools  and  succeeded  his 
father  on  the  old  farm. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  born  in  tiiles 
County,  Tenn.,  and  in  1845  came  here,  having 
spent  her  early  life  in  Mississippi.  The  father  of 
our  subject  lived  on  the  old  farm  until  December 
5.  1885,  wlien  he  was  removed  by  death,  leaving 
three  children  and  his  faithful  n-ife  to  mourn  his 
loss.  The  children  are  Alfred,  living  in  Jackson 
County;  Catherine,  the  wife  of  Theodore  Ashlock, 
of  this  county;  and  our  subject.  The  mother  of 
our  subject  died  December  9,  1889,  mourned  by 
all  who  knew  her  as  a  good  woman  and  true 
friend. 

Sylvester  Merrills,  the  grandfatlier  of  our  sub- 
ject, came  unaccompanied  to  Illinois  in  the  year 
1812,  being  a  clock-peddler  by  occupation.  He 
liad  worked  his  way  from  his  native  State, 
Connecticut,  and,  upon  reaching  the  new  couniiy, 
took  np  Government  lands,  which  he  lield  to  his 
death,  passing  them  down  to  his  son  Fred,  and  in 
time  they  reached  our  subject.  The  eighty-.acre 
homestead  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Merrills 
and  will  not  deteriorate  under  him.  The  grand- 
fatlier marrifd  Susan  A'anicr,  of  A'irginia.  At 
Olio  time  lir  licid  tlie  ollicc  of  Siiiieriiitciident 
of  Schools,  al  aiiollici'.luslicc  of  llic  l'eace,aiid  was 


tlHPAKV 


OMVfK^ 


'^ni' 


(!u,i!A-J^C^t^^i/^j  <2^ 


PORTKMT  AND  lUOflHAPIllCAL   KECOHD. 


489 


a  prominent  man  in  all  local  afifaii"s.  When  made 
Assessor,  it  was  for  the  whole  county.  Tliis  well- 
known  man  passed  away  in  18.')2. 

The  subject  of  this  sketoii  obtained  liis  educa- 
tiiin  at  C'arbondale.  in  this  State,  and  at  tlie  Normal 
rniversity  there,  lie  then  went  into  tlie  office  of 
Dill  iVr  Scliaefer, and  w:ls  admitted  by  tlie  Appellate 
Court  to  the  practice  of  law  at  Springfield,  in  No- 
vember. 1889,  after  which  he  immediately  went 
enthusiastically  into  the  practice  of  law  here  and 
has  done  well.  His  political  preference  is  for  the 
Democratic  party,  and  he  has  been  honored  by  it 
by  being:  sent  as  delegate  to  the  congressional 
and  county  conventions.  Our  subject  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  \'irginia  liadgley,  tiie  daughter  of 
S.  P.  liadgley,  of  this  county.  This  marriage  took 
place  December  28,  1887,  and  two  children,  Fred 
and  ^Marshall,  fill  their  home  with  happiness.  This 
family  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  this  section,  and  a 
rei)resenlalive  of  it  establisiicd  the  lii-st  Baptist 
Church  in  the  State. 


^^  IIAKI.KS  (iUlI-l'KN  h.is  >pent  his  entire  life 
ll^  ^,  niton  the  farm  which  is  still  his  home.     It 

\^'  is  located  on  section  14,  Shiloh  Valley 
Township.  He  was  born  in  1845,  of  the  union  of 
Joseph  and  Sallie  A.  (Collins)  (iriffen.  llisfatiier 
was  born  in  Clinton,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  in 
1 71)6,  and  was  one  of  the  four  sons  of  Jacob  Griffen. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  was  born  in  (Meenville, 
Orecne  County.  N.  Y.,  December  1.  1805,  and  was 
one  of  twelve  children. 

Joseph  (Jriffen  went  to  .\lliany  County,  N.  V., 
with  his  imrents  when  tpiile  young.  He  attended 
the  common  schools,  b\it  wa.'^  mostly  educated  Ijy 
extensive  reading.  At  the  age  of  nineteen,  he  went 
to  Western  New  York,  secured  a  horse,  fitted  out  a 
wagon  and  on  his  own  responsibility  began  ped- 
dling, continuing  as  far  West  as  the  Mississippi 
Uiver.  A  few  years  afterward  he  came  down  the 
Ohio  River  by  boat,  and  located  in  Handolpli 
County,  111.  This  was  in  1817.  While  on  the 
river  he  mot  his  first   wife,  Mrs.    Mary    (Foulke?) 

23 


Shepherd,  daughter  of  Christopher  and  Margaret 
Fonlkes.  She  was  the  widow  of  Thomas  H.  Shepherd 
:in(I  iiad  one  child  by  her  first  husband. 

I'nto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  (xriffen  were  born  eight  clul- 
dren,  but  only  three  grew  t<i  manhood  and  woman- 
hood: Joseph,  now  deceased;  Sarah  A.  and  Maria. 
The  brother  tirst  married  Maggie  Sliaw  and  after- 
ward wedded  Anna  R.  Murdough,  by  whom  he  had 
six  children:  Alice,  deceased;  Cora  A..  Henry  H., 
Maggie  B.,  Walter  and  Charles  11.  Sarah  A.  became 
the  wife  of  James  H.  Alexander  and  they  had  three 
children:  Joseph  II.,  Edgar  H.  and  Ottie  F. 
Maria  became  the  wife  of  (ieorge  Lemeu,and  unto 
them  was  born  a  son,  George  C.  Her  second  hus- 
band was  Benjamin  Hentchler,and  they  became  the 
parents  of  three  children:  Chester  L.,  Charles  E. 
and  Albert  G.  Her  third  husband  is  W.  D.  Howard, 
and  unto  them  were  born  four  rliildren:  Mary, 
Joseph,  Carrie  and  Leroy. 

After  a  few  years  spent  in  Randoli)h  County, 
Mr.  Ciriffen,  the  father  of  our  subject,  removed  to 
St.  Clair  County,  locating  tirst  on  Turkey  Hill.  He 
.soon  afterward  bought  the  farm  on  which  Charles 
resides  and  made  it  his  home  until  his  death.  He 
was  truly  a  self-made  man,  as  he  started  out  in  life 
empty-handed  and  accumulated  about  thirteen  hun- 
dred acres  of  land.  After  the  death  of  his  first 
wife,  he  wedded  .Sallie,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Hannah  (Silkman)  Collins,  who  were  nativesof 
Connecticut  and  were  of  Dutch  and  Irish  descent, 
respectively.  By  the  second  marriage  were  born 
four  children:  Boone,  who  died  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen years;  .\lletta.  who  died  at  the  age  of  eleven 
months;  Charles,  and  Jane  who  died  at  the  age  of 
seven  months.  The  father  of  this  family  died  in 
Oclohcr.  l.sTl.in  the  faith  of  the  Baptist  Cliurcli. 
In  politic.-,  lie  was  first  a  Whig  and  afterward  a 
Hepublican.  He  served  as  Justice  of  the  Pe.ace 
several  ,\  ears  and  w.as  a  prominent  and  inlluential 
citizen,  highly  respected  in  the  community.  His 
wife,  who  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  died  in  April,  1876. 

Our  subject  remanied  on  the  home  farm  with  his 
parents  until  their  deaths.  He  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  and  completed  his  education  in  the 
Commercial  School  of  .M.  Louis.  He  entered  upon 
111?  business  career  by  taking  charge  of  his  father's 


490 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


farm.  As  a  companion  on  life's  journey  he  chose 
Miss  Martha,  daughter  of  .James  and  Julia  (Clark) 
Park.  Their  union  was  celebrated  in  1873.  The 
lady  is  a  native  of  this  county,  and  her  i)arents 
were  born  in  Kentucky  and  Virginia,  respectively. 
Tlie  Clark  family  is  of  Scotch  descent.  Unto  Mr.' 
and  Mrs.  Griffen  have  been  born  four  children: 
Cyril  A.,  Myrtle  A.,  Joseph  B.  and  Charles  L.  C. 

Mr.  Onffen  is  a  member  of  the  Grange  of  the 
county.  In  politics,  he  is  a  Republican  and  has 
filled  various  public  offices  with  credit  to  himself 
and  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  constituents.  He  is 
the  efficient  Postmaster  of  Grassland,  appointed  to 
that  position  in  November,  1890,  and  is  one  of  the 
extensive  land-owners  of  the  county,  his  possessions 
aggiegating  seven  hundred  acres.  His  farm  is  a 
Taluable  one,  and  in  connection  with  this  he  owns 
a  store  at  Grassland.  Mr.  Griffen  is  a  man  of  ex- 
cellent business  ability,  is  sagacious  and  far-sighted, 
systematic  and  methodical,  and  his  excellent  success 
is  the  result  of  his  own  well-directed  efforts,  enter- 
prise and  perseverance.  He  has  a  wideac(iuaintance 
throughout  the  county,  and  is  held  in  the  highest 
regard  bvall  with  whom  business  or  social  relations 
liave  brought  him  in  contact.  His  example  is  well 
worthy  of  emulation,  and  with  pleasure  we  present 
to  our  readers  this  record  of  his  well-spent  life. 


^j<^EOK(;i-:  F.  UlTTER.  This  gentleman  is  a 
[||  - —  native  of  the  village  of  St.  Libory,  .St.  Clair 

Ai^jijl  County, 111., and  was  born  in  the  house  he  now 
lives  in,  twenty-seven  years  ago,  his  birth  occur- 
ring November  18,  1865.  Mr.  Rutter's  father  and 
mother  were  Henry  and  (Gertrude  ((ilassmeier) 
Rutter. 

Henry  Kutter  was  born  in  Austinbrook,  Prussia, 
in  the  year  1817.  He  received  a  common-school 
education  in  accordance  with  the  strict  laws  of  his 
native  country,  but  his  parents  being  poor  they 
could  give  him  but  limited  educational  advan- 
tages, and  he  l[;iil  'o  lic'gin  very  early  in  life  to 
assume  the  re?|».>nsibili!i('s  of  liis  own  lixclihood. 


In  1835,  he,  to  better  hisown  condition,  came  to 
the  United  States  and  located  at  St.  Louis,  where 
he  occupied  himself  as  a  teamster  and  drayman 
until  the  year  1845.  He  then  moved  from  St. 
Louis  and  came  to  St.  Libory,  St.  Clair  County, 
and  there  earned  his  living  as  a  peddler  of  vari- 
ous wares  in  the  surrounding  country.  By  his 
diligence  and  economy  he  was  able  to  buy  a  piece 
of  ]iroi)erty,  and  his  first  purchase  in  the  real-es- 
tate line  was  the  homestead  which  his  son  now  oc- 
cupies. Through  industry  and  thrift  he  was  soon 
able  to  o|>en  a  store  for  general  merchandise,  and, 
although  having  onl^'  small  capital,  iiis  persever- 
ance and  strong  business  ability  have  aided  the 
success  with  which  his  name  is  coupled  in  the  com- 
munity. He  was  quite  successful  from  the  begin- 
ning of  his  mercantile  career  and  was  soon  able  to 
enlarge  his  stock.  He  continued  to  buy  property 
and  added  farming  to  his  mercantile  enterprise. 

The  year  1845  marked  an  era  in  his  life,  as  the 
one  in  which  he  took  a  life  partner,  one  who  should 
make  him  the  wife  and  helpmate  needed  to  con- 
summate his  already  assured  success.  To  this  union 
were  born  the  following  children:  Louisa,  wife  of 
Fritz  Lager;  Katie,  wife  of  Henry  AVessel;  Bernard, 
partner  of  the  subject  of  our  sketch;  Mary,  wife 
of  Nicholas  Mayer;  Anna,  wife  of  Theodore 
Poehuann;  Gertrude,  and  George  F.,  whose  bio- 
graphy we  here  sketch.  In  addition  to  the  above- 
named  children  were  August  and  Mary,  two  chil- 
dren who  died  .young  in  life. 

Henry  Rutter  was  a  Democrat  in  jjolitics,  and 
an  ardent  follower  of  the  Roman  Catholic  relig- 
ion. His  ability  and  integrity  were  thoroughl3' 
appreci.ited  by  his  fellow-citizens,  and,  as  an  evi- 
dence of  their  confidence  in  him,  they  bestowed  on 
him  the  office  of  .Justice  of  the  Peace,  which  he 
held  for  several  years,  to  his  own  credit  and  the 
satisfaction  of  the  communit\-.  ^Mr.  Rutter,  Sr., 
died  in  the  year  1880,  on  tlie  10th  day  of  August, 
and  was  mourned  in  the  community  where  he  had 
passed  the  greater  portion  of  his  life  as  a  wortiiy 
citizen,  a  kind  and  genertms  father  and  husband, 
and  a  man  who  had  always  enjoyed  the  respect  of 
all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  His  estimable 
wife  suivives  him  and  makes  hei'  home  with  her 
son,    llic    snlijccl,   of    this   sketch,  where    her  kind, 


PORTRAIT  AND  lUOGKAPHICAL   HECORD. 


491 


womanly  sympathies  are  souglit  by  all  the  com- 

uiunity  in  which  she  has  dwelt  so  long,  and  l<> 
whom  she  ii.-is  l)ecome  dear. 

(ieorgo  1"".  Kiittci,  witli  whose  name  we  coni- 
nient-c  this  .sket<.li,  finislied  liis  education  in  the 
Iniversity  of  St.  Louis,  and  after  completing  iii."' 
loui'se  tiiei'c  entered  into  the  mercantile  life.  His 
ahilitv  was  such  that  the  year  in  which  he  attained 
hi.-  majority  foun<i  him  tlie  possessor  of  a  hus- 
iness  all  iiis  own.  Inheriting  the  amhition,  in- 
dustry, thrift,  anil  aliilily  of  his  father,  he  lias  gone 
steadil\-  forward,  aeiiuiring  not  only  the  eonli- 
dence  of  his  patrons,  liut  tlie  esteem  of  tlie  com- 
munity in  wliieh  he  has  grown  from  Ijoyliood  to 
manliood. 

Following  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father,  he  is 
one  of  the  prominent  meml)ers  of  the  Koman 
Catholic  Churcii,  to  which  hody  he  gives  liberal 
support,  and  is  known  a.s  a  strong  exponent  of  its 
teaciiings.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
Knight*;  of  Ireland,  a  Konian  Catholic  order. 

Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  takes  an  ac- 
tive pari  in  all  inniiicii)ai  elections,  .as  well  as  the 
Presidential  campaigns,  standing  loyally  by  liis 
jiarty,  and  aiding  its  nominees  to  the  best  possible 
interests  of  tiie  countiT.  Young,  popular,  ambi- 
tious and  deserving,  lliis  son  of  an  exemplary 
father  lias  achieved  a  great  deal  in  life,  and  we 
trust  there  is  a  future  before  liim  which  will  be 
adeiiuatc  to  his  aliilities  ;ind  highest  ambitions. 


b<?  ■>[! 


f'v  ETEU  FRIES,  tme  of  tiie  prominent  farm- 
I  ))/  ers  of  Engelman  Township,  St.  Clair 
County.  III.,  resides  on  section  i;?.  Ilcic 
Mr.  Fries  owns  a  beautiful  farm  nf  (Hic 
hundred  and  twenty  acres,  which  he  lias  put  in  a 
tine  state  of  cultivation.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  is  a  native  of  the  county  in  which  he  re- 
sides, and  his  lurtliday  occurred  .lanuary  31,  iH13, 
he  being  the  son  of  (ieorge  and  Filizabeth  Fries, 
lie  was  reared  in  his  native  eouiity,  and  received 
liis  educatifni  in  the  public  scliools  of  his  district. 
The   latter    were  conducted   in    a  very  creditable 


manner,  and  the  teachers  were  generally  those  who 

had  attended  some  higher  school  of  learning, 
hence  the  opportunities  for.acquiring  an  education 
were  inueli  better  than  those  enjoyed  by  his  par- 
ents, and  our  subject  was  not  slow  in  embr.acing 
all  tlie  advantflges  offered  him. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-four  years,  our  subject  lic- 
gaii  to  think  of  founding  a  home  for  himself.  To 
this  end  he  selected  IMiss  Dorothea  Wever  to  be- 
come the  partner  of  his  joys  and  sorrows.  She  was 
the  worthy  daughter  of  Mr.  Fred  Wever,  a  resi- 
dent of  Clinton  County.  111.  After  this  happy 
e\ent,  which  took  |)liice  in  1H(!;>,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fries  looked  about  them  for  a  ple.asant  location 
for  their  future  residence.  The  village  of  Turkey 
Hill  seemed  to  ijre.sent  all  the  requirements  neces- 
sary for  the  enjoyment  of  country  life,  and  he  re- 
mained there  until  1867.  Atthat  time  Mr.  Fries 
decided  to  iiurchase  a  farm  of  his  own,  and  he 
selected  his  present  place,  located  in  Engelinan 
Township,  and  here  he  and  his  family  have  resided 
ever  since. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fries  have  three  living  I'liildren. 
one  of  whom  li.as  left  the  parental  roof  for  a  home 
of  her  own.  This  is  F^liza,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Adam  Larch,  an  engineer  of  New  Baden.  The 
two  other  daughters,  .Susan  and  ICinma,  remain  at 
home.  The  beautiful  farm  of  our  subject  consists 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  well-inii)roved 
land,  on  which  are  found  fences,  neat  outbuild- 
ings and  big  l)arns,  all  in  good  condition,  and  a 
tine  orchard,  where  are  to  be  found  a  choice  variety 
of  apples.  Mr.  I'ries  understands  all  kinds  of 
farming,  l)iit  has  discovered  that  grain  is  his  most 
prolitjible  crop,  and  the  yield  is  sometimes  simply 
remarkable.  'Within  the  neat  farmhouse  that  shel- 
ters this  family  can  still  be  seen  evidences  of  the 
skill  of  the  notalile  housewife,  Mrs.  Fries,  who  man- 
aged the  eslablisliinent  ever  since  she  changed  her 
name  of  Wever  for  that  of  Fries,  although  the 
willing  hands  that  ministered  to  her  family  have 
been  laid  to  rest  the.se  many  years,  she  having 
passed  away  in  lH7i),.  leaving  her  husband  and 
three  children  to  mourn  her  lo.ss.  Her  memory  is 
still  leiideily  cherished  by  her  husband,  who  has 
never  filled  her  place,  but  is  content  willi  the  niiii- 
istrations  <,if  his  two  good  daughters, 


492 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Mr.  Fries  is  a  strong  advocate  of  the  principles 
of  the  Republican  party.  He  is  also  much  inter- 
ested in  the  Farmers'  Mutual  Benefit  Association. 
Our  subject  is  a  devoted  member  of  tWe  New 
Merapliis  Lutheran  Church.  He  has  always  been 
iin  industrious  man,  and  now  reaps  tlie  reward  of 
his  laljors. 


yii'  OHN  W.  GRISWOLD.  The  prominent  gen- 
I  tleman  whose  name  opens  this  sketch  is  an 
,^:^\  i  ex-county  official  of  Montgomery  County. 
^5^/'  and  a  successful  real-estate  man,  who  now  is 
the  efficient  Superintendent  of  the  agents  of  the 
Safety  Homestead  Building  and  Loan  Association, 
of  East  St.  Louis.  He  is  an  Alderman  of  the  city 
of  Litchfield,  where  lie  resides,  and  is  the  owner 
of  three  fine  farms  in  Montgomery  County. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  born  in 
Vermont,  and  in  1824  moved  with  liis  family  to 
Greene  County,  111.,  and  they  were  the  pioneer 
settlers  there.  Tliis  assertion  may  not  mean  much 
to  the  casual  reader  of  tiiis  Recori),  hut  there  are 
many  among  the  older  generation  who  will  have 
no  trouble  in  calling  up  memories  of  tlic  long 
journey  by  team;  of  tlie  storm  and  accidents  by 
tlie  way;  sometimes  of  the  little  graves  which  wei-e 
watered  by  tears  and  then  left  alone  on  the  wide 
prairie;  of  tlie  unbroken  forests,  from  which  must 
come  house  and  home;  of  the  want  of  the  merest 
conveniences  of  life;  and  of  the  dreadful  home- 
sickness which  attacked  the  ))ravcst  at  times. 

The  father  of  our  suliject  was  Ambrose  Gris- 
wold,  a  native  of  V^ermont,  who  was  only  four 
years  old  when  he  was  brought  to  Greene  County, 
where  he  followed  a  farmer's  life  until  in  1857, 
when  he  located  in  Montgomerj'  County,  in  Nasli- 
ville  Township,  and  there  bought  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres.  He  soon  began  to  put 
money  in  fine  stock,  and  in  time  raised  the  best 
thorough-bred  horses  in  the  State  and  made  a  great 
success.  In  time,  he  liought  iiiore  Iniid  and  now 
owns  live  farms,  iiicludiiig  in  all  imc  thuiisand 
acres.     His    residence    is  in  Liti.'hfield,  where    he 


is  much  esteemed  as  a  prominent  member  of 
the  Baptist  Chui-ch.  The  political  opinions  of 
.Mr.  Ambrose  (iriswold  are  in  accordance  with 
those  of  the  Democratic  party.  The  deceased 
mother  of  our  subject  bore  the  name  of  Sarah 
Williams,  and  was  born  in  Greene  County;  she  was 
the  daughter  of  a  former  pioneer,  and  her  death 
occurred  in   1877. 

Mr.  Griswold  of  this  notice  w.as  born  in  Kane, 
Greene  County,  111.,  April  9,  1853.  He  has  one 
sister,  who  is  now  Mrs.  Jones  and  lives  near  Litch- 
field, and  one  brother,  who  resides  in  Taconia, 
AVashington.  Our  sul)ject  was  reared  on  the 
farm,  was  early  taught  to  work,  and  lived  the 
usual  life  of  the  fanner  lad;  going  to  the  dis- 
trict school  in  winter  for  a  short  time  and  working 
in  the  summer  at  the  plowing  and  sowingof  grain, 
the  planting  of  corn,  the  hay-making,  and  all  the 
other  agricultural  labor,  which  is  pleasanter  to  read 
about  in  after  years  tlian  to  push  forward  in  youth. 
Our  subject  earl}-  developed  a  fondness  for  dumb 
brutes,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  he  began  to 
deal  in  cattle  and  hogs  and  soon  was  shipping  them 
to  the  Union  Yards  at  St.  Louis  and  to  the  Stock 
Yards  of  Chicago.  He  continued  this  for  eight 
years,  and  because  of  his  fondness  for  the  animals 
he  was  a  kind  master  to  them,  and  was  very  suc- 
cessful in  his  raising  of  them.  He  became  one  of 
the  largest  stock-men  in  the  county  of  Mont- 
gomery. 

About  this  time  Mr.  (4risvvold  started  in  the 
livery  business  in  Litchfield  and  kept  at  this  for 
five  3ears.  In  1880,  he  was  made  Deputy  Sheriff 
under  L.  G.  Fath  for  two  years,  and  then  under 
W.  A.  Pyle,  for  four  years.  In  1886,  he  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  Sheriff  b}-  a  fourteen 
hundred  and  fifty-six  majority,  which  was  the 
largest  majority  ever  polled  for  any  county 
office.  He  remained  at  Hillsboro  to  fill  his  term 
of  office,  hut  returned  to  Litchfield  in  April,  1892. 
He  was  then  nominated  for  Alderman,  although 
he  had  not  passed  a  day  except  Sunday  in  Litch- 
field for  five  years.  The  ward  is  ninety  votes 
Republican,  i>ut  Mr.  Griswold  was  elected  by  a 
majority  of  fifty-four  vtites.  He  is  Chairman  of 
the  Police  ('ominittee  and  that  makes  him  Chief 
of  Police.     He   is  also   on   other  committees.     In 


,u\NO\S. 


cr 


JOHN    PERRY. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


'in; 


December,  18!)(),  he  came  to  llast  St.  Louis  and 
hesan  to  deal  in  real  estate,  ami  llie  tirin  of  Mc- 
Lean \-  (iriswold  was  foruie<l  on  Hroadway 
and  there  the  business  is  at  present  carried  on.  lie 
is  the  agent  fen-  the  Safety  Homestead  Building 
and  Loan  Association,  and  is  a  valued  member  of 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and 
the  religions  membership  of  his  family  is  with 
the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Mr.  (iriswold  is  tf>o  fine  a  gentleman  not  to  be 
a  family  man,  and  lii.s  marriage  to  one  of  the 
maidens  of  Litchfield  took  i)lace  February  2:L 
1.H7M.  Tiie  young  lady's  name  was  Miss  Gertrude 
IJrokaw.  Hes.sie,  Mamie  and  Ross  are  the  names 
of  the  three  children  of  the  happy  household.  ]\lr. 
(iriswold  is  a  stanch  and  out-spoken  Democrat, 
and  has  rejjresented  the  citizens  in  the  State  Con- 
vention. The  family  is  one  of  ])romincnce  in  this 
section,  and  is  among  the  most  respected  in  the 
count  V. 


'lYi  OIIN  I'KURV,  a  retired  broom  mauiifacluicr 
and  fornierl\-  one  of  the  enterprising  busi- 
ness men  of  Uelleville,  occupies  a  comfort- 
able residence  at  No.  601  K.ast  C  Street.  A 
brief  sketch  of  his  eventful  life  will  iindoubtedly 
be  of  interest  to  his  many  friends  in  the  county-. 
He  is  the  son  of  William  and  I'luebe  (Sprinkle) 
Perry,  natives  respectively  of  New  York  .'inrl 
Pennsylvania.  The  father  was  a  member  of  the 
Thirtieth  New  York  Regiment  during  the  War  of 
]  H 1 2,  where  ho  served  with  bravery.  About  1 829.  he 
came  West  to  Illinois  and  became  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  this  State,  where  he  engaged  in  farming 
operations  until  his  death. 

Our  subject's  father  was  mairicd  Mjiy  1), 
1829, and  three  children  resulted  from  this  union: 
.lohn,  of  this  sketch;  Hannah,  Airs.  Oliver,  of  Silver 
Lake,  Kan.;  and  Mary,  wife  of  Henry  MeCullough. 
Our  subject  was  born  in  Monroe  ('ounty,  111.,  near 
the  village  of  AVaterloo,  April  11,  1830,  and  when 
six  years  old  w.as  orphaned  by  the  death  of  his 
father.      He  received  his  educitlon    in    the  schools 


of  Monioe  County,  where  he  grew  to  manhood. 
During  the  war  with  Mexico,  he  enlisted  as  a 
member  of  C^jmpany  (t,  Sixth  Illinois  Regiment, 
which  he  joined  in  .Inly,  1847.  at  the  age  of  .seven- 
teen. During  his  service,  he  marched  over  the 
sandy  couutr\-  from  \era  Cruz  to  Mexico  and  back 
again,  and  the  exposure  so  injured  his  eyes  as  to 
cause  total  blindness.  After  an  absence  of  one 
year,  he  returned  to  his  home,  and  was  soon  sent 
to  the  blind  school  at  .(acksonville,  111.,  where  he 
pursued  his  studies  and  also  learned  the  trade  of 
broom-maker. 

F"or  a  time,  Mr.  Perry  followed  his  calling  at 
Waterloo.  111.,  whence  he  lemoved  to  Monroe  (it  v, 
ten  miles  distant.  In  September,  18(!1,  he  came  to 
Belleville  and  engaged  in  the  same  business  until 
ab<iut  187.T,  when  he  retired  from  active  labors.  A 
man  of  untiring  industry,  he  did  not  allow  his 
blindness  tofuuiish  him  with  an  excuse  for  idle- 
ness, but  worked  steadily  at  his  trade  until  he  was 
able  not  onlv  to  comfortably  support  his  family, 
but  had  accumulated  sufficient  of  this  world's 
goods  to  insure  him  from  further  want.  He  is  one 
of  the  few  survivors  of  the  brave  soldiers  who 
fought  during  the  Mexican  W'av.  and  is  in  receipt 
of  a  pension  for  his  services. 

In  August,  1860,  Mr.  Perry  and  Miss  Nancy 
Harri.son  were  united  in  marriage,  and  for  thirty 
years  thej'  have  resided  in  the  pleasant  home  at 
Belleville  which  thej'  now  occupy.  Mrs.  Perry 
was  born  in  St.  Clair  County,  February  2.0,  1824, 
the  daughter  of  George  and  Rhoda  ((Juick)  Harri- 
son, natives  of  Pennsylvania.  She  is  a  descendant 
of  Thomas  (^uick.  who  emigrated  from  Holland  to 
America  in  1733, and  settled  in  Penn.sylvania.  Her 
gr.andfather,  Isaac  (Juick,  w.as  a  distiller  and  a 
stock-broker,  (ieorge  Harrison  came  to  Illinois  at 
;in  early  day  and  engaged  in  farming  operations 
untd  his  death  in  1833;  his  wife  .survived  him  for 
thirty  years.  They  were  the  jiarents  of  ten  chil- 
dren, of  whom  four  now  survive,  namely:  F]liza- 
beth.  who  resides  in  Colorado;  Lucretia,  wife  of 
Jesse  Davis,  of  W^ashington,  Cal.;  Mary,  Mrs. 
Henry  Dagner  Randolph,  and  Mrs.  Perry,  who  was 
the  fifth  in  order  of  birth. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Perry  took  into  their  home  her 
nephew  l)a\id  S.,  the  orpli;iii  son  of  Isaac  Harrison, 


491! 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


nnd  tliev  gave  him  the  same  affectionate  care  and 
training  they  would  have  bestowed  upon  a  child 
of  their  own.  He  remained  with  them  until  he 
was  seventeen  years  old,  and  is  now  successfully 
following  the  carpenter's  trade  m  St.  Louis.  In 
their  religious  connections,  Mr.  Perry  and  his  wife 
have  for  many  years  been  identified  with  the 
Baptist  Church,  and  they  are  honored  wherever 
known  as  U|)right.  kind-hearted  and  thoughtful 
people. 


ENRY  ROEWE.  Eew  men  fill  a  greater 
want  in  the  city  than  Mr.  Koewe,  who 
deals  in  flour  and  feed,  and  has  a  well-con- 
ducted establishment.  In  tlour  a  saving 
can  be  effected  by  buying  from  him,  for  he  buys 
by  the  car-load,  and  can  therefore  aft'ord  to  make  a 
reduction  from  what  is  usually  charged  by  the 
small  retail  stores.  He  pays  close  attention  to  his 
business  and  has  a  good,  steady  trade,  which  is  well 
merited,  for  he  has  always  shown  the  utmost  honor 
in  his  business  transactions.  He  was  born  in  Han- 
over, Germany,  August  14,  1840,  to  Herman  and 
Lena  (Hanneke)  Roewe,  both  of  whom  were  born 
and  spent  their  lives  in  Gel•man3^  The  former 
was  a  well-to-do  farmer  and  was  the  Tax  Collector 
of  his  district  for  years.  He  died  in  1874  and  the 
mother  in  1876.  both  Laving  been  earnest  and 
worthy  members  of  the  Catholic  Church.  To  their 
union  seven  children  were  born,  five  sons  and  two 
daughters,  five  members  of  whieii  family  are  still 
living.  One  son  was  in  the  Holstein-Danish  War 
of   1848. 

Henry  Roewe  was  the  youngest  of  the  family, 
was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  from  the  time  he  was 
six  until  he  had  attained  his  fourteenth  year  he 
was  an  attendant  of  the  common  schools.  At  the 
age  of  sixteen  years,  he  became  an  apprentice  at 
brick-laying,  and  this  occupation  received  his  at- 
tention until  he  was  twentj'  years  of  age,  princi- 
pally in  Oldenburg.  At  the  above-mentioned  age,  he 
enlisted  in  the  German  army,  in  the  Fifth  Company, 
Seventh   Regiment,   and    served    during    l«(53-()4; 


during  the  fourteen  months  that  he  was  in  the  ser- 
vice his  time  was  ])rincipally  spent  in  protecting 
the  North  .Sea.  He  was  in  two  engagements  but 
returned  home  in  February,  1865,  and  again  began 
working  at  his  trade.  In  the  fall  of  1866,  he  left 
Bremen  for  Hull,  England,  .and  after  four  months 
spent  at  his  trade  in  that  city,  he  went  to  London, 
and  then  to  Southampton,  where  he  took  passage  on 
board  a  steamer  for  New  York  Cit_v,  which  place 
he  did  not  reach  for  sixteen  days,  owing  to  the 
stormy  weather  they  encountered.  He  immedi- 
ately came  to  East  St.  Louis,  111.,  which  was  at 
that  time  only  a  small  place,  and,  as  money  was  a 
lather  scarce  article  with  him,  he  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  James  Smith,  and  until  the  following  sum- 
mer drove  one  of  his  delivery  wagons.  Succeed- 
ing this,  he  was  in  a  mill,  a  groceiy  store  and  the 
coal  yard  of  Dunk  Bros.,  but  in  1869  began  deal- 
ing in  flour  and  feed  on  his  own  responsibility,  be- 
ing associated  with  a  Jlr.  Kemper,  on  CoUinsville 
Avenue.  This  partnership  continued  harmoni- 
ously until  1883,  when  their  establishment  was  un- 
fortunately burned  and  they  did  not  again  resume 
business  relations.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  same 
year,  Mr.  Roewe  began  doing  business  at  his  pres- 
ent stand  at  the  corner  of  Fonrtii  Street  and  Broad- 
way' and  has  done  well.  The  house  is  built  of 
stone  and  brick  and  has  a  frontage  of  fifty  feet 
and  a  depth  of  one  hundred  feel. 

Mr.  Roewe  lias  identified  iiimself  with  tlie  inter- 
ests of  East  .St.  Louis  and  is  a  stockholder  and 
Director  in  the  Workingmen's  Bank;  he  served  as 
Alderman  from  the  Third  Ward,  his  election  tak- 
ing place  in  1878,  and  in  1889  was  again  elected 
to  the  position  of  Alderman  on  tlie  Citizens'  ticket 
and  served  two  years,  during  which  time  he  was 
on  a  number  of  important  committees  and  was 
Chairman  of  the  Finance  Committee.  He  warmly 
espoused  the  movement  for  the  improvement  of 
the  streets,  and  hiis,  in  numerous  other  ways, 
showed  himself  an  active  worker  for  the  good  of 
the  city.  He  was  married,  in  1869,  to  Miss  Caro- 
line Seimer,  a  native  of  Oldenburg,  Germany,  but 
who  came  to  America  with  her  parents  in  1867. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roewe  the  following  children 
have  been  horn:  Lizette,  who  is  in  a  convent; 
Caroline,    who  is   a  clerk    in    a    dry-goods    store; 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOOKAl'UR Al.    RIXORD. 


I!t7 


lleiiiv.  .li-.:  lleriii:iii.('o(eli:i.C'liristine,  August  and 
.losephiiie.  They  have  also  reared  an  adopted  son, 
Tlieodore  Wiesinan.  Mr.  Roewe  was  one  Of  tlie 
liuildintr  committee  of  St.  Henry's  Cluircli,  is  now 
a  Trustee,  and  for  many  years  past  he  bas  been 
.Judge  of  Kleetions.  He  is  a  wide-awake  man  of 
liusiness,  but  is  strictly  lionorable  in  every  respect, 
.a.s  Ids  thriving  business  would  indicate.  He  ;>nd 
his  faniilv  are  members  of  the  Catliolic  Churcli. 


•^^^I@^@l^^^^ 


,,..  I'fU'ST  LENZ  is  a  progressive  German  of 
ytJll  Belleville  and  is  the  President  and  sole 
\\\\^  owner  of  the  Rogers  Foundry  ct  Stove 
Company,  which  was  incorporated  with  a 
capital  stock  of  ^7r),(tOO.  These  works  cover  nearly 
three  acres,  about  one-half  of  which  is  under  roof, 
or  the  whole  front  of  six  hundred  and  twenty-four 
feet,  and  are  in  close  proximity  to  the  Louisville  i^.- 
Nashville  Railroad,  which  aflfords  fine  shipping 
facilities.  Stoves  arc  manufactured  exclusively 
and  are  exceptionally  well  made  and  perfect,  as 
this  line  of  industrial  activity  has  reached  some- 
ttiing  closely  akin  to  perfection.  Employment  is 
given  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  skilled  workmen, 
and  ill  few  branches  of  trade  has  the  march  of 
progress  wrought  such  a  veritable  revolution.  This 
house  has  made  an  iminense  amount  of  street-car 
cable  for  St.  Louis,  Kansa.s  City  and  Denver,  and 
is  thoroughly  prepared  to  continue  its  manufac- 
ture whenever  it  receives  contracts.  The  works 
arc  lighted  up  by  electricity,  and  if  occasion  de- 
mauds  it  work  is  conducted  successfully  at  iiit>lit 
.as  well  as  in  the  daytime. 

Mr.  Lenz  first  became  con nected  with  this  plant 
in  1884,  simply  as  a  stockholder,  at  which  time  it 
was  a  machine  foundry.  He  is  the  owner  of  the 
Lenz  Wire  Nail  Mill,  which  was  erected  about  1887 
with  a  capital  stock  of  about  *20,(IOO.  It  is  fitted 
up  with  the  finest  machinery  for  the  manufacture 
of  wire  nails  from  one-half  to  seven  inches  in 
length.  He  conducted  that  business  until  1891, 
when  it  was  leased  to  other  parties,  the  power  being 
furnished  by  plant.     He  is   \' ice-president  of    the 


Brosious  Belleville  Oil  Company,  whicli  was  estab- 
lished in  18ofi  with  a  capital  stock  of  sSO.OOO, 
which  manufactures  principally  castor  oil,  although 
linseed  oil  and  nut  oil  are  largely  manufactured. 
These  works  are  located  on  West  Main,  near  Mas- 
coutah  Street.  Mr.  Lenz  is  a  gentleman  of  push 
and  enterprise,  thoroughly  conversant  with  the 
wants  of  the  trade  and  popular  alike  with  his 
|iatrons  and  trade  competitors.  No  Western  com- 
pany has  been  more  fortunate  in  establishing  and 
maintaining  a  high  reputation,  both  as  to  the 
superiority  of  the  goods  made  and  handled  and 
the  excellence  of  the  work  executed. 

Our  subject  has  a  beautiful  home  situated  on 
fifty  acres  of  land  four  miles  from  Belleville  on  the 
Rock  Road,  the  grounds  surrounding  his  residence 
being  especially  beautiful  and  well  kept.  All  kinds 
of  fruits  are  raised  in  abundance,  and  !iis  is  an  ideal 
country  home,  well  removed  from  the  din  and 
bustle  of  city  life.  Mr.  Lenz  was  liorn  near  Cologne, 
Prussia,  July  17,  1827,  but  is  a  remarkably  well 
preserved  man  for  his  years  and  looks  much 
younger  than  he  really'  is.  He  is  a  son  of  Arnold 
and  Maria  Lenz,  and  prior  to  their  removal  to 
.\inerica  in  1832,  lie  had  acquired  the  principal 
part  of  his  education.  After  coming  to  America, 
the  father  settled  on  a  farm  in  Missouri  and  passed 
from  life  at  his  old  home  in  Franklin  County,  in 
the  vicinity  of  which  the  most  of  his  children  yet 
reside.  He  vvas  a  useful  and  progressive  citizen 
and  was  hcmored  and  respected  alike  by  his  ac- 
(|uaiiitances  and  family. 

The  boyhood  days  of  August  Leiiz  werespcnf  in 
folk)wing  the  plow  on  the  old  homestead,  but  he 
afterward  became  an  employe  in  the  firm  of  1". 
Dings  k  Co.  on  Main  Street,  St.  Louis,  with  which 
he  remained  from  1849  to  1872,  becoming  a  mem- 
lier  of  the  firm  in  later  years  which  was  known  as 
Ziock  k  Lenz.  They  started  in  business  on  Main 
Street  and  continued  as  business  associates  from 
18(>2  to  1872,  and  Fortune  smiled  on  their  connec- 
tion. In  1872,  Mr.  Lenz  bought  and  built  a  fine 
residence,  to  which  he  wished  to  retire  from  the 
active  duties  of  life,  but  so  active  was  his  nature 
that  he  was  not  satisfied  until  he  was  again  in  busi- 
ness, and  since  that  time  he  has  conducted  his  affairs 
in  an  energetic  and   praiseworthy   nianiu'i-.      He   is 


498 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPPnCAL  RECORD. 


the  sole  manager  of  the  Rogers  Foundrv-  &  Stove 
Company,  and  has  developed  a  flourishing  trade, 
tliat  has  penetrated  into  many  States  of  the  Union 
and  lias  assumed  proportions  of  flattering  magni- 
tude. The  low  scale  of  prices  renders  every  cus- 
tomer a  permanent  one,  and  Mr.  Lenzis  to  he  con- 
gratulated upon  the  large  measure  of  success 
aeliieved  in  his  undertaking. 

Mr.  Lenz  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Amelia  Halbach,  of  St.  Louis,  ou  the  21st  of  Sep- 
tember, 1851,  and  by  her  is  the  father  of  the  fol- 
lowing five  children:  Rosa,  wife  of  F.  M.  Preston, 
of  East  St.  Louis;  William  and  George,  who  are  as- 
sociated in  business  with  their  father;  Carl  and 
Emma.  Mr.  Lenz  is  a  shrewd  financier  and  always 
grasps  at  any  opportunity  for  bettering  his  financial 
condition,  but,  withal,  is  not  in  the  least  penurious, 
and  is  the  soul  of  honor.  He  is  of  that  class  of 
foreigners  whom  America  gladly  welcomes  to  her 
shores,  for  he  is  not  only  industrious  and  enter- 
prising but  he  is  also  pul)lic-si)irited  and  loyal,  an 
American  at  he.art,  although  of  foreign  birth. 


^]  OSEPH  C.  BURR.  Probably  no  man  in  St. 
Clair  County  has  a  higlier  reputation  for 
thorough  honesty  and  reliability  than  the 
,_^  above-named  gentleman.  He  is  the  owner 
and  occupant  of  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  this 
section  of  the  State,  and  numbers  among  his  pos- 
sessions eight  hundred  acres  of  land,  the  accumu- 
lation of  which  was  actuated  Iiy  a  desire  to  obtain 
and  vest  in  himself  all  land  ever  owned  by  the 
Burr  family  in  Illinois. 

Mr.  Burr  is  a  native  of  St.  Clair  County  and  was 
born  on  the  farm  where  he  now  lives  in  1836. 
Here  he  became  of  age  and  began  his  own  work  in 
life,  earning  the  confidence  of  those  with  whom  he 
came  in  contact,  and  becoming  the  possessor  of  not 
only  a  competence,  but  sufficient  of  earth's  good 
tilings  to  place  him  in  the  foremost  ranks  of  tiie 
rich  men  of  his  county.  In  politics,  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican, a  stanch  adherent  of   the  ])rinciples  of  his 


party,  and  keenly  interested  in   all   that  pertains 
tliereto. 

Chauncey  S.  and  Parmclia  (Yoeinan)  Burr,  the 
parents  of  our  subject,  were  both  born  in  the  city 
of  Hartford,  Conn.,  the  father  in  the  year  1802, 
and  the  motiier  in  1801.  The  parents  of  Chauncey 
S.  Burr  died  when  he  was  very  young,  and  he 
made  his  home  from  early  infancy  among  stran- 
gers. He,  however,  received  an  excellent  common- 
school  education,  and  when  about  eighteen  years 
of  age  started  in  life  for  himself.  His  first  venture 
was  as  a  merchant  in  a  small  \va_y,  or  as  tiie  people 
of  his  district  termed  the  enterprise,  he  commenced 
as  a  book  peddler.  After  six  years  of  traveling 
with  various  wares,  Mr.  Burr,  Sr..  settled  for  a 
short  time  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  where  he  married. 
To  him  and  his  estimable  wife  were  born  eight 
children:  August  and  .Julian  C,  deceased;  Josepli 
C;  Adeline  and  Emeline,  twins;  .Julia  P.,  Sophronia, 
and  Montgomery,  who  IS  deceased.  Miss  Emeline 
Burr  has  never  married  but  is  housekeeper  for  her 
brother  .Joseph;  Adeline  is  the  widow  of  Newton 
Bratncy;  Sophronia  is  the  widow  of  Ebenezer  Lili- 
ingworth,and  .lulia  V.,  now  deceased,  was  the  wife 
of  Kale}'  Rawls. 

After  emigating  to  ]llinuis,Mr.  I'.urr,  Sr.,  located 
in  Randolph  County  where  lie  kept  tavern  for  six 
years.  He  afterward  bought  eighty  acres  of  land 
in  St.  Clair  County  from  a  Mr.  Jones,  and  after 
moving  here  he  entered  all  the  land  that  the  Gov- 
ernment would  allow  him.  He  was  a  great  student 
of  the  political  history  of  our  country,  and,  being 
the  possessor  of  a  good  memory,  was  authority 
among  his  neighbors  and  friends  for  information 
referring  to  matters  of  the  nation  and  (Govern- 
ment. 

After  removing  to  St.  Clair  County,  Cliauncey 
Burr  established  himself  as  a  thorough  farmer  and 
stock-raiser.  In  politics,  he  was  first  a  WJiig  and 
in  his  later  years  his  sympathies  and  support  were 
given  to  the  Republican  party.  He  held  the  office 
of  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  his  township  creditably 
to  himself  and  acceptably  to  the  community.  The 
demise  of  his  wife  in  1871  was  one  of  tlie  saddest 
features  of  his  prosperous  career.  For  some  yeai-s 
previous  to  his  death,  wliidi  (iccuned  in  1877,  he 
retired  f rem  active   life,  and   his  son,  our  subject. 


.*-5i^^WS-5?  *" 


RESIDENCE  OF  JOSEPH    C.  BU  RR  ,5ec.27,  LENZBURG  TP,ST.  CLAIR  CO., ILL 


'-^'rtC",     ; ^-.  j*^  ^^=-— ''    r-^^,.: " ' ' --'-- ' '^    -      ^      \-v?.   ,,     Y 


r .M-.'f^^-^  tm 

L 


-'^-^yi^'-Cv-V- 


RESIDENCE  OF  GEORGE  P.  LI  EBIG,  5EC.12  ,ENGLEMAN   TR,ST.CLA1R   CO., ILL. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


501 


assumed  all  the  care  and  resjwnsibilitv  of  his  fa- 
tlier's  husiness. 

So  much  (if  the  character  is  forcshaihiwcd  in  the 
history  of  one's  ancestors,  that  it  will  luvl  lie  amiss 
to  record  the  fact  lliat  liiis  lirniich  of  the  Ihirr 
family  can  trace  their  descent  to  one  of  the  earliest 
New  Kiirjland  families,  their  ancestors  cominij  to 
the  I'nited  States  in  the  ".Maytlower,"'  wiiich  landed 
at  Plymoutii  Hock.  Aaron  Hurr  was  a  scion  of  the 
same  family  and  the  snhject  of  our  sketcli,  Joseph 
C.  liurr,  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  this  distinguished 
Revolutionary  character. 

\\y  his  economy  and  industry,  .loseph  ('.  lUirr  is 
niiw  the  owner  of  one  of  the  most  attractive 
homes  in  this  coiint\',  both  in  its  external  sur- 
roundings and  in  tlie  liome  life  under  its  roof, 
lie  is  a  man  of  broad  intelligence  and  progreseive 
ideas,  a  practical  and  successful  agriculturist  and 
one  who  in  every  dei)artnient  of  life  fulfills  the 
duties  tliat  lie  before  hiin  in  a  creditable  manner, 
lie  lias  never  married,  his  home  being  presided 
over  liy  his  sister,  a  lady  of  housewifely  skill 
and  many  estimable  traits  of  character.  His 
life  has  exhibited  the  qualities  of  sturdy  man- 
hood, winch  are  certainly  the  heritage  of  estimalilc 
ancestors  as  well  as  tlie  development  of  surround- 
ings, and  laudable  amliition. 


EOlitii-:  P.  I.IKP.K;,  who  owns  a  nne  farm 
^  of  three  hundred  and  seventy-two  acres  on 
\  section  12,  Engelnian  Townsliip,  was  liorn 
on  tlie  .")tli  of  December,  18.3(),  in  IJaltimore,  Md., 
and  is  of  German  descent.  His  father,  Valentine 
Liel)ig,  was  a  native  of  Darmst^ndt,  Germany,  and 
emigrated  to  America  in  183(i.  He  spent  about  a 
year  in  lialtimore,  Md.,  and  tiien  removed  with 
liis  family  to  .St.  I-onis,  where  he  resided  for  a 
year  and  a  half.  W  hen  he  (•■•ime  to  this  eoiinlrv 
he  was  married  and  had  tliree  children.  On  loca- 
ting in  St.  Clair  County,  he  took  up  his  residence 
in  what  is  now  Freebnrg  Township,  wliere  he  pur- 
chased forty  acres  of  land.  This  he  sold  on  re- 
moving to  Kngelman  Township.     In  18-17,  he  pur- 


chased the  farm  <ni  which  our  subject  now  resides, 
and  made  it  his  home  until  1864,  when  he  removed 
to  Mascoulah.  and  there  resided  until  his  death 
in  ISTCi.  His  wife,  who  Ikh-c  the  maiden  name  of 
Klizalieth  Sciiuchmanii,  is  also  deceased.  They 
were  highly  respected  citizens,  widely  and  favor- 
alily  known  in  this  community.  Their  family 
numbered  eight  children,  seven  of  whom  are  yet 
living. 

AVe  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our  siili- 
ject,  who  has  spent  almost  his  entire  life  in  this 
county,  lie  was  reared  tf)  manhood  under  the 
paiiutal  roof,  and  in  the  summer  months  worked 
upon  a  tarni,  while  in  the  winter  season  he  at- 
teiuh'd  the  common  schools,  where  he  acquired  his 
education.  He  remained  at  home  until  his  niai- 
ri.age,  which  w.as  celebrated  on  the  23d  of  April. 
186.'},  Miss  Margaret  Weaver  becoming  his  wife. 
She  is  a  daughtei'  of  Frederick  AVeaver,  who  came 
to  America  when  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  lesided 
in  Clinton  County.  111.,  where  Mrs.  I.u'big 
was  born  and  where  she  spent  her  maidi'ii- 
hood  (lays.  The  young  couple  began  their  domes- 
tic life  upon  his  father's  farm  on  section  i;!.  Kn- 
gelman Township,  wliere  they  spent  about  a  year 
and  a  half,  when,  in  the  autumn  of  I8(i4.  they  re- 
moved to  the  farm  which  has  since  lieen  their 
place  of  residence. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eiebig  jms  been 
blessed  by  the  presence  of  ten  children,  nine  of 
whom  are  3'et  living,  Fred  having  died  at  the  .age 
of  six  months  and  eight  days;  Henry  V.  is  married, 
and  resides  on  section  13,  Kngelman  Township; 
Philip  aids  his  father  in  the  cultivation  of  the 
home  farm;  Lizzie  is  now  the  wife  of  .lohn  Prown, 
a  telegraph  operatfu-  on  the  Ohio  iVr  Mississippi 
Railroad  at  Baden,  111.;  Kmnuu.hilm,  Mary,  Oeorge, 
Annie  and  Susanna  are  still  under  the  parent.-il 
roof. 

As  before  stated,  Mr.  Liebig  owns  a  farm  of 
three  hundred  and  seventy-two  acres,  of  which 
two  hundred  .and  eighty  acres  are  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation.  He  is  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising,  and  the  neat  appearance  of 
his  place  indicates  his  careful  management,  while 
all  the  improvement~s  upon  the  farm  stand  as 
monuments  to  his  thrift  and  enler|)rise.     Socially, 


r,i)-2 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Mr.  Liebig  is  a  IMason.  and  lias  always  taken  an  ac- 
tive interest  in  the  work  of  tliat  fraternity.  lie  is 
also  an  active  member  of  the  Farmers'  Mutual 
Benefit  .Association,  and  was  the  first  Vice-presi- 
dent of  the  first  society  started  in  this  township. 
In  politics,  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  been  honored 
Avith  the  offices  of  School  Director,  School  Trustee 
and  Highway  Commissioner,  which  he  filled  for 
five  years.  Perseverance  and  enterprise  are  among 
his  chief  characteristics,  and  by  good  management 
and  excellent  business  ability  lie  has  won  success  in 
his  life  work. 


€>-^^<^ 


ellARLES  P.  FLEISCHBKIX.  Any  citizen 
* 
of  Belleville  would  speak  of  the  subject  of 
our  sketch  as  one  of  the  most  respected  and 
jirominent  of  her  many  fine  men.  He  deals  exten- 
sively in  fine  imported  wines  and  cigars,  and  does 
a  very  successful  and  flourishing  business. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  this  city  October  22, 
1840,  and  was  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Louisa  (Lutz) 
ileisclibeih.  Jacob  Fleischbein  was  born  in 
Rhenish  Bavaria  and  there  married  Miss  Louisa 
Lutz.  They  came  to  this  county  in  1833,  and 
here  Jacob  engaged  in  farming  at  Shiloh  Val- 
ley, being  among  the  party  who  settled  that 
place.  He  remained  there  but  a  short  time  and 
then  came  to  Belleville  and  established  the  tii'st 
brewery  in  this  vicinity,  it  being  located  near  the 
corner  of  Illinois  and  First  Streets.  Here  he  con- 
tinued until  1855  and  built  up  a  large  trade.  He 
died  in  1856,  leaving  a  widow  and  seven  children. 
They  are:  Catiierine,  widow  of  John  Wilding;  Rosa, 
widow  of  ]M.  Ellernian,of  Chicago;  Louise,  wife  of 
Charles  Becker,  of  this  city;  Fred  II.;  Theodore  O., 
who  is  Deputy  County  Clerk;  and  the  subject  of 
til  is  writing. 

The  latter  was  educated  in  this  city  and  for  a 
time  was  engaged  in  railroad  work.  In  1861,  he 
liecame  one  of  Uncle  Sam's  defenders  and  joined 
Company  D,  Ninth  Illinois  Infantrj'.  He  was  taken 
sick  at  Cairo  and  bi-ought  to  Belleville,  where  he 
remained  until  his  recovery,   when  in  1S62  he   re- 


enlistcd  and  with  Company  F,  Seventh  Illinois  In- 
fantry', was  sent  to  guard  prisoners  at  Camp  Butler 
in  Alton,  and  was  also  employed  in  taking  prison- 
ers to  Vicksburg.  He  served  as  First  Lieutenant  of 
Company  F.  He  was  mustered  out  in  October,  1863, 
and  returned  to  St.  Louis  but  later  went  to  Madison, 
AVis.,  where  he  went  into  business.  He  returned  in 
1872  and  spent  some  time  in  traveling  for  a  St. 
Louis  house  and  for  the  Western  Brewery  Company. 
In  1884  he  first  established  his  present  business 
on  Illinois  Street,  opposite  the  City  Hall,  but  after- 
ward moved  to  East  Main  Street. 

He  has  been  an  active  worker  in  the  Democratic 
party  for  manj^  years,  and  for  fourteen  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Central  Committee  and  is  now  one 
of  the  Executive  Committee  and  Treasurer  of  the 
same.  He  is  a  member  of  the  order  of  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  is  a  member  also  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic. 

Oursubject  was  married  to  Miss  Joanna  Mabry,  of 
this  city,  June  26,  1864.  They  have  four  daughters, 
as  follows:  INIay,  wife  of  Joseph  Ammerman,  of  Leb- 
anon; Sarah,  wife  of  Edgar  Sager,  of  Lebanon; 
Alma  and  Luella. 


REDEHICK  EDWARD  RICHTER,  who  is 
now  living  a  retired  life  in  IMascoutali,  is 
one  of  the  extensive  land-owners  of  the 
county  and  a  self-made  man,  whose  example  is  well 
worthy  of  emulation  and  should  serve  to  encour- 
age others  who,  like  himself,  have  to  begin  life  at 
the  lower  round  of  the  ladder.  A  native  of  Ger- 
many, he  was  born  on  the  4th  of  October,  1825, 
and  when  about  five  years  of  age  removed  to 
Hesse-Darmstadt,  where  he  acquired  Iiis  education, 
lie  was  a  young  man  of  nineteen  years  when,  in 
1844,  he  bade  good-bye  to  home  and  Fatherland 
and  sailed  for  America  in  company  with  a  l)rf>ther, 
sister  and  their  mother.  On  landing  In  this 
country,  they  made  their  way  to  Illinois  and 
located  about  a  mile  and  a  half  'northeast  of  Mas- 
coutah,  where  they  purchased  forty  acres  of  land 
and  a  ten-acre  timl)er  tract.     The    brother,    Louis, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinC'AT.   HF.CORD. 


503 


now  resides  iiortli  of  tlic  city.  The  sister  is  tlie 
widow  of  Arlarii  Stock  and  makes  Iter  liomc  in 
Mascoiitali. 

On  coming  to  tliis  county,  Mr.  Hiciiter  of  tliis 
sketch  worked  in  the  fields  for  a-half  dollar  \wv 
day.  At  that  time  the  farm  produce  was  sent  to 
market  at  St.  Louis,  and  durina;  the  Mexican  War 
they  s^oi  only  about  sixteen  cents  per  bushel  for 
oats.  Our  subject  shared  in  the  hardships  and 
trials  of  pioneer  life  and  is  fiuiiiliar  with  the 
history  of  the  county  from  that  early  day.  lb- 
was  first  married  to  Miss  Mary  Blum,  and  unto  them 
were  born  three  children:  Louis,  who  resides  on 
liis  father's  farm:  Charles,  who  also  carries  on 
.igricultural  pursuits;  .ind  (ieorge,  who  operates 
a  part  of  his  father's  land.  The  mother  of  this 
family  was  called  to  her  final  rest  in  March,  1854, 
and  Mr.  Richter  was  married  in  the  autumn  of 
the  following  year  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Rheinhart, 
daughter  of  Conrad  Rheinhart,  who  resided  in 
Mascoutah  Township,  about  a  mile  south  of  the 
city.  Five  children  graced  this  marriage,  but  the 
first-born  died  in  infancy;  l^hilip,  is  now  living  in 
Mascoutah  Township;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Ernest 
R.  llagist,  a  Inisiness  man  of  this  place;  Lizzie  is 
the  wife  of  Fred  .lustus,  who  is  engaged  in  general 
merchandising  in  Mascout.ah;  and  Matilda  Cather- 
ine, now  the  wife  of  John  Mann.  ;i  resident  farmer 
of  Clinton  County,  111. 

Mr.  Richter  resided  on  the  old  home.stead  until 
186.5,  when  ho  removed  to  a  farm  six  mile.**  north- 
east of  Mascoutah,  there  making  his  home  for  a 
period  of  twelve  years.  On  the  expiration  of  that 
time,  he  bought  a  farm  near  the  old  homestead,  to 
which  be  removed,  eng.aging  in  the  cultivation 
and  improvement  of  his  land  until  about  a  year 
ago,  when,  in  the  latter  jiart  of  .\iigust,  1891,  he  re- 
moved to  the  city  and  h.v  since  lived  a.  retired 
life.  He  now  owns  five  hundred  and  ninety-.seven 
.acres  of  valuable  laniL  all  of  which  is  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation,  with  the  exception  of  his 
timber  tracts.  This  yields  to  him  an  excellent  in- 
come. 

Mr.  Richter  is  a  nienil)er  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  is  Presi<lent  of  its  Hoard  of  Trustees,  Ins 
always  been  an  active  worker  in  the  church,  and  is 
one  of   its  liberal  supporters.     In  politics,  he  is  a 


Rejinblican.  and  for  fire  years  served  as  Supervisor 
of  his  township.  He  was  School  Director  for  many 
years,  and  the  cause  of  education  finds  in  him  a 
warm  friend.  His  life  h.is  been  a  busy  and  useful 
one.  He  came  to  this  country  empty-handed,  but 
depending  on  his  own  resources,  he  has  steadily 
worked  his  way  upward,  overcoming  all  the  ditti- 
ciilties  and  obstacles  in  his  path,  and  making  his 
way  gradually  to  a  position  of  wealth  and  af- 
llncneo.  lie  is  now  enjoying  a  well-earned  lest. 
surrounded  by  all  the  comforts  of  life,  which  he 
has  won  through  his  well-directed  efforts.  He  is  one 
of  the  prominent  citizens  of  the  county,  a  man 
widely  and  favorably  known,  and  one  of  its  early 
settlers,  who  for  almost  half  a  century  has  wit- 
nessed its  progress  and  upbuilding. 


F.  MKIKLMANN.      •nii> 


'ntlcni.-iii     IS 


[\  one  of  the  rising  merchants  of  Darmstadt, 
.St.  Clair  County.  His  first  .ac(|uaiiitaiice 
with  this  mundane  sphere  began  in  St. 
Louis.  Mo.,  in  the  year  1861.  He  is  a  descendant  of 
an  old  respected  (Jerman  familj%  and  came  to  his 
])resent  locatif)n  when  he  was  twenty-three  years 
old,  settling  here  .and  entering  into  mercantile  life 
with  suflicient  vim  and  energ}-  to  found  a  business 

i  of  which  he  is  to-day  the  successful  proprietor. 
Rev.  .lolin  H.  Metelmann.  father  of  our  subject. 
was  born  in  Mecklenburg.  (Jermauy.  in  IMI. 
He  was  a  prominent  man  in  the  part  of  the  comiliy 
where  he  lived,  .and  was  called  on  to  reiiresent  liis 
district  in  Congress.  Honest,  firm  and  unyielding 
in  his  views,  the  dark  days  of  the  revolution  ne- 
cessitiited  his  leaving  bis  native  land  and  fieeing 
to  the  shores  of  this  new  and  more  Democratic 
country.  .Jcjlin  H.  Metelmann  was  a  very  highly 
educated  man,  he  having  been  a  student  at  the 
noted  schools  of  Sweeriu  and  Ludwiglust.  His 
political  career  ended  with  his  exile  from  hisnative 
land,  and  after  .settling  in  the  Cnitcd  States  he 
adopted  the  ministry  as  his'choseit  profession  and 

I  life  work.     He  espoused  the   Lutheran   creed   and 


504 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


was  known  during  his  life  as  an  earnest  and  devout 
exponent  of  the  life  and  principles  of  the  founder 
of  his  church.  His  most  successful  pastoi  ate  was  that 
(>{  the  Lutheran  Cliurch,  at  Highland,  111.,  where 
lie  preached  the  Gospel  for  thirteen  successive  years, 
organizing  a  church,  and  building  up  a  community 
which  to-da}'  bears  evidence  of  his  ability  as  a 
scholar,  and  as  the  pastor  of  a  people  who  ajjpre- 
ciated  his  efforts  in  their  behalf  and  recognized  in 
him  a  help  and  counselor  to  the  community. 

Our  subject's  father  was  married  in  his  native 
land  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Hanke,  and  to  them  were 
born  five  children,  only  one  of  whom  survives, 
namel}-  Mrs.  Mar^-  Bush,  wife  of  .Jacob  Bush,  who 
is  Master  JSIachinist  in  the  siiops  of  the  Chicago, 
Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  Company  at  Keokuk, 
Iowa.  His  first  wife  dying  in  Germany,  Rev.  Mr. 
Melelmsinn  was  again  married,  this  time  to  Emma 
Karlsburg,  daughter  of  Carl  and  Elizabetli  (Ratul- 
fia)  Karlsburg,  and  to  them  were  born  five  children, 
tliree  of  whom  are  yet  living:  Paul  A.,  general  man- 
ager of  a  large  wholesale  establishment  in  St.  Louis; 
Louisa,  wife  of  William  Popp,  of  Biddleborn,  111.; 
and  M.  F.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Mr.  M.  F.  Mctelmann  beg.in  the  career  for  which 
nature  intended  him  at  the  age  of  fourteen.  At  vari- 
ous periods  of  his  early  boyhood,  he  held  positions 
as  newsboy  and  clerk  in  a  store.  Such  were  the  fields 
in  which  he  sought  to  gain  his  future  fortune.  He 
moved  to  his  present  location  from  Highland  in  the 
year  1879,  and  then  opened  a  general  store  in  a 
small  w.ay.  Prudence,  industry,  economy  and  thrift 
have  ever  characterized  his  undertakings,  and  the 
growth  of  his  small  business  enterprise  ought  cer- 
tainly to  be  a  source  of  pleasure  to  Mr.  Metelmaun, 
as  he  looks  back  over  the  years  and  views  in 
memory  his  small  starting  point. 

The  niarriiige  of  Mr.  Metelmaun  took  place  in 
1.SH4.  his  wife  Ijeing  Miss  Margaret  Schaeferle, 
daughter  of  George  and  Anna  (Keim)  Schaeferle, 
and  one  of  seven  children.  Mr.  Mctelmann  has  by 
liis  own  work  and  perseverance  made  a  place  among 
the  solid  business  firms  in  this  community,  and  if  the 
prosperity  of  coming  years  increases  in  proportion 
to  that  of  the  years  he  has  already  passed  in  busi- 
ness, St.  Clair  County  will  have  good  cause  to  be 
proud  of  this  enterprising  merchant.     He  now  car- 


ries a  full  line  of  merchandise,  which  as  standing 
stock  will  invoice  in  the  neighborhood  of  !!i6,000 
or  I^TiOOO.  Having  achieved  so  much,  and  being 
able  to  enjoy  always  the  confidence  and  respect  of 
his  neighbors  and  patrons,  Mr.  Mctelmann  will  un- 
doubtedly soon  reach  the  goal  of  his  iiigliest  am- 
bition. 


/-RANK  GUNDLACH.  The  original  of  the 
following  sketch  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Gundlacii,  Gauch  &  Muren,  prominent  in 
the  livery  and  undertaking  business  in  the  city  of 
Belleville.  Their  place  of  business  is  located  at 
the  corner  of  A  and  High  Streets,  where  they  oc- 
cupy 60x16(1  feet. 

The  father  of  our  sul)ject  was  Philip  (Jundlach, 
of  German  birth,  who  came  to  Belleville  in  1844, 
and  first  engaged  in  farming;  he  then  went  into  the 
malt  and  brewery  business,  and  later  conducted  a 
grocer}'  business;  he  finally  returned  to  farming  in 
Carlyle,  Clinton  County,  III. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Josephine  Wcin- 
gartner,  a  daughter  of  an  old  settler  here.  She  was 
born  in  Germany,  came  here  about  the  same  time  as 
her  husband,  and  now  lives  at  Carlyle.  They  reared 
a  family  of  eight  children,  as  follows:  Henry,  de- 
ceased; Frank  and  Mary;  Katie,  wife  of  Thomas 
Sharp,  of  Clinton  County;  Josie.  deceased;  Anna, 
wife  of  Ralph  Hirschfield,  of  Clinton  County;  E<1- 
ward,  and  F^lla.  Our  subject  was  educated  in  tlie 
public  schools  of  this  city,  after  which  lie  settled 
in  Clinton  County:  he  there  learned  the  trade  of 
carriage-smith,  worked  at  that  until  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  and  then  went  on  his  father's  farm 
for  seven  years. 

After  this  Mr.  (Jundiach  went  into  the  undertak- 
ing and  furniture  business  in  Carlyle,  and  carried 
that  on  for  three  years,  and  then  came  to  Belle- 
ville to  enter  this  firm.  It  w.as  first  started  as 
Gundlach  &  Gauch,  and  continued  successfully  un- 
til March  23,  1892,  when  Frank  C.  Muren  was  ad- 
mitted, and  now  it  is  the  most  complete  establish- 
ment of  its  kind  in  the  southern  part  of  Illinois. 
They  deal  in  all  kinds  of  metallic  and  rosewood  cas- 


^ 


/-<L 


PORTKAIT  AND  BlOGKAl'lIICAL  RPX'ORD. 


507 


kets,  patent  and  walnut  coffins,  and  also  in  all  kinds 

of  tiimmins^s,  shrouds,  etc.  In  the  livery  business, 
tliey  have  twenty-live  horses,  besides  veliieles  of  all 
kinds — landiius,  eiirriages,  w:it;ons,  hearses  and 
everythinjj  thai  tlieir  extensive  business  requires. 
'I'he  head  of  the  lirm  is  a  ])raetical  einbalmer,  liav- 
mg  received  instructions  in  common  and  arterial 
eml)alming  under  Sullivan,  and  can  take  entire 
cliarge  of  bodies,  giving  tlie  best  of  satisfaction,  and 
preserving  the  lieloved  features  often  absolutely 
lifelike.  Our  subject  was  married  Jlay  1,  188',l,  to 
Jliss  Pauline  Ganz.  the  daughter  of  .lolin  Ganz,  of 
C'arlyle,  111.  .She  was  born  in  Belleville,  Jlarcli 
23.  18.51).  and  removed  to  C'arlyle  in  186(1.  Mr. 
Ciundlach  h.as  made  a  success  of  his  business  by 
close  attention  to  it.  lie  began  without  means, 
but  now  is  one  of  tlie  wealthy  biisines.--  men  of 
Belleville. 


^!^il-^"i^if^#!#;i^^ 


]l EKMAN  SUKMNICIIT.     The  Hne  farm  that 

injijresses  the  traveler  .so  favorably  on  sec- 
tion 11,  New  Athens  Township,  belongs  to 
the  gentleman  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch.  Tlie  father  of  our  subject  was  Frederick 
Suemnicht,  a  Prussian  by  birth,  who  was  born  in 
1818,  and  married  in  his  native  country.  He  came 
to  America  in  ISoK.  and  located  in  the  State  of 
AVisconsiu,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  and  re- 
mained until  18,')!t.  At  that  time  he  came  to  St. 
Clair  County.  111.,  .'uid  located  (ni  Turkey  Hill, 
where  others  of   his  nationality  had  settled. 

After  remaining  there  for  three  years,  Mr.  Sueni- 
niclit  went  to  Ingham  Township,  St.  Clair  County, 
■•uid  there  lesided  until  18(!7,  when  he  icnioved  to 
this  place.  His  death  occurred  lieii^  in  IST-'i.  lie 
left  a  family  of  four  childii'M.  three  of  whom  are 
yet  living,  namely:  Guslaviis.  who  lives  in  New 
Athens,  this  count\  :  Louisa,  who  Is  the  wife  of 
Dr.  Saltemberger.  a  physician  at  Millstadt.  III.:  and 
our  subject.  Born  l'"cliiunry  "in,  LSI  I,  in  Prus>in. 
(iermany,  lleniiaii  Sueiniiicht  w;is  eleven  years  old 
when  he  acco'iipanied  his  father  to  this  county. 
His   marriage   took   place   in   tUe  year    1873,   to 


Miss  Lisette  Saltemberger,  of  this  county.  Af- 
ter this  important  event  he  located  on  the  i)laee 
where  he  has  lived  ever  since,  lie  has  seen  hon- 
orable service  in  the  army,  and  was  a  member  of 
Company  B,  Ninth  Illinois  Infantry.  In  October, 
lS(;-2.  he  was  uinstered  out  of  the  army  on  account 
of  wounds  received  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh.  He 
w;is  in  the  thickest  of  that  terrible  fight,  and  also 
took  [>Avi  in  the  battle  of  Ft.  Donelson,  and  for 
bravery  there  he  was  promoted  to  be  a  Coiporal. 
On  that  bloody  ground  hiscoiiipany  left  a  lieuten- 
ant and  several  corporals. 

Five  children  were  born  to  Mv.  and  Mrs.  Suem- 
nicht,  namely:  Mar}',  William,  Bertha,  Alvin  and 
Lizzie.  The  devoted  wife  and  mother  departed 
this  life  February  19,  1890.  The  family  occupies 
a  high  position  socially,  and  its  members  are  prom- 
inent in  their  eommunity. 

One  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  all  well 
improved  and  cultivated,  comprise  the  homestead 
where  Mr.  Suenmicht  and  his  family  live  in  com- 
fort. He  carries  on  general  farming,  and  may 
justly  be  classed  among  the  most  prosperous  resi- 
dents of  the  county.  He  has  served  his  district  as 
School  Director,  and  takes  great  interest  in  all  im- 
provements. In  politics,  he  atliliated  with  the  Re- 
publican jiarty  until  1872.  and  since  then  has  sup- 
ported  the  piinciples  of  Democracy. 


!^',  F,0R(;K  P..  M.C.  ROtiKRS.  The  Kxcelsior 
11  (— -,  p'oundry  Company,  which  was  incor()orated 
^^Jj!  .lanuarv  1.  1892,  witii  a  capital  stock  of 
"sKl.OdO,  lias  for  its  officers  E.  P.Rogers,  Presi- 
dent, and  George  I>.  MeC.  Rogers,  Secretary  and 
rrea>nr<T.  This  enterprise  was  establislu'd  on  the 
Is]  of  .laiuiary,  1891,  under  the  firm  name  of  Rog- 
ers I'.ros..  at  Thii'd  South  and  Spring  Streets,  cov- 
erini;-  one-fourth  of  a  block.  They  have  one 
furnace,  and  melt  abtnit  live  tons  per  day,  iiianii- 
facturing  country  hollowwaie  and  general  cast- 
ings. They  give  employment  to  a  force  of  about 
thirty    men,  three-fourtUs   of    wUom   are  skilled 


508 


PORTRAIT  A'ST)  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD, 


workmen,  thus  making  a  pay  roll  of  from  $1,200 
to  11,300  per  month.  The  work  turned  out  by 
this  founrlry  is  always  flrst-elass,  and  enjoys  a 
reputation  for  the  superiority  of  its  materials  and 
excellence  of  workmanship.  This  high  standard  is 
obtained  b}'  close  supervision  over  all  the  details 
of  manufacture. 

(ieorge  IS.  McC.  Rogers  first  saw  tlie  light  of  day 
in  Hamilton,  Ohio,  on  the  10th  of  September,  1862, 
and  is  a  son  of  Robert  and  Laura  (Fairchild)  Rog- 
ers, the  former  a  native  of  Ireland,  hoiu  in  .Inly, 
1834,  and  the  latter  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  burn  in 
1  S'M.  The  elder  Mr.  Rogers,  although  a  native  of  the 
green  isle  of  Erin,  was  of  Scotch  origin,  and  while 
growing  up  learned  the  moulder's  trade  of  his  fa- 
ther, William  Rogers,  who  was  a  foundryman.  He 
was  but  three  years  of  age  when  he  came  with  his 
parents  to  the  States,  and  was  reared  in  Hanover, 
Ind.,  whither  his  parents  had  removed.  In  the 
year  1856,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Fiirchild,  and 
after  his  marriage  began  working  at  the  foundry 
business  in  both  Cincinnati  and  Hamilton.  In 
March,  1876,  he  came  to  Belleville,  III.,  and  here 
established  the  first  foundry  in  the  city.  This 
subseciuently  became  known  as  the  Rogers  Foun- 
dry and  Stove  Works,  and  at  its  incorporation  he 
was  President  until  selling  out  on  the  1st  of  Jan- 
uary, 1892.  After  selling  out,  he  established  the 
Standard  Foundry  Company  for  the  manufacture 
of  stoves  near  the  Louisville  &  Nashville  Passenger 
Depot.  He  is  one  of  the  representative  business 
men  of  tlie  city,  and  is  thoroughly  alive  to  all  en- 
terprises of  moment.  He  has  held  the  office  of 
Alderman,  and  has  filled  other  positions  of  trust. 
His  wife  is  still  living.  To  their  union  were  born 
six  cluldren,  wlio  are  as  follows:  Eddy,  Presi- 
dent of  the  present  company;  George  B.  McC; 
Charles  G.,  with  the  Standard  Company;  Robert 
D.,  Jr.,  formerly  with  the  Rogers  Foundry  Company 
but  now  with  the  Cairo  Short  Line  Railroad;  Ida, 
wife  of  Samuel  Hyde,  Sedalia,  Mo.;  and  Bessie  J. 
Mr.  Rogers  is  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen,  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

Eddy  Hogeis  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  on 
the  27th  of  May,  1860,  and  secured  good  educa- 
tional advantages  in  Indianapolis  and  C'incinnjili. 
Later,  lie  learne<l  iirn.'Unenta;  plastering  and  decora- 


ting, and  then  the  moulding  and  foundry  busi- 
ness with  his  father  and  an  uncle  at  Erie,  Pa.  He 
was  Superintendent  of  the  Rogers'  Foundry  and 
Stove  Company  from  its  organization  until  Janu- 
ary 1,  1891,  a  period  of  twelve  years,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  two  years,  when  he  was  engaged  in  tlie 
same  business  in  St.  Louis.  He  was  married  to 
Miss  Lillie  Bauman,  daughter  of  G.  F.  Baumaii,  of 
Belleville,  in  the  year  1881,  December  15,  and  two 
children  liave  blessed  this  union,  Harry  Eddy  and 
Frnnk  1'..  Mr.  Rogers  is  a  memljer  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  and  an  attendant  and  supporter  of  the 
Presbyteiian  Ciiurch. 

(ieorge  B.  .McC.  Rogers  was  educated  in  Cincin- 
nati and  Indianapolis,  and  attended  the  Bryant  and 
Stratton  Business  College  at  St.  Louis.  Later,  he 
entered  the  found.ry  and  learned  the  whole  busi- 
ness by  serving  his  time.  Afterward,  he  entered 
the  office  as  Secretary,  and  continued  to  fill  lliat  po- 
sition until  they  sold  out.  Tlien,  with  his  lirotlier, 
he  cstai)lished  the  business  here.  He  isa  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  is  an  exemplary  and 
much  esteemed  young  man,  both  in  a  business  and 
social  point  of  view.  He  was  married  on  the  1st 
of  December,  1885,  to  Miss  Anna  E.  Rentchler, 
daughter  of  J.  B  Rentchler,  and  this  union  has 
been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  one  child,  (leorgianna 
Rentcliler.  Mr.  Rogers,  like  his  brother,  shows  a 
decided  liking  for  secret  organizations,  and  is  a 
jNIason  and  a  Knight  of  Pythias. 


-^ 


OAPT.  FREDERICK  DILG.  Tlie  subject  of 
,  this  sketch  resides  in  the  city  of  Ma.scoutah, 
^_  '  St.  Clair  County,  111.  He  is  the  son  of 
-lolin  Nicholas  Dilg,  who  was  born  in  the  same 
|)lace  tliat  afterward  became  the  birthplace  of  his 
son,  Bolanden,  in  (Germany,  and  was  an  inhabi- 
tant of  that  place  when  his  marriage  with  Miss 
Catherine  Ilowenstein  was  solemnized.  Her  birtli 
occurred  at  this  place  June  24.  1806,  and  after  she 
liad  iH'conic  tlie  happy  nmtlier  of  four  children 
slie  agreed  with  her  hiisluinil  th;it  America  would 
be   the   best    phu-e    in  wliich  Miev  could  make  their 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


509 


home  and  give  their  offspring  a  proper  start  in 
life.  Therefore,  in  1845,  the  father,  mother  and 
four  children  made  the  lonf?  journey,  and  finally 
reached  tlii.s  county,  and  here  located  one  and 
one-half  miles  south  of  Mascoutah,  where  the 
family  lived  until  1852,  when  they  moved  into 
Mascoutah  and  the  father  went  into  the  manufac- 
ture of  liriiU.  lie  h.'id  liccn  a  carpenter  in  Ger- 
manv.  IhU  nnw  fullouid  the  luick-making  trade 
until  18ti2,aud  in   I.^TU  lie  mkivimI  to  New  York. 

All  three  of  his  >ous  were  luavc  soldiers  during 
the  Civil  War.  (leorgc  riiiii|i  was  in  Texas  at 
the  breaking  out  of  the  war  and  was  forced  into 
the  Confederate  service,  but  he  managed  to  escape 
and  join  a  Union  cavalry  regiment.  He  is  now 
living  in  Williamson  County,  111.,  and  is  engaged 
in  farming  there.  Nicholas  was  in  an  artillery 
regiment  of  Missouri  Volunteers,  and  both  he  and 
his  brother  were  warrant  otticers  during  the  war. 
Nicholas  died  in  1809.  Katlieriiu^  is  the  wife  of 
John  Arndt,  of  this  city. 

Our  subject  was  born  February  3,  1810,  in  Bo- 
landen,  German^-,  and  was  five  years  old  when 
he  came  to  this  country.  He  grew  to  manhood 
here  in  Mascoutah  and  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  this  place.  In  1856,  he  w.as  apprenticed  to  learn 
the  drug  business  in  Belleville,  111.,  where  he  re- 
mained until  185;t. 

On  the  1st  of  .lune,  18G(t,  a  paper  was  started 
in  Mascoutah  called  the  Neica-Lf'tlcr,  on  which 
our  subject  set  the  first  type.  At  the  close  of 
lliat  year  the  Ken: s- Letter  was  consolidated  with 
the  Belleville  Advocate,  and  our  subject  remained 
with  the  new  paper  until  President  Lincoln  issued 
his  call  for  seventy-five  thousand  patriots,  when 
he  volunteered  and  joined  Company  I),  Ninth  Illi- 
nois Infantiy,  the  regiment  known  to  history  as  the 
'•Bloody  Ninth."'  He  leniained  n  p;irt  of  this 
regiment  until  the  close  of  the  war,  an<l  wa>  nni>- 
tered  out  of  the  service  .Inly  Hi.  18(i5.  This  regi- 
ment was  in  one  hundred  and  ten  battles,  and 
some  of  the  most  bloody  struggles  of  the  war. 

Our  subject  was  with  Shei'man  on  his  march  to 
the  sea  and  up  through  the  Carolin.as,  and  was  in 
the  triumphal  pai'ade  in  Washington  on  Pennsyl- 
vania ,\ venue  at  the  close  of  the  long  season  of 
strife.      The    regiment    was    i-e-eniisted    in     18G2, 


and  did  both  infantry   and   cavalry   duty.     Our 

subject  was  appointed  Corporal  at  Cairo.  111.,  and 
was  promoted  again  at  Paducah,  Ky.,  to  the  raidv 
of  Sergeant,  and  while  the  siege  of  Atlanta  was 
going  on  he  was  made  First  Lieutenant,  lie  wa> 
close  to  the  spot  where  the  brave  McPherson  was 
killed.  The  Captain  of  his  company  was  killed 
in  the  swainps  of  .Soutli  Carolina  in  February, 
1 8(55,  and  he  w.as  then  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Captain,  remaining  with  that  rank  until  llie 
close  of  the  war.  lie  was  in  tiie  battles  of  Ft. 
Donelson,  Sliiloli,  the  siege  and  battle  of  Corinth. 
and  the  battle  of  .Ulanta,  and  also  in  front  of 
Savannah,  (in. 

No  doubt  one  of  the  proudest  nionients  in  the 
life  of  this  hero  was  when  he  was  shown  a  mark 
of  ap|)rcciation  and  affection  in  Louisville,  Ky., 
.Inne  27,  1865.  As  a  token  of  the  high  regard 
in  which  he  was  held,  the  members  of  Capt.  Uilg's 
company  presented  him  with  a  handsome  sword 
with  appropriate  ceremonies  to  commemorate  the 
occasion.  This  gift  is  among  his  most  precious 
possessions,  and  will  be  kept  as  an  heirloom  of 
priceless  value  to  hand  down  to  future  gcncia- 
tions. 

Immediately  after  peace  had  .settled  over  the 
land  again,  Capt.  Dilg  came  home  and  opened 
a  book  and  stationery  store  in  Mascoutah  in 
August.  1865,  and  followed  it  until  .June  1, 
18611,  when  he  w.as  appointed  I'ostmaster  of  the 
town.  .\t  this  time  he  connected  a  job  print- 
ing office  with  his  business,  and  in  1876  he  es- 
tablished the  Ma.scoutah  Anzeiger.  This  paper  he 
soil]  out  in  .lune,  1889,  but  it  is  still  conducted 
iiv  olhei'  parties,  who  also  run  the  store,  lie  was 
Postmaster  from  1869  until  the  Cleveland  admin- 
istration, and  was  re-appointed  in  Max.  1889, 
uniler  the  Harrison  administration. 

Till'  marriage  of  Ca|)l.  Dilg  took  place  in  .June, 
1868,  when  he  wedded  Miss  So[)hia  Hauser,  the 
daughter  of  Frederick  Hau.scr,  of  .St.  Louis,  and 
eight  children  have  been  added  to  the  family,  of 
whom  seven  are  still  living,  viz<  Eugene,  who  is 
attending  college  at  Jacksonville,  III.;  Lilli  L., 
Theodore,  Fred,  Rosamond,  Pearl  and  Elma.  .\1- 
fre<l  died  In   187.S. 

Our  snlijecl  is  a  [lopular  nu'uiliei-  of  the   Knighls 


510 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  Honor,  and  is  also  Senior  Post  Commander  of 
Mascoiitah  Post  No.  682,  G.  A.  R.  Politicall}', 
Capt.  Dilg  is  a  strong  Republican  and  ver3'  fear- 
lessly speaks  his  mind.  Socially,  he  is  a  favorite, 
as  his  generous  impulses  and  his  genial  manners 
in  society  win  him  regard,  as  they  cemented  the 
affections  of  the  veterans  of  war  times.  His  ac- 
complished wife  assists  him  in  all  the  duties  which 
fall  to  his  share  as  a  puhlic  man,  and  in  the  town 
of  their  residence  none  are  more  highly  regarded. 


**^=^*i^;@'@e'i| 


'![_    ENRY    AVAGNEH.       Numerous    instances 

rj]  might  be  cited  of  men  in  St.  Clair  County 
i^^^   who,   by   dint  of    persevering  application 

(j^;  and  energj^  have  risen  from  a  position  of 
|)overty  to  one  of  usefulness  and  influence.  They 
furnish  proofs  of  cheerful,  honest  labor,  and  a 
zealous  determination  to  make  the  most  of  every 
advantage  offered.  Among  this  class  of  successful 
men,  mention  belongs  to  the  gentleman  with 
whose  name  we  introduce  this  sketch,  and  who  is 
well  known  as  a  prominent  farmer  of  Marissa 
Township. 

In  tracing  the  lineage  of  our  subject,  we  find 
that  his  grandfather  was  John  Peter  Wagner,  who 
was  born,  reared  and  passed  his  entire  life  in  (Tcr- 
many,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  linen- 
weaver,  although  his  principal  occupation  through- 
out life  was  that  of  a  farmer.  The  father  of  our 
subject,  Henry  Wagner,  was  reared  on  the  home 
farm,  and  early  in  life  gained  a  thorough  knowl- 
edge of  agricultural  pursuits,  which  he  followed 
during  the  most  of  his  active  life.  By  trade  la- 
was  a  linen-weaver,  but  never  devoted  much  time 
to  that  occupation.  .He  never  left. his  native  land, 
but  there  closed  his  e^yes  to  the  scenes  of  earth  in 

1843,  when  in  the  prime  of  his  useful  and  honor- 
able life.  His  marriage,  which  united  liiin  with 
Jliss  Anna  M.  Kern,  resulted  in  the  birth  of  ten 
children,  two  sons  and  eight  daughters,  of  whom 

Henry  and  two  sisters  are  now  the  only  sui\iving 
nicmbers. 

Jioru  iu  Germany  iu  is3u,  Henry  Wagner  vvas 


there  reared  to  a  sturd.y  manhood,  receiving  his 
education  in  the  excellent  schools  of  that  country. 
In  his  youth  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  shoemaker, 
but  after  coming  to  the  United  States  did  not 
actively  engage  in  that  occupation.  Having  re- 
solved to  seek  a  home  m  America,  where  better 
advantages  were  offered  to  the  poor,  he  emigrated 
hither  in  1854,  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  and 
came  at  once  to  St.  Clair  County,  where  he  settled 
on  a  portion  of  his  present  farm.  His  means  were 
quite  limited  and  it  was  only  after  great  exertions 
and  ceaseless  economy  that  he  was  enabled  to  pur- 
chase and  improve  his  estate.  He  is  now  the 
owner  of  a  splendid  farm  consisting  of  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty-eight  acres  of  as  fine  land  as  is  to  be 
found  in  Marissa  Townsliii),  and  upon  the  i)lace  he 
has  erected  the  necessery  buildings  and  made  first- 
class  improvements. 

The  lady,  who  on  March  6,  1860,  became  the 
wife  of  Mr.  Wagner,  was  Miss  Anna  Mary, 
daughter  of  Peter  and  Cornelia  Steinheimer,  and 
unto  them  have  been  born  the  following-named 
children:  Anna  Maggie,  whose  marriage  to 
Michael  Triefebach  occurred  September  14,  1886, 
has  one  child,  Michael,  two  years  of  age;  Henry, 
Adam,  Anna;  Peter,  George,  Conrad  and  Katie 
are  all  deceased.  Henry,  who  resides  with  his 
father  and  superintends  the  home  farm,  was  mar- 
ried in  1889  to  Miss  Katie,  daughter  of  Charles 
and  Katie  Rice,  and  they  have  Itecome  the  parents 
of  two  children.  Michael  being  the  only  one  now 
living. 

The  Lutheran  Church  finds  in  Mr.  Wagner  a 
devoted  and  consistent  member,  and  all  religious 
enterprises  receive  his  hearty  sui)i)oit.  In  his 
political  connections,  he  is  a  Democrat  and  is 
numbered  among  the  influential  members  of  that 
party  in  Marissa  Township.  His  fellow-citizens 
have  elected  liini  to  various  positions  of  trust  and 
honor,  and  he  has  alw.ays  served  with  credit  to 
himself  and  to  the  s.atisfaction  of  all  concerned. 
For  six  years  he  filled  the  jjosition  of  Highway 
Coniinissioncr  ,ind  for  eighteen  j^ears  served  as 
School  Director  in  his  district.  The  respect  .ac- 
corded liiin  by  his  children,  in  whose  esteem  and 
affection  lie  enjoys  the  solace  given  after  years  of 
toil  for  their  welfare,  and  the  couUdeiice  which  he 


yoj^AA^^-4ij^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  ]510GRAPinCAL   RECORD. 


513 


inspires  in  all  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact,  all 
prove  that  St.  Clair  County  lias  in  him  a  citizen 
of  wliom  it  may  be  justly  snid  tliiit  he  is  a  credit 
to  the  conununitv  in  whicli  hi'  lives. 


/^.  IIAKI.KS  KAKMl'KR.  a  i)<>i>ul:ir  and  ener- 
/ll'^  getic  citizen  of  Millstadl  Township,  was 
^^  born  in  Monroe  County.  111.,  in  ISoC.  In 
the  county  of  his  birth  lie  was  reared  to  mature 
years  witliin  the  iionie  of  his  parents,  Frederick 
and  Katharine  (.Schroeder)  Kaemper.  In  the  dis- 
trict .schools  the  fundamental  principle.^  of  his 
education  were  accjuired,  and  afterward  he  pursued 
his  studies  at  the  Central  Wesleyan  College,  at 
AVarrenton.  Mo.,  where  he  applied  himself  with 
great  diligence  to  the  acipiiremcnt  of  knowledge. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  Mr.  Kaemper 
removed  from  Monroe  County  to  St.  Clair  County 
and  settled  uiion  the  place  which  is  still  his  home. 
Mc  has  never  married,  but  makes  his  home  with 
his  mother.  His  landed  possessions  consist  of  three 
tine  farms  in  Monroe  County,  which  he  rents,  and 
which  are  among  the  most  valuable  estates  of  that 
countv.  .V  man  of  broad  intelligence  and  general 
information,  he  is  always  interested  in  the  issues, 
both  national  and  local,  before  the  people  of  to-day, 
and  is  identified  with  many  progressive  measures 
on  behalf  of  his  coinmuiiitv. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  Frederick  Kaemper, 
was  born  in  Prussia.  (Jcrmany.  m  18-24.  Of  his 
earlv  life  wi'  ku<iw  little,  but  his  iiarents  must  have 
lieen  wise  and  kincl:  (Jtherwise,  their  son  wouhl  not 
have  displayed  the  traits  of  character  which  render 
his  memory  dear  tohissurvivingrelatives.  In  lnt.'i. 
having  reached  the  age  of  twenty  years,  he  emi- 
grated to  .\merica,  and,  after  landing,  proceeded 
directly  to  Illinois  and  .settled  in  Monroe  County. 
By  industry  and  thrift  he  became  the  owner  of 
considerable  land  in  that  county,  where  he  re- 
mained engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  for  twen- 
ty-two years. 

AI>oul  ten  years  after   cinigraling    to   America, 

24 


Frederick  Kaemper  married  Miss  Katharine  Schroe- 
der.  Her  father,  Renke  Scbroeder,  was  horn  in 
Oldenburg,  Germany,  and  emigrated  to  America  in 
1844.  where  he  located  near  Waterloo,  111.,  his  farm 
being  near  that  of  Mr.  Kaemper.  The  father  of 
our  subject  was  a  member  of-the  Evangelical  Church, 
and  is  still  remembered  as  a  valued  and  active 
worker  in  that  denomination.  His  death  occurred 
July  2,  1876,  and  was  regarded  as  a  public  loss  by 
his  fellow-citizens  generally. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  a  second  time 
married,  becoming  the  wife  of  Charles  F.  Kaemper, 
a  brother  of  Frederick,  her  former  husband.  This 
gentleman  had  previously  been  married  to  Miss 
Sehaefer,  who  died  in  1872,  leaving  eight  children, 
five  of  whom  are  now  living,  viz.:  Henry,  Charles 
('..  (ieorge  and  Fred,  who  live  in  Franklin  County, 
and  Philip,  who  resides  in  St.  Clair  County. 
Charles  F.  Kaemper,  who  died  in  1884,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Germany,  and  for  many  years  resided 
in  section  31.  Millstadt  Township.  Hy  his  .second 
marriage,  he  became  the  father  of  one  child,  Ida, 
who  is  at  home.  The  mother  of  our  subject  is  the 
owner  of  a  finely-improved  and  highly-cultivated 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  from  the 
rental  of  which  she  receives  a  good  income. 


/VvA  .VRV  ANN  S(  HMI.SSEIR.  The  name  th.il 
///  \l  opens  this  sketch  is  that  of  one  of  the 
/  J  wealthiest  ladies  in  the  State.  She  occu- 
'  pies  tnie  of  the   finest    and    largest   resi- 

dences in  Sdulhern  Illinois  outside  of  a  city,  and 
is  suiiounded  li.\  I'veiy  comfort  that  money  can 
procure.  The  home  place  contains  six  hundred 
and  ttu  acics  of  land,  and  the  mansion  is  sur- 
louniled  by  extensive  and  beautiful  grounds. 

.Mrs.  Sehmisseur  is  a  native  of  Lorraine,  Fiance, 
having  been  born  in  thai  country  in  1820,  but 
cauie  to  .Vmerica  with  hi'r  iiaients  when  she  was 
only  ten  years  v\d,  so  is  essentially  an  American. 
The  family  landed  in  New  Orleans  and  settled  in 
French  \illage  near  East  St.  Louis,  where  the  father 
and  mother  dicit.     When  our    subject  was  twenty 


514 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


years  old  she  became  the  bride  of  Nicholas  Louis, 
who  died  in  1850.  By  this  marriage  she  became 
the  mother  of  six  children,  two  of  whom  are 
living,  namely:  Margaret,  wife  of  George  "Bauer, 
a  resident  of  Clinton;  and  Nicholas  Louis,  a  resi- 
dent on  a  farm  adjoining  that  of  his  mother. 

In  1853,  Mrs.  Louis  married  John  N.  Schmis- 
seur,  who  was  born  in  Toulon,  France,  in  1814, 
and  who  died  in  1863.  By  tiiis  husband  :Mrs. 
Sclimisseur  became  the  happy  mother  of  four 
children,  three  sotis  and  one  daughter:  The 
eldest  resides  with  his  beloved  mother  on  the 
home  place.  Helena  is  wife  of  Peter  Voellinger,  a 
farmer  living  near  Reed's  Station,  in  this  town- 
ship. Mary  Ann,  wife  of  Anton  Pfeiffer,  resides 
near  O'Fallon  and  has  a  family  of  six  children. 
Mary,  is  the  wife  of  .loseph  Rich,  a  merchant  in 
O'Fallon. 

Mrs.  Schmisseur  is  a  very  wealthy  person,  own- 
ing eighteen  hundred  acres  of  fine  land,  worth 
1100  an  aero.  Although  possessing  so  much  prop- 
erty, she  is  a  very  modest  and  pleasant  lady  and 
never  fails  to  respond  to  any  and  all  demands 
npon  her  that  she  deems  worthy  of  support.  Mrs. 
Schmisseur  is  a  lady  who  enjoys  the  respect  and 
esteem  of  the  entire  neighborhood  and  is  the  pos- 
sessor of  many  tine  traits  of  chaiacter. 


m>^^<i 


\fi  ULIUS  KNOBELOCH,  who  is  engaged  in 
I  agricultui-al  pursuits  on  section  19.  Shiloh 
,-.h  Valley  Township,  was  born  in  1855,  on 
^)j  the  old  homestead  in  this  county,  where  his 
father  is  yet  living.  His  parents,  Baltzer  and 
Elizabeth  (Liebrock)  Knobeloch,  are  mentioned 
in  the  sketch  of  Henry  Knobeloch  on  another  page 
of  this  work. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  acquired  his  early 
education  in  the  common  schools  and  it  was  sup- 
plemented by  study  in  the  Belleville  schools.  He 
also  was  a  student  in  a  German  scliool  in  >Ias- 
coutah.  This  well  prepared  him  for  the  duties  of 
life  and  he  is  a  successful  business  man.  His  fa- 
lluT  \Yas  well-to-do,  and  so  lie  veniained  at  liome  un- 


der the  parental  roof  until  1881,  when  he  removed 
to  the  farm  where  lie  now  resides,  a  tract  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  under  a  high  state  of  cul- 
tivation. 

On  the  5th  of  December,  1878,  Mr.  Knobeloch 
was  married  to  Miss  Lizzie  Haege,  daughter 
of  Jacob  and  Annie  C.  (Perschbacher)  Haege, 
the  former  a  native  of  Bavaria,  and  the  latter  of 
Darmstadt,  Germany.  The  father  was  born  Sept- 
ember 24,  1824,  and  the  date  of  the  mother's  birth 
was  August  19,  1831.  INIr.  llaege  was  about 
twenty  of  age  when  he  came  to  America,  having 
just  completed  an  apprenticeship  to  the  black- 
smith's trade.  He  took  up  his  residence  in  Shiloh, 
St.  Clair  County,  established  a  smithy,  and  engaged 
in  his  chosen  occupation  for  many  3ears.  He  was 
a  genius  and  invented  the  gang  plow  and  manu- 
factured all  kinds  of  implements.  His  death 
occurred  on  the  28th  of  April.  1891.  Ills  wife 
still  survives  him  and  yet  makes  her  home  in 
Kansas.  They  reared  a  family  of  live  children: 
Philip;  Lizzie,  the  honored  wifi'  of  our  subject; 
Anna,  wife  of  August  C.  Meckfessel;  .lacob  H.  and 
William  B. 

15y  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Knobeloch  has 
been  born  a  family  of  six  children,  of  whom  five 
are  yet  living,  as  follows:  Amelia,  William  B.,  Ar- 
thur, Albert  and  Rudolph.  Jacob,  the  youngest, 
died  .at  the  age  of  three  months. 

Mr.  Knobeloch  is  a  practical  and  progressive  far- 
mer, and  his  well-tilled  fields  yield  to  him  a  golden 
tribute  in  return  for  the  care  and  labor  he  bestows 
upon  them.  He  has  many  excellent  improvements 
upon  his  farm  which  indicate  his  thrift,  and  he  al- 
j  ways  has  the  latest  improved  machinery.  He  ever 
i  keeps  abreast  with  the  times  and  is  always  willing 
to  investigate  any  new  plan  that  will  save  labor 
and  produce  better  crops.  In  politics,  Mr.  Knobe- 
loch is  a  supporter  of  the  Democracy  on  questions 
of  National  importance,  but  at  local  elections  votes 
for  the  man  whom  he  thinks  best  qualified  to  till 
tlie  office,  regardless  of  party  affiliations.  At  this 
writing-in  the  autumn  of  1892,  he  is  serving  as 
School  Director  of  his  district,  a  position  he  has 
filled  for  several  years  with  credit  to  himself  and 
to  the  satisfaction  of  his  constituents.  He  is  a 
niciiiberof  the  Farmers'  Mutual  lienetil  ,\ssocialioii 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


515 


and  a  valued  citizen  of  the  community,  one  whose 
sterling  worth  nnd  intciirity  Imvc  won  him  the 
liigh  esteem  nf  mU  with  wIkiiii  lie  iiiis  been  brouglit 
in  cont.'icl. 


.3.4.4.4.- 
4.4.4.4.? 


^jE()R(;K  p.  LIKNESCH.a  prominent  and  in- 
^^-  Hucntial  farmer  who  resides  on  section  (!. 
Shiluli  \'alley  Townsliip.  where  he  owns  a 
fine  I'aiiii.  is  a  native  of  Germany.  Tlie  dale  of 
liisi  ijirth  was  1818,  and  the  place  was  Hanover. 
He  is  a  son  of  Herman  P.  and  (Jertrude  (Stienman) 
Lienesch.  Oiii  subject  was  tiie  only  child,  and  his 
mother  died  when  he  was  about  six  montlis  old. 
He  is  the  descendant  of  a  very  wealthy  and  historic 
German  family.  In  their  native  land,  they  were 
farmers  by  occupation  and  owned  a  large  estate, 
which  is  still  known  as  the  Lienesch  Place.  Herman 
P.  Lienesch  was  a  son  of  John  Garhart  Lienesch,  a 
descendant  of  Michael  Lienesch,  the  third  of  that 
name.  Since  the  Reformation  of  Martin  Luther,  the 
family  has  been  Lnthbran  and  stanch  defenders  of 
that  faith.  'I"hc  i)ld  mansion  of  Lienesch  was  de- 
stroyed by  lire  when  our  subject  was  a  lad  of 
twelve  years,  and  in  its  Hanies  perished  most  of  the 
valuable  papers,  some  of  which  dated  back  several 
centuries.  The  fallier  of  our  subject  was  a  second 
time  married,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Jlar- 
garet  Pahlmann,  of  another  old  (German  family. 
Hv  this  marriage  one  son  was  born,  who  now  occu- 
pies the  old  homestead,  which  wa^  given  him  by 
his  geneious  elder  brother. 

George  P.  Lienesch  grew  to  manhood  on  the  old 
estate  and  received  a  fine  education.  His  primary 
studies  were  ])Virsued  in  the  Catholic  .schools  near 
his  home,  and  his  classical  education  was  receiveil 
in  the  kingdom  of  Hanover,  where  he  became  a 
imjlicient  scholar  in  French,  English  and  Latin. 
When  he  was  about  twenty  years  of  age,  after 
reading  the  history  of  the  United  States,  he  formed 
a  desire  to  travel  and  see  .something  of  the  New 
"World.  .-Accordingly,  that  year  he  took  passage  in 
a  sailing-vessel  and  was  seventy  days  upon  the 
bosom  of  tlie  broail  .\tlantic.     During  the  voyage. 


they  suffered  many  hardships  and  perils,  a  descrip- 
tion of  which  is given  in  a  very  interesting  manner 
by  oui  subject,  lie  landed  in  New  Orleans  on 
New  Year's  Day,  183i),  and  remained  in  that  city 
but  a  short  time.  Wishing  to  see  the  sights 
of  the  Crescent  City,  he  visited  slave  markets, 
among  other  things,  which  made  him  very  much 
disgusted  and  indignant  with  the  traffic  there 
carried  on  in  human  beings.  He  next  made  his 
way  to  St.  Louis, coming  upthe  Mississipi)i  by  bf)at. 
lie  hail  left  home  and  an  assured  income  in  the 
old  homestead  and  wished  to  make  his  own  fortune 
in  the  New  World.  In  this  independent  spirit,  ho 
hired  out  to  a  farmer,  receiving  ^10  per  month. 
He  worked  about  a  year  at  this  employment  in 
St.  Clair  County.  The  first  work  which  was  given 
him  to  do  was  trampling  out  grain  on  the  threshing 
floor.  With  his  carefully  saved  earnings  he  soon 
purchased  thirty  acres  of  land  at  ^10  an  acre,  near 
the  farm  where  he  now  lives.  Later,  he  received 
considerable  money  on  the  settlement  of  his  father's 
estate  in  tiermany,  which  he  invested  and  now 
owns  three  hundred  acres  of  fine  and  well-culti- 
vated land. 

In  1840,  Mr.  Lienesch  married  Permelia  Mes- 
senger, the  daughter  of  .loliii  and  Anna  (Lyon) 
Messenger.  Her  father  was  a  surveyor  and  made 
the  first  map  of  Illinois.  Her  maternal  grandfather 
was  atone  time  (Jovernor  of  Arkansas  and  a  noted 
Congressman.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lienesch  were  blessed 
with  three  daughters:  Augusta,  now  deceased,  who 
married  Charles  Hoffman;  Anna  fiertrude;  and 
Reliecca  L..  wife  of  .lames  Huckstep.  After  the 
dentil  of  his  first  wife,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
.M.Liy  A.,  daughter  of  Col.  .lohn  and  Isabella  (Kin- 
ney) Thomas,  of  Helleville,  a  sketch  of  whom  ap- 
pears elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

To  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born 
tour  children:  .loliii  T.;  George  W.;  Belle,  the  wife 
of  Herman  Cleibeeker;  and  .Jessie  Fremont,  wife 
of  Hal|ih  Pierce.  The  mother  of  the.se  children 
« ;is  for  some  time  an  invalid  and  her  failing  health 
induced  our  subject  to  take  a  trip  abroad;  accord- 
ingly, they  spent  a  season  in  Europe,  visiting  the 
home  of  his  youth  and  the  Paris  Exposition  of 
lf*(>7.  In  sjiiteof  the  voyage  and  change  of  scene, 
the  wife  failed  rapidly  and  soon  passed  away.     In 


516 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1872,  Mr.  Lienescli  married  Mary  C,  daughter  of 
Kernard  and  Clara  (Walker)  Cieibecker.  By  this 
union  has  been  born  one  son,  Walter  H. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Lienescli  is  an 
advocate  of  the  Republican  party,  of  whose  prin- 
ciples he  is  a  loyal  defender.  lie  is  a  member  of 
tlie  Lutheran  Church,  as  were  his  ancestors  for 
many  generations.  For  over  half  a  century,  Mr. 
Lienescli  has  resided  in  this  county,  which,  when 
lie  first  settled  here,  was  almost  a  wilderness.  He 
has  many  interesting  recollections  of  those  early 
pioneer  days,  when  game  was  still  abundant  and 
Indians  still  made  it  their  hunting-grounds.  He 
brought  with  him  from  Germany  a  gun.  with  which 
he  killed  eleven  deer  in  this  county  soon  after  his 
arrival  here.  He  has  been  quite  an  extensive 
traveler  and  has  crossed  the  ocean  nine  times,  lie 
is  a  man  of  breadth  of  mind  and  wide  information 
.ind  general  knowledge,  and  seldom  errs  in  his 
judgment  of  people  or  affairs. 


\i=tRANK  LEAKE  is  the  Cashier  of  the  Bank 
\f^^]  of  Mascoutah,  located  in  Mascoutah,  111. 
It},  ~  This  bank  was  organized  in  October,  1891, 
by  the  well-known  banker,  J.  N.  Hagins,  oC  the 
Columbia  National  Bank,  of  Chicago,  who  is  also 
proprietor  of  a  bank  in  St.  Anne,  111.,  and  another 
at  Gillespie,  111.  The  Bank  of  M.ascoutah  is  the 
only  one  located  in  this  city,  and  it  does  a  general 
banking  business,  loans  money,  receives  deposits, 
makes  drafts,  collects  and  pays  interest  on  time 
deposits  of  over  three  months'  standing.  The  bank 
is  located  in  the  Odd  Fellows  Building,  which  is 
owned  by  Mr.  Hagins.  It  is  provided  with  a  ti re- 
proof and  burglar-pioof  safe,  manufactured  by  the 
Mosler  Safe  Company,  and  this  is  enclosed  in 
a  strong,  well-built,  fire-proof  \;uiit.  The  safe 
and  vault  are  according  to  the  latest  improved 
manufacture,  and  the  patrons  of  the  bank  can  feel 
perfectly  safe  in  making  deposits  therein.  Al- 
though the  bank  has  been  in  oiwration  only  about 
;i  year,  it  has  done  a  consjdeinble  ;niiouut   uf  busi- 


ness, exceeding  the  expectations  of  the  owner,  to 
whom  the  management  has  been  very  satisfactory. 

i\Ir.  Leake,  the  efficient  Cashier,  is  an  able  busi- 
ness man,  well  qualified  for  the  position  he  holds. 
As  he  is  widely  and  favorably  known  in  the  com- 
munity, we  feel  assured  that  this  record  of  his  life 
will  prove  of  interest  to  man 3'  of  our  readers.  He 
is  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  State,  his  birth  having 
occurred  in  Erie  County  in  1861.  His  father,  John 
Leake,  was  a  prominent  plow  manufacturer  of 
North  Amherst,  Ohio,  and  it  was  in  that  place  that 
our  subject  acquired  his  early  education,  which 
was  afterward  supplemented  by  a  course  in  Oberlin 
College,  of  Ohio,  where  he  completed  his  literary 
studies.  He  was  then  fitted  for  his  life  work,  and 
for  the  past  ten  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  the 
banking  business,  mastering  it  in  all  its  details. 
His  honorable  and  straightforward  record  in  the 
p.ast  is  a  recommendation  to  liiin  in  the  position 
he  now  fills.  He  is  ever  true  to  his  duties  and  has 
the  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he  has  been 
brought  in  contact,  either  through  business  or 
social  relations.  Mr.  Leake  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity  and  also  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

One  of  the  important  events  in  the  life  of  our 
subject  was  his  marri.age,  which  occurred  in  Hart- 
ford, Wis.,  September  11,  1888,  to  Miss  Agnes 
Sclioenke,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Albertiena 
(Schwe)  Sclioenke. 


E-^-i-^1 


ALPH  B.  TAKLTON.  Nowhere  within  the 
limits  of  St.  Clair  County  can  be  found  a  man 
'^V  of  more  energy,  uprightness  .and  integrity 
\0)  than  Ralph  B.  Tarlton,  who  wjis  born  in 
Callaway  County,  Mo.,  opposite  Jefferson  City,  on 
the  Missouri  River,  May  25,  1844.  His  i)arents,  M. 
H.  and  Mary  E.  (Locke)  Tarlton,  were  native  Keu- 
tuckians,  the  father  born  in  Bourbon  County.  The 
elder  Mr.  Tarlton  was  a  planter  in  his  native  State 
until  1843,  when  he  removed  to  Missouri,  bought  a 
plantation  near  the  Missouri  River,  in  Callaway 
County,    and    becanii'    one    of    (he    most    |jronii- 


^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPfflC'AL   RI-X'ORD. 


.-.19 


nent  planters.  Tbe  war  damaged  him  financially, 
but  lie  made  his  home  there  until  his  death, 
in  1878,  wlien  seventy-five  years  of  age.  Mrs. 
Tarlton  resides  with  her  children,  is  at  present 
making  her  home  with  our  subject,  and  is  over 
seventy  years  of  age.  She  is  an  exemplary  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Her  fa- 
tiier.  John  Locke,  was  a  farmer  of  the  Blue  Grass 
State.  Tlieir  children  were  in  the  order  of 
their  births  as  follows:  Ben,  decea.sed;  Cloydc.  de- 
deased;  Theresa,  Mrs.  P.  E.  Chappie,  of  Kansas 
City;  Ralph  B.,  our  subject;  M.  R..  in  Fayette, 
Howard  County,  Mo.;  Locke,  deceased;  and  Mary. 
Mrs.  H.Morris,  deceased. 

Like  the  majority  of  farmer  boys,  our  subject 
received  his  educalion  in  the  common  district 
schools,  where  he  swung  his  youthful  limbs  from 
the  slab  Ijenclies  in  the  log  schoolhouse  of  that 
day.  When  sixteen  years  of  age,  he  entered  Fay- 
ette College,  remained  there  about  a  Near  and  a 
half  and  then,  on  account  of  the  breaking  out  of 
the  war,  he  returned  home  and  took  charge  of  a 
part  of  his  fatlicr's  farm.  He  carried  on  about 
four  hundred  acres  of  this  until  after  the  war,  and 
then  bought  five  hundred  acres,  which  he  tilled 
successfully  until  about  1871,  when  he  left  the 
farm.  Ho  went  west  to  Kansas,  hunted  buffaloes, 
and  was  in  Dodge  City  when  it  was  fii-st  started.  Re- 
turning to  .lefferson  City,  he  remained  there  a  few 
weeks  and,  in  1873,  came  to  the  old  Pacific  Yards 
in  St.  Louis,  where  he  was  employed  by  William 
Humphreys  .as  a  commission  merchant.  Three 
months  later,  he  came  home  and  engaged  as  sales- 
man for  Humphreys,  Short  i^-  White,  but  later  was 
in  the  employ  of  Nick  Moody,  a  commission  mer- 
chant doing  business  under  the  firm  name  of 
Moody,  Ray  A  Co,  Still  later,  he  was  with  Daw- 
son j:  Underwood.  He  was  then  a  partner  of 
the  firm  of  .lackman,  Hickman  A-  Co.  until  tliey 
broke  up,  after  which  he  was  in  business  with  Mct- 
calf,  Moore  A-  Co.,  remaining  with  them  until  the 
firm  title  was  changed  to  .loseph  .Metcalf  iV  Co.  In 
January,  1875,  the  present  partnership  of  Tarlton. 
Moody  and  Co.,  general  commission  merchants, 
was  formed.  ()ur  subject  has  charge  of  the  hog 
department  and  is  one  of  the  oldest  stockmen  here. 
Mr.  Tarlton  resides  at    No.    636    Ninth    Street, 


and  his  fine  home  is  presided  over  by  his  estimable 
wife,  who  was  formerly  Miss  Fanny  Stapleton, 
whom  he  married  in  1880.  She  was  born  in  How- 
ard County,  Mo.  Two  children  have  been  born 
to  this  union,  Locke  and  Laura,  both  unusually 
bright  and  intelligent.  Mr.  Tarltf.n  is  a  member 
<if  the  Clio.sen  Friends,  and.  in  i)olitics.  is  a  Dem- 
crat. 


^^li^"i^li^ 


\f|'  WEHRLE  A-  SON.  the  oldest  and  most 
prominent  jewelers  of  Belleville,  are  the 
^— ,  i  subjecUs  of  this  sketch.  Joseph  Wehrle  was 
'^)'  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  October  20,  1820. 
In  his  native  land  he  received  his  education,  and 
learned  his  trade,  serving  a  full  apprenticeship  and 
working  as  a  journeyman  until  1842,  when  he 
jcaine  to  Canton,  Ohio.  He  remained  there  three 
vears  and  then  removed  to  St.  Louis,  from  which 
city  he  came  to  Belleville,  and  at  first  worked  for 
others  at  his  trade.  In  1849,  he  cstabli.shed  him- 
self in  business,  and  has  continued  thus  engaged 
for  forty-three  years.  He  had  in  1853,  during  the 
summer  of  the  Crystal  Palace  Exhibition,  a  shop  in 
New  York  on  the  public  square.  He  bought  his  pres- 
ent building  in  1859,  and  has  been  in  this  location 
since  I860.  The  firm  carries  a  full  line  of  jew- 
elry, watches,  clocks  and  silverware,  only  of  the 
best,  and  the  store  is  considered  one  of  the  most 
reliable  in  this  section  of  the  country. 

November  22,  1859.  Mr.  Wehrle  w.as  married  to 
Miss  Fredrika  Kessler.  of  this  city,  who  was  born 
in  Baden,  .September  25,  1831.  He  took  his  fani- 
ilv  to  Germany,  and  remained  there  from  1871  to 
1872.  Two  of  the  four  children  born  to  his  mar- 
riage still  survive,  namely:  Fred  G.,  who  is  his 
partner,  and  Josephine,  who  is  the  wife  of  Fred 
Dunck,  of  this  city.  Mr.  Wehrle  is  a  member  of 
the  Free  Protestant  Church. 

Fred  G.,  the  son  and  partner  of  the  above- 
named  gentleman,  was  born  August  30,  186(1.  He 
was  educated  in  Belleville,  and  when  his  schooling 
was  completed,  he  learned  his  trade  with  his  fa- 
ther, after  which  he  entered  a  finishing  school  at 
New  York,  where  he  remained  for  one  year.    Upon 


5-20 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


his  reluin  be  formed  a  partnership  with  his  father, 
June  18,  1883.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Louisa 
firieser,  of  this  city,  at  St.  Louis,  November  10, 
1886,  and  thej-  are  the  parents  of  two  children, 
Lerov  and  Frederick. 


♦^•S-^* 


r 


GERHARDT  II.  KEMPER.  One  of  the  most 
,  prominent  of  the  German-American  citizens 
^^_^  of  East  St.  Louis  and  one  who  has  done 
much  for  the  advancement  of  this  portion  of  the 
city,  is  the  gentleman  whose  biography  it  now  be- 
comes our  duty  and  pleasure  to  write.  He  is  the 
present  proprietor  of  the  oldest  feed  store  in  the 
city,  a  man  of  means,  and  one  of  the  Directors 
of  the  First  National  Bank;  also  a  member  and 
Director  of  the  Clearmout  Land  Association,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Merchants'  Exchange  of  St.  Louis,  and  is 
now  serving  the  city  as  Alderman  from  the  Fourth 
Ward.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a  na- 
tive of  the  Province  of  Melle,  Germany,  where  lie 
followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer  and  where 
our  subject's  father  was  born.  Tlie  grandfather 
was  a  teamster  in  Napoleon's  army  and  took  imit 
in  the  march  to  Russia;  subsequently  following 
his  son  to  America,  he  lived  quietly  here  until  his 
death,  in  New  Melle,  Mo.  Frank  Kemper,  tiie 
father  of  our  subject,  came  to  America  in  1837. 
Having  received  a  good  education  in  his  native 
country,  he  engaged  in  .St.  Louis  as  a  clerk  for  a 
short  time  and  then,  on  account  of  failing  health, 
located  land  in  what  is  now  New  Melle.  There 
he  began  farming  and  in  connection  with  it  op- 
ened a  country  store,  thus  becoming  the  founder 
of  the  thrifty  little  town  of  New  Melle,  where  he 
became  a  very  successful  man.  When  the  dread 
disease,  cholera,  swept  over  the  land  in  1852,  he 
was  one  of  its  victims,  five  members  of  his  family 
dyino-  in  two  days.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was 
Clara  Mary  Kuhlman,  who  was  born  in  Germany. 
After  the  death  of  her  first  husband,  Mrs.  Kem- 
per married  Mr.-  Bredenkamp,  and  at  her  death 
left  a  familv   of  six  cliildren  liy  her  first  marriage 


and  two  by  the  last  union  to  mourn  her  loss. 
Our  subject  was  reared  on  tlio  farm  and  attended 
the  public  and  parochial  schools,  where  he  received 
a  good  common-school  education.  AVhen  he  was 
only  eighteen  years  old  lie  enlisted  in  Krakel's 
Battalion  Home  Garrison  Missouri  Militia,  and 
served  seven  months,  until  discharged.  Eighty 
days  later  he  enlisted  again  under  Colonel  Baile^-'s 
State  militia  of  fighting  bushwackers,  and  contin- 
ued with  them  for  three  months.  Cfiming  then  to 
St.  Louis,  he  worked  a  year  in  a  mill  at  Camp 
Springs,  111.,  but  the  summer  of  1864  was  spent 
upon  a  farm,  and  in  the  fall  of  1865  he  returned 
to  the  old  farm  and  there  lemaiiied  until  1867, 
when  he  came  to  East  St.  Louis.  At  this  time  our 
subject  was  twenty-four  years  c)ld,  having  been 
born  January  28,  1843,  at  his  father's  home  in 
New  ISIelle,  Mo.,  and  had  had  many  experiences  for 
one  of  his  years.  He  later  entered  the  service  of 
Henschen  Krite  &  Company,  as  clerk  and  retailer. 
In  the  year  1869  deciding  that  he  had  gained 
enough  experience  to  become  a  merchant,  he 
formed  the  firm  of  Kemper  &  Roewe,  and  engaged 
in  the  feed  business,  thus  continuing  for  thirteen 
years,  doing  a  good  business  in  flour  and  feed. 
In  1883  Mr.  Kemper  bought  his  partner's  interest 
and  kept  on  alone  for  six  months,  when  he  took 
in  liis  half-brother,  and  made  the  firm  G.  II.  Kem- 
per *  Co.  It  has  so  continued  until  the  present 
time,  doing  a  very  large  business.  They  suffered 
in  1883  from  fire,  but  rebuilt  immediately.  Their 
brick  block  has  now  fift}'  feet  front  witli  sixty- 
five  feet  depth  and  is  on  a  lot  two  hundred 
and  forty  feet  deep.  Mr.  Kemper  built  a  handsome 
residence  on  Fourth  Street  and  owns  two  other 
houses.  Tiie  important  position  he  occupies  in  the 
commercial  life  of  the  city  we  mentioned  in  our 
opening  paragraph,  and  liis  iiifiuence  is  widely 
felt. 

Mr.  Kemper  was  married  in  St.  Louis  May  II. 
1867,  to  Miss  Mary  Trebbe,  who  was  born  in 
the  Province  of  Melle,  in  Germany,  but  was  reared 
in  St.  Louis.  Three  children  have  been  born  to 
thiscouple,  Matilda,  Annieand  John.  Mr.  Kemper 
has  always  been  very  active  in  those  improvement 
schemes  which  he  thought  were  advisable,  and  was 
one  of  the  first  to  take  measures  to  have  the  streets 


rORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


521 


reduced  to  tlie  present  grade.  His  services  have 
been  required  on  tlie  Ways  and  Means  Committee 
of  the  City  (iovernment,  and  he  lias  been  three 
times  elerted  as  an  Alderman.  Our  subject  is  as 
prominent  in  the  Lutheran  Church,  of  which  he  is 
.Hu  honored  member,  as  he  is  in  public  life.  He  w.is 
one  of  the  building  committee  when  the  large 
cliurch  of  his  denomination,  St.  Peter's,  was  built 
:ind  he  is  still  its  Treasurer.  Mr.  Kemper  is  a  firm 
believer  in  Republican  principles, and  warmly  sup- 
port? tliat  party,  and  has  been  frequently  called 
upon  to  serve  on  botli  the  grand  and  the  petit 
juries.  Our  subject  is  a  man  held  in  high  esteem 
in  his  city  and  has  the  proud  satisfaction  of  know- 
ing that  the  confidence  of  the  people  is  deserved. 
As  Superintendent  and  Treasurer  of  St.  Peter's 
Cemetery,  he  has  sold  all  the  lots  that  have  been 
disposed  of  in  it. 


"i^^RED  S.  WECKLER.  Among  the  many 
Ifetgj  residents  of  Darmstadt,  St.  Clair  County, 
Ji  who  deserve    notice   in  a    volume  of  this 

nature,  Fred  S.  Weckler  is  most  certainly  not  one 
of  the  least.  He  is  the  son  of  Peter  and  Barbara 
Weckler.  Peter  Weckler  was  born  in  Wurteni- 
berg,  Germany,  in  the  year  1810.  After  complet- 
ing the  course  in  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  town,  he  entered  the  High  .School,  and 
thus  became  possessed  of  more  than  ordinary 
education  to  assist  him  in  the  battle  of  life.  After 
leaving  the  High  School,  he  commenced  to  learn 
the  trade  tif  a  bookbinder,  whicli  vocation  he 
followed  with  sucees-s  in  his  native  country. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-two  years,  Peter  Weckler 
became  interested  in  the  subject  of  emigration, 
and  chose  America  .a-s  the  Mecca  of  his  future 
hopes  and  fimd  anticipations,  lie  arrived  in  this 
country  in  the  year  1832,  and  located  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, residing  in  a  community  of  those  belong- 
ing to  his  own  nation,  who  had  preceded  him  in 
their  attempt  to  seek  a  fortune  in  the  New  World. 
His  fii-st  employment  was  olHained  on  the  con- 
struction of  the  Erie    Canal,  and    after  following 


this  work  for  some  time  he  moved  to  the  State 
of  Ohio.  The  result  of  this  economy  and  indus- 
try in  Pennsylvania  enabled  him  to  purchase  a 
small  tract  of  land  in  Ohio,  and  after  retaining  it 
for  some  time  he  accepted  an  offer  at  an  increase 
of  liis  purchase  price,  sold  the  land  and  moved  to 
Peru,  Ind.,  where  he  settled  and  made  his  per- 
manent home,  living  at  this  place  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1872. 

During  his  sta^'  in  Penii-sylvania.  Mr.  Weckler 
married  Miss  Barbara  Keller,  a  daughter  of  Adam 
Keller,  and  to  him  were  born  ten  children,  one 
of  whom  died  in  infancy;  the  rest  were  as  follows: 
.Jacob;  Mary,  wife  of  Isaac  Cochran;  William, 
killed  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga;  George; 
Fred  S.,  subject  of  this  sketch;  Alexander,  de- 
ceased; Elizabeth,  wife  of  Cyrus  Crider;  Frances, 
wife  of  Frank  Hinton;  and  Kate,  deceased. 

Peter  Weckler  occupied  a  very  prominent  posi- 
tion in  Indiana,  was  an  active  and  respected  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  a  strong  Repub- 
lican in  politics.  He  held  the  office  of  Justice 
of  the  Peace  for  many  3'ears.  An  honest  man 
and  worthy  citizen,  he  was  ambitious  for  the 
good  of  the  people,  and  alwa\-s  manifested  the 
real  public  spirit  toward  his  fellow-men. 

The  son  of  so  illustrious  a  fatlier  is  of  necessity 
the  recipient  of  a  goodlj-  heritage.  Fred  S.  Weckler, 
endowed  with  a  bright  mind  and  the  capabilities 
which  grasped  the  opportunity,  received  from  his 
father  an  excellent  education.  He  was  graduated 
from  the  common  schools  of  Peru,  Ind.,  entered  the 
High  School,  and  afterward  finished  his  education 
in  the  college  of  Notre  Dame,  at  South  Bend,  Ind. 
At  the  age  of  nineteen,  he  began  life  for  himself 
by  teaching  school.  His  work  was  most  accept- 
able, and  he  received  an  offer  from  .St.  Clair 
Count}-,  111.,  where  he  taught  school  for  sixteen 
years  and  also  for  one  year  in  Fayette  County.  III. 

In  the  }-ear  1875,  Mr.  Weckler  married  Miss 
.■\nna  T\venhafel,  daughter  of  Bern  hard  au'l  Ap- 
polonia  Twenhafel,  a  sketch  of  whose  life  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  book.  This  result  of  his  union 
with  this  estimable  lady  was  seven  children:  Ben- 
jamin II.,  Lizzie;  Appolonia  and  (Uistave,  both 
deceased;  Hattie,  Florence  and  .Julia.  Mrs.  (Twen- 
hafel) Weckler  departed  this  life  in   March,  1890, 


522 


yOETRAlT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


while  still  in  the  prime  of  life.  She  was  a  woman 
wiiose  goodness  was  felt  and  appreciated  throus;h- 
ont  the  community. 

Our  subject  has  alwa3's  occupied  a  very  prom- 
inent position  in  the  community  where  he  has 
lived,  and  by  his  sterling  worth  has  gained  the  re- 
spect, admiration  and  confidence  of  his  neighbors, 
and  of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  He  is  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Lutheran  Cliurch,  a 
member  of  the  Ancient,  Free  &  Accepted  Masons, 
of  Freeburg,  and  also  of  the  U.  O.  T.  B.,  of 
Darmstadt,  a  well-recognized  German  order.  Po- 
litically, he  is  a  Republican,  and  in  1891  was 
elected  Supervisor  of  his  township,  which  ottice 
he  now  holds,  as  well  as  being  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
which  latter  position  he  has  held  three  terms.  In 
the  year  1880,  he  was  Census  Enumerator  of  the 
township,  and  has  been  Notary  Public  for  twentj' 
years.  His  landed  possessions  cover  a  territory 
of  four  hundred  and  twenty  acres.  His  life  is 
one  of  the  best  exemplifications  of  one  who  com- 
menced as  a  poor  boy,  and  by  industry,  ability 
and  perseverance  achieved  the  position  of  an  af- 
fluent and  respected  citizen.  November  8,  1892, 
In-  vv:\>  elected  to  the  State  Lesislature. 


--^^S 


1^^ 


OTTO  F.  SCHOTT,  who  resides  on  section  4, 
Shiloh  Valley  Township,  is  a  well-known 
and  enterprising  farmer  of  this  section.  He 
is  a  native  of  this  county,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred on  the  18th  of  December,  1836,  upon  the 
farm  which  is  still  his  home.  He  is  one  of  four 
children  born  unto  Anton  and  Augusta  (Keiser) 
Schott.  His  father  was  born  in  Frankfort-on-the- 
Main,  July  17,  1805,  and  his  mother  February  10, 
1804,  in  the  same  locality.  Anton  Schott  was 
reared  in  that  city,  attended  college  and  was  edu- 
cated for  a  preacher.  From  his  Alma  Mater  he 
received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Languages.  He 
could  speak  English,  French  and  German  fluent- 
ly, and  was  a  finished  scholar. 

Soon  after  his  marriage,  Anton  Schott  emigrated 
to  this  countiT,  and  in  1834  located  upon  the 
farm  which  is  now  the  home  of  our  subject.      He 


was  quite  well-to-do,  and  purchased  three  hundred 
and  seventy-five  acres  of  land.  As  he  had  no  ex- 
perience in  agriculture  and  was  forced  to  depend 
on  hired  labor,  he  was  not  very  successful.  In 
politics,  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  his  personal  pop- 
ularity is  shown  by  the  fact  that  in  a  Republican 
township  he  was  elected  Treasurer  of  the  schools 
for  many  years.  He  was  always  a  great  worker 
and  died  with  his  pen  in  his  hand,  while  making 
out  his  report  of  office  for  the  schools.  He  was 
also  Secretary  of  the  Agricultural  Society  of  St. 
Clair  County,  and  served  as  its  President  one 
year. 

This  worthy  gentleman  was  called  to  his  final 
rest  .\pril  4,  1870,  and  his  wife  died  on  the  "iOth 
of  June,  1850.  Their  children  were  Charles  R.. 
who  was  born  in  Germany;  Otto  F.;  Anna,  wife 
of  Jacob  Speis;  and  Adolphus.  The  father  was 
the  originator  and  one  of  the  founders  of  the  first 
library  in  the  county,  which  was  founded  about 
1836  and  for  a  number  of  years  was  located  in  liis 
residence,  whence  it  was  removed  to  Belleville. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our  sub- 
ject, who  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  this  county 
and  is  well  known  to  its  citizens  as  an  honorable, 
upright  man.  Ilis  education  was  acquired  in  the 
common  schools  and  his  time  was  spent  in  the 
usual  manner  of  farmer  lads.  He  assisted  his 
father  until  1865,  when  was  celebrated  his  mar- 
ria<re  to  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  Frederick  and 
Matilda  (Skratsch)  Claser.  Their  union  has  been 
blessed  with  three  children,  two  of  whom  are  yet 
living,  Matilda  and  Vina,  both  yet  under  the  pa- 
rental roof.  The  family  is  one  of  prominence  in 
the  community  and  its  members  rank  liigh  in 
social  circles. 

Throughout  his  entire  life,  Mr.  Schott  has  fol- 
lowed farming  and  now  owns  and  operates  sixtj-- 
two  acres  of  highly  improved  land,  one  of  the 
valuable  farms  of  the  community.  Enterprise  and 
industry  are  numbered  among  his  chief  character- 
istics, and  have  won  him  the  success  which  is  to- 
day his.  In  political  sentiment,  Mr.  Schott  is  a 
Democrat,  and  is  now  the  efficient  Supervisor  of 
his  township,  having  been  elected  to  the  office  in 
1892.  For  about  twenty  years  he  has  served  as 
School  Director,  and  the  cause  of  education    finds 


RE5.D:;:cEGr   erust   dressel,  SEC.I^  ,LENZBURG  TP,  ST.  CLAIR  C0.,ILL 


RESIDENCE  L»E   0.    F.  SCHOTT  ,  SEC.4,  5HIL0H  VALLEY  TR,  51  CLA<R  CO.,  |LL. 


PORTRAIT  AND  I'.IOCRAI'II'C  AL    RIX'ORD. 


in  bim  a  warm  friend.  He  takes  an  active  inter- 
est in  all  that  pertains  to  the  welfare  of  the  coiu- 
muiiity  wheie  his  entire  life  has  been  passed.  His 
straightfuiward  and  upright  dealings  have  won 
him  universal  confidence,  and  with  pleasure  wc 
present  to  oui'  readers  this  record  of  his  life. 


•ip^  RNKST  DRKSSKL.  Thai  portion  of  St. 
|lW{  Clair  Co«nt_v  famillaih'  known  as  "  Duioh 
J- — ^  Hill  Prairie  "  contains  among  other  enter- 
prising residents  the  gentleman  whose  name  is 
above  given  and  who  is  one  of  its  early  settlers. 
Although  not  a  native  of  America,  he  is  loyal  to 
the  country  of  his  adoi)tion,  ami  unswervingly  de- 
voted to  the  interests  of  Lenzburg  Township, 
where  he  has  resided  for  many  years.  In  character 
unimiie.aehable,  in  generosity  and  benevolence  un- 
tiring, he  is  well  wortiiy  the  prominent  position 
he  occupies  among  the  people. 

The  many  friends  of  Mr.  Diessel  will  be  inter- 
ested in  learning  something  concerning  his  parent- 
age and  history.  lie  was  born  in  the  Province  of 
Saxony,  tiermany,  July  2(),  1826,  and  is  the  son  of 
Sebastian  and  Margaret  (Dressel)  Dressel.  Like 
liim.self,  his  |)arents  were  natives  of  Saxony,  his 
father  having  been  born  in  1789,  and  his  mother  in 
1795.  Sebastian  Dressel  was  reared  in  a  village, 
and  received  a  good  education  in  the  common 
.schools.  In  his  boyhood,  he  learned  the  trade  of 
a  blacksmith,  which  he  followed  for  a  livelihood  in 
his  native  country,  but  after  emigrating  to  the 
I  iiiled,  States  he  turned  his 'attention  to  agricul- 
ture. 

I'pon  coming  to  America.  Mr.  I)iessel,Sr.,  landed 
at  New  Orleans,  wlience  he  proceeded  to  Illinois 
and  located  in  St.  Clair  County.  Here  he  entered 
eighty  acres  of  (Government  land  on  Dutch  Hill 
Prairie,  the  Land  being  a  portion  of  the  estate  now 
owned  by  our  subject.  The  father  followed  farm- 
ing pursuits,  clearing  the  land  and  improving  it, 
until  at  his  death  he  left  one  of  the  finest  estates 
in    the   county.     He    was    a    man    of    enterprise. 


strength  of  character  and  firmness  of  purpose,  and 
by  industry  and  economy  surrounded  his  family 
wilh  all  the  comforts  of  life.  He  died  in  1842,  and 
Ills  wife  in  18t>8.  Their  marri.age  was  blessed  by 
tlif  tiirth  of  six  children,  two  of  whom  now  sur- 
vive. 

Prior  to  e ill igra ting  to  this  country,  our  subject 
gained  a  good  education  in  the  schools  of  Ger- 
many. He  accompanied  his  father  to  St.  Clair 
County  and  remained  with  him  until  his  decea.se, 
when  he  took  charge  of  the  farm.  His  marriage, 
which  occurred  in  April,  18-15,  united  him  with 
Mi.-^s  Dora  Hagaman,  who  was  born  in  .Iinie,  1825, 
and  died  November  25,  1879.  Six  children  were 
lioi  n  to  this  union,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 
Carolina  and  Mary  (twins),  born  February  3,  1851, 
died  when  young;  Paulina  was  born  Septembei- 
14.  185:5,  and  died  March  C,,  1881;  Ilemy  and 
Kiiima  (twins)  were  born  .lune  11,  1855. 

Mr.  Dressel  is  a  man  of  much  strength  of  char- 
acter, and  of  a  kind  and  loving  disposition,  who, 
althougii  he  h.as  seen  much  trouble  in  his  life,  has 
always  borne  it  cheerfully,  and  is  never  disi)osed  to 
make  others  help  him  bear  his  burdens,  or  to  sad- 
den them.  He  gives  liberally  of  his  means  to  all 
good  objects,  and  his  fellow-men  have  ever  found 
him  sympathetic  and  generous  where  charity  was 
needed,  and  in  his  family  he  has  always  been  a  de- 
voted husband  and  indulgent  father.  In  his  jjoli- 
tical  belief,  he  is  a  Republican,  and  lakes  great  in- 
terest in  local  and  national  affairs. 


VKOROK     SKMMKl.ROTll,    the     proiirietor 


and  able  publisher  of  the  Belleviller  Poat^ 
b(jtli  daily  and  weekly,  is  a  man  of  intelli- 
gence, push  and  enterprise,  eminently  fitted  to 
discharge  the  duties  incumbent  upon  his  present 
position.  Ill  a  community  where  those  of  German 
birth  and  (Jerman  parentage  are  not  only  influen- 
tial on  account  of  numbers,  but  from  the  fact  that 
the}'  are  among  the  wealthiest  and  most  intelligent 
of  our  people,  the  newspaper  published  in  their  in- 
terests must  of  necessity  be   a  strong   one.     The 


,v2(; 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Bellevillef  Post,  is  one  of  the  most  sensible  of 
the  press  productions  of  the  West,  and  its  circu- 
lation extends  over  a  large  territor}-.  Mr.  Seni- 
nielroth  was  born  in  Kurhessen,  Germany,  JMarch 
24,  1840,  and  in  tiie  public  schools  of  his  native 
land  he  obtained  a  practical  education.  At  the 
age  of  sixteen  years  he  came  to  America,  and  at 
once  located  in  Belleville,  and  here,  in  1856,  he 
began  his  journalistic  career  as  a  printer's  "devil." 
He  followed  the  calling  of  a  tj'pe-setter  until  he 
enlisted  in  the  Union  army,  January  27,  1865, 
serving  until  the  war  closed  in  Companj'  H,  One 
Hundred  and  Forty -ninth  Illinois  Infantry,  in  the 
State  of  Georgia.  When  liis  term  of  enlistment 
expired,  at  the  end  of  one  3'ear,  lie  returned  home, 
and  soon  after  resumed  his  position  of  foreman 
of  the  Belleviller  Zeitung,  but  during  the  same 
year  he  purchased  a  one-half  interest  in  a  paper 
called  the  Slerns  cles  Westens  (English  translation, 
.Star  of  the  West),  in  1866,  but  after  a  short  time 
purchased  the  entire  plant  and  published  the  paper 
as  a  daily  until  1872,  when  he  sold  out,  but  re- 
tained the  position  of  Inisiiiess  manager  for  two 
years. 

In  1874,  he  bouglit  a  one-half  interest  in  the 
Belleviller  Zeiluvg,  and  with  this  paper  he  was 
connected  until  1886,  when  he  sold  liis  inter- 
est and  bought  a  one-half  interest  in  his  present 
paper,  and  has  since  been  its  able  manager.  His 
partner  is  Gen.  William  C.Kueffner,  and  their  busi- 
ness connection  has  continued  very  harmoniously 
and  prolitably  to  both.  Mr.  Semmelroth  is  a  gen- 
tleman of  influence  in  the  community,  and  is  a  man 
of  erudition  and  force,  eminently  fitted  to  publish 
such  a  journal  as  the  Belleviller  Post,  a  paper  that 
has  wielded  much  influence  in  political,  educa- 
tional and  moral  matters.  The  editorial  policy 
of  the  paper  is  ably  managed,  and  tlie  articles  han- 
dle intelligently  topics  of  public  import,  and  in 
its  manner  of  keeping  thoroughly  abreast  with  the 
times,  and  as  an  advertising  medium  is  appre- 
ciated and  known  throughout  Southern  Hliuois. 
The  progressive  ideas  of  the  proprietors  are  re- 
flected in  every  part  of  the  paper  and  its  man- 
agement, and  in  every  way  it  is  a  credit  to  tlie 
town. 

Socially,  Mr.  .Semmelroth    is    a    member    of    St- 


Clair  Lodge  No.  24,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Lodge 
No.  .S38,  I.  O.  ().  F.;  Lodge  No.  138,  A.  O. 
U.  W.;  the  Druids;  the  Liederkranz  Singing 
Society;  the  Kronthal  Liedertafel.  and  the  Ger- 
mania  Liederkranz  Turnverein.  Mr.  Semmelroth 
was  married  to  JNIiss  Minnie  Decke,  of  Belleville, 
who  was  born  in  Germany  Julj'  26,  1845,  their 
union  taking  place  September  15,  1866.  Their 
children  are  as  follows:  Anna,  Dora,  Lulu,  Her- 
man, Emma,  August,  Clara  and  Frieda.  Jost 
Heinrich  Semnielrotii,  the  father  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  came  to  America  in  1858,  and  here  re- 
sided until  his  death  in  1883,  his  wife  having 
passed  from  life  in  Germany  before  his  removal 
from  that  country.  He  was  a  very  estimable  gen- 
tleman, was  honest  and  upright  in  character,  and, 
like  all  Germans,  industrious  and  thrifty.  Two  of 
his  sons,  Henry  and  William,  died  in  Belleville. 
The  home  of  Mr.  .Semmelroth  is  at  No.  415 
Kretschmer  Avenue. 


=^>-))^<i 


^  OHN  N.  HACKER,  a  prominent  and  highly 
res|)ected  citizen,  is  a  son  of  Alexander  and 
Cluistena  Hacker,  both  natives  of  Germany, 
the  former  born  February  22,  1823,  near 
Heldenburgen,  Grose  Dasem,  Darmstadt.  He  was  a 
carpenter  by  trade,  which  vocation  he  followed  in 
his  native  country.  After  landing  on  American 
shores,  in  1847,  however,  the  great  possibilities  to 
be  developed  in  farming  attracted  his  atten- 
tion, and  he  entered  into  agriculture,  whicli  pur- 
suit absorbed  most  of  his  active  j-ears.  Ho  set- 
tled in  St.  Clair  County  iinmediatel}'  after  his  ar- 
rival in  this  country,  being  then  nineteen  years 
old,  and  his  worldly  effects  consisting  of  a  good 
education  and  practical  trade.  On  the  17th  of 
April,  1849,  he  married  Miss  Anna  Christina 
Weilraenster,  a  daughter  of  Martin  Weilmenster. 
She  was  born  on  the  4th  of  February,  1829,  in 
the  same  province  as  her  husband,  and  died  Jan- 
uary 28,  1874.  The  father  died  Septembers,  1875. 
To  them  were  born  eleven  children,  as  follows: 
Alexander,    born    December    14,    1849;    John    G., 


PORTRArr  AN!)  TMGGKAPIIICAI.    RFX'ORD. 


August  ii.  18.")1;  Ileiin  11..  .laim.irv  1.  1?<.)3:  Mar- 
garet. Octolier  .!,  l!^.')7:  .loliii  N..  Fcbiuaiy  12, 
18fil:  Ko.sina  R..  .luly  1.  1M(>8:  Mary,  .September  8. 
18fi8:aiul  .lohn  F.,  March  18,  1871.  Coonrod.  horn 
Xovemlier  27,  1855;  Aflam,  March  11.  18()5.  .•lud 
Auna  C,  January  25,  1874,  are  dcceaserl. 

Inaustryand  economy, coupled  with  native  abil- 
ity and  thrift,  developed  Alexander  Hacker  into 
the  possessor  of  three  farms  in  Marissa  Township, 
his  first  ])urehase  being  a  tract  of  eighty  acres, 
lioth  he  and  his  wife  were  active  members  of 
the  Lutheran  Church  of  Darmstadt,  which  body 
mourned  an  esteemed  member  when  Mrs.  Hacker 
passed  away  in  1874,  at  the  ago  of  fifty-one  years. 
.Mr.  Hacker  w.is  a  strong  exponent  of  Republican 
principles,  and  clung  closely  to  the  i)nrty  he  emu- 
lated until  the  lime  of  his  death,  wliicli  occurred 
in   1>*75. 

.lohn  \.  Hacker,  the  subject  of  our  sketch,  was 
lioru  in  St.  Clair  County  in  18G1.  He  received  his 
education  at  the  Hellcville  High  School.  Tiie  cir- 
cumstances surrounding  him  were  such  that  at  the 
death  of  his  father  the  stern  requirements  of  ex- 
istence threw  him  upon  his  own  resources  and 
compelled  hira,  at  the  early  age  of  fifteen  years,  to 
enter  the  combat  of  life,  develop  his  own  abilities 
and  become  the  founder  of  his  own  career. 

I'pon  reaching  his  majority,  Mr.  Hacker  mar- 
ried .Miss  Mary  Sander,  July  25,  1882.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  Henry  and  Catherine  (Masninnn) 
Sander,  and  w.as  born  December  .'?1,  1860.  She 
bore  him  three  children,  respectively:  JIarv  Kmma, 
born  April  5.  1883;  John  X.,  November  23,  1884; 
and  Anna  C.  L.,  January  25,  1888.  The  mother 
of  these  children  died  September  27,  1888. 

Three  years  after  the  deatli  of  his  first  wife.  Mr. 
Hacker  married  Jliss  lilizabeth  Knervice,  daughter 
of  I'hillip  and  Elizabeth  (llarman)  Knervice.  She 
w,as  born  March  19,  18G1.  Two  children  were  the 
result  of  this  second  marriage;  Theodore  P.,  born 
February  12,  1891;  and  Dorothea  M.,  May  6,  1892. 
.\lthougli  trained  in  a  Republican  element,  upon 
deciding  the  question  of  the  political  party  for 
himself,  Mr.  Hacker  espou.sed  the  cause  of  Democ- 
racy, and  in  this,  .as  in  all  things,  is  stanch  to  his 
principles  and  convictions.  He  followed  in  the 
footsteps  of    his  parent*,    with    regard  to  religious 


beliefs,  and  hasalwny.-  adhered  to  the  precepts  and 
teachings  of  the  Lulheran  Church,  and  holds  mem- 
bership at  Maris.>ia. 

The  sketch  would  be  imperfect  did  we  not  refer 
to  the  kindly  feeling  for  his  fellow-men  displayed 
by  Mr.  Hacker  as  a  member  of  a  C^erman  secret 
order  which  benefits  the  sick,  and  as  an  esteemed 
member  of  the  same  ;\Ir.  Hacker  is  held  in  high 
reunrd   \i\  all  who  know  liini. 


II  KKK  1.  LIXEHAX,  Manager  of  liie  Western 
Union  Telegrapli  Com]j.any,  National  Slock 
Yards,  F^ast  St.  Louis,  was  liorii  in  Mobile, 
Ala.,  Janu.ary  14,  1859.  His  father,  who  was 
born  near  (iueenstown,  Ireland,  emigrated  to  this 
country  when  quite  young,  and  in  185G  w:is  mar- 
ried at  Mobile  to  Mi.ss  Kathleen  Alexander,  who 
had  left  the  "banks  and  braes  of  bonnie  Scotland" 
only  a  few  years  previous.  Immediately  after  his 
marriage,  Mr.  Linehan  purchased  the  then  cele- 
brated Moss  Hose  Tavern  and  oyster  grounds,  lo- 
cated about  half-way  out  on  the  famous  clam- 
shell road  that  skirts  the  western  coast  of  .Mobile 
Bay. 

Fortune  smiled  broadly  and  kindly  upon  Mr. 
Linehan,  Sr.,  in  his  undertaking,  and  he  was  do- 
ing an  extensive  .and  profitable  business  when  the 
Civil  War  broke  out.  While  he  regarded  war  as 
an  instrument  of  horror  and  uselessness,  yet  he 
responded  to  the  initial  call  for  volunteers,  became 
a  member  and  afterward  F'irst  Lieutenant  of  the 
Battle  Guards,  a  company  organized  and  equipped 
by  Airs.  Battle  and  a  few  other  wealthy  .and  chiv- 
alrous ladies  of  Mobile.  This  company  was  com- 
posed of  men  of  prominence,  mettle  and  valor,  and 
was  organized  at  the  breaking  out  of  hostilities. 

After  participating  in  nearly  all  the  important' 
engagements  of  the  war,  the  father  of  our  subject. 
was  killed  by  a  shell  during  the  bombardment  of 
VI.  Gaines,  which  is  in  Mobile  Hay,  .August  7.  1864. 
As  he  was  the  first  man  killed  in  what  was  then 
termed  the  defense  of  Mobile,  the  surviving  women 


'.28 


PORTEAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


who  hold  organized  the  Battle  Guards  eai'ly  in  the 
war  caused  to  be  erected  over  his  grave  in  Spring 
Hill  Cemetery,  at  Mobile,  a  handsome  monument, 
suitably  inscribed.  After  the  war,  like  thousands 
of  others  in  the  Southland,  the  widow  and  mother 
found  that  her  commercial  possessions  had  so 
greatly  deteriorated  in  value  as  to  be  almost 
worthless.  This,  together  with  the  fact  that  her 
home  and  the  homes  of  her  friends  were  filled  with 
desolation,  distress  and  death,  influenced  her  to 
remove  to  East  St.  Louis,  where  she  had  relatives 
who  had  escaped  the  awful  results  of  the  war. 
Dui'ing  the  summer  of  1866  she  came  to  this  city 
accompanied  by  .Tere  I.  and  two  younger  chil- 
dren, and  here  siie  afterward  made  her  home. 

At  the  age  of  ten  years  our  subject,  through  the 
influence  of  friends,  secured  the  position  of  office 
boy  to  Superintendent  McComas,  of  the  Eads 
Bridge,  which  spans  the  Mississippi  River  at  East 
St.  Louis,  and  which  was  in  course  of  construction 
at  that  time.  He  worked  in  that  capacity'  until  the 
spring  of  1871,  when  ho  procured  the  position  of 
"water  boy"  to  a  portion  of  the  workmen  under 
the  supervision  of  Thomas  H.  White,  one  of  the 
several  superintendents  engaged  in  the  l)uilding  of 
the  National  Stock  Yards  at  East  St.  Louis.  He 
remained  in  that  position  until  the  stock  yards 
were  finished  and  fi^irmally  opened  for  business  in 
the  autumn  of  1872,  when  he  entered  the  employ 
of  the  Western  Union  Telegraph  Com])any  at  the 
stock  yards  as  messenger,  under  the  management 
of  H.  F.  Parry,  under  whose  personal  and  able 
guidance  he  became  an  expert  telegraph  operator. 
After  working  with  Mr.  Parry  as  operator  for 
about  one  3'ear,  he  accepted  a  position  in  the  pi-in- 
cipal  office  of  tiie  Western  Union  Company  at  St. 
Louis,  and  afterward  worked  as. telegraph  opera- 
tor in  all  the  large  cities  of  the  AVest  until  1881, 
when  he  returned  to  his  old  home. 

During  tiie  year  above  mentioned,  Mr.  Linelian 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  P^liza  Walsh,  of 
East  St.  Louis,  whom  he  had  known  from  childhood. 
Three  children  have  been  born  to  them,  two  of 
whom  they  have  lost  by  death,  Lester  dying  at  the 
age  of  two  years,  and  Bessie  when  seven  years  old. 
The  surviving  child.  Viola,  is  a  handsome,  bright 
and    interesting   girl  of  six  3ears.     Shortly    after 


his  marriage,  Mr.  Linehan  accepted  the  position  of 
assistant  chief  operator  with  the  Mutual  Union 
Telegraph  Company  of  St.  Louis,  and  was  thus 
engaged  until  February  1,  1886,  at  which  time  Mr. 
Parr}'  resigned  the  position  of  manager  of  the 
Western  Union  Company  at  the  National  Yards. 
The  company  wished  a  man  with  the  requisite 
qualifications  to  succeed,  and  Mr.  Parry  chose  our 
subject. 

Soon  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Linehan  became  ac- 
tively identified  with  the  East  St.  LouisLyceura,  a 
local  dramatic  organization.  He  displa_yed  notice- 
able and  unquestionable  ability  as  a  comedian 
while  a  member,  and  received  offers  to  go  on  the 
road  from  several  well-known  dramatic  companies 
at  the  time  the  telegraph  company  offered  him  the 
position  of  manager,  but  friends  and  acquaintances 
persuaded  him  to  accept  the  position  he  now  holds. 
As  his  connection  with  the  National  Stock  Yards 
dates  back  to  the  time  of  their  erection,  he  is  nat- 
urally^ considered  an  "old-timer"  in  that  vicinity, 
and  his  acquaintance  with  people  engaged  in  the 
live-stock  business  is  extensive.  Being  courteous 
and  elHcient,  he  is  deservedlj-  popular  with  the 
commission  men  who  do  business  at  the  stock  yards, 
and,  in  fact,  with  all  who  know  him.  "his  ac- 
quaintances are  his  friends." 

In  his  religious  belief,  Mr.  Linehan  is  a  Roman 
Catholic.  He  is  identified  with  several  social  and 
mutual  benefit  societies.  In  politics,  he  is  Demo- 
cratic in  National  and  State  questions,  and  votes 
for  the  man  whom  he  considers  best  qualified  in 
county  and  municipal  affairs.  He  has  held  one  or 
two  minor  public  offices,  and  has  been  tendered 
the  nomination  of  several  positions  of  public 
trust,  but  invariabl}'  declines,  and  it  is  .said  of  him 
that  he  makes  efforts  to  further  the  interests  of 
other  good  men  in  political  affairs,  ratlier  than  to 
advance  his  own.  He  is  a  warm  supporter  of  the 
present  reform  municipal  government,  and  takes 
a  pride  in  the  development  and  advancement  of 
East  St.  Louis,  and  St.  Clair  County. 

Circumstances  having  made  it  absolutely  neces- 
sary for  Mr.  Linehan  to  begin  working  at  the 
earl}'  age  of  ten,  his  educational  advantages  were 
VBry  circumscribed  and  limited,  and  he  attended 
about  one   year  altogether  durinu    his  career,  that 


PORTRAIT  AXI)  BIOGRAPHICAL   RKCORD. 


529 


being  between  the  ages  of  eight  and  ten.  What 
knowledge  he  possesses  is  practical,  and  was  ac- 
quired by  self-study  and  contact  with  his  mental 
iiuperiors.  the  association  with  which  clas.«  he  has  I 
always  eagerly  sought.  He  is  a  man  of  ability  and  ' 
broad  knowledge,  and  has  done  some  reportorial 
work  on  the  Kast  St.  Louis  Daily  Journal  a.nA  other 
local  papers.  His  impressions  of  the  world  and 
appreciation  of  prosperity  have  come  from  the 
hard  school  of  experience  and  adversity.  He  is 
comfortably  and  pleasantly-  located  in  his  own 
home  at  No.  iSOC  Haugh  .\ venue,  where  he  is  sur- 
roun<led  with  all  the  cosnforts  of  life.  .Sanguine 
in  temperament,  refined  in  nature,  merry  in  dis- 
position and  reserved  in  manners,  he  is  deservedly 
l)opular.  and  the  prominent  position  which  he  oc- 
cupies has  been  reached  by  the  force  of  his  ability. 
inletfrit\-  and   industry. 


LBKHT  L.  IvKKCllI.KH.  No  reference  to 
l^LJi  Kast  ."^t.  Louis  of  a  statistical  nature,  even 
II  of  the  most  mlinitesinial  chariicter,  would 
be  complete  withtiut  passing  reference  at 
least  to  the  National  Stock  Yards,  and  the  part 
they  play  in  the  world's  economy,  .\mong  those 
prominently  identihed  with  this  vast  enterprise  is 
Albert  L.  Keechler.  who  is  one  of  the  most  popu- 
lar young  men  at  the  yards.  He  is  one  of  the  largest 
and  most  extensive  handlers  of  Texas  cattle  in  the 
I'nited  States,  is  a  very  successful  salesman,  and 
commands  the  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he 
comes  in  contact  in  a  business  w.ay.  He  is  thor- 
ough-going, wide-awake  and  enterprising.  Not 
only  is  he  prominent  in  business  circles,  but  as  a 
citizen  he  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  foremost 
men.  Although  young  in  years,  he  has  held  a 
number  of  responsible  positions,  being  at  present 
a  member  of  the  School  Board  at  East  St.  Louis, 
and  also  a  meinlier  of  the  Library  Board. 

.Mr.  Keechler  was  boin  in  the  Buckeye  State, 
in  Columbus,  on  the  l.'ith  of  March,  1858, 
and    comes  of  sturdy   Cicniiau   stock,  his  father, 


Louis  Keechler,  being  a  native  of  the  Father- 
land. When  a  young  man.  the  elder  Mr.  Keechler 
came  with  his  parents  to  America,  and  later  was 
married  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Maria  McCa- 
mish,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  but  who  was  reared  in 
Ohio.  After  this,  Mr.  Keechler  was  engaged  in  the 
restaurant  business,  and  was  thus  employed  dur- 
ing the  war.  Later,  he  kept  an  hotel  on  the  Island 
of  East  St.  Louis,  but  subsequently  went  to  Cincin- 
nati. Ohio,  where  he  resides  at  the  present  time, 
engaged  in  keeping  a  restaurant  and  eating-house. 
In  politics,  he  is  a  Democrat.  His  wife  died  in 
1870;  they  were  the  parents  of  three  children,  two 
of  whom  are  living  at  the  present  time. 

Albert  L.  Keechler,  the  eldest  of  these  children, 
attjiined  his  growth  partly  in  East  St.  Louis,  and 
partly  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  He  attended  the  city 
schools  of  the  latter  place,  and  in  June,  187:?,  he 
started  out  for  himself.  He  came  to  East  St.  Louis 
with  little  else  save  a  pair  of  strong  arms  and  a 
determination  to  succeed,  and  was  employed  in  the 
stock  yards  as  water  boy  while  the  yards  were 
building.  In  1874,  he  began  working  in  the  hog 
department,  was  thus  engaged  for  two  years,  and 
then  became  foreman  of  the  hog  department, 
where  he  remained  for  two  years.  Later,  he  be- 
came yard-m.aster  of  the  cattle  department,  and 
continued  as  such  until  1881,  when  he  went  to 
work  for  Irons,  Cassidy,  Scruggs  A' Cassidy  as  yard- 
man in  the  cattle  department.  After  this  he  was 
made  cattle  salesman,  and  on  the  1st  of  .\pril,  1890, 
he  was  taken  in  as  partner,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Cassidy  Bros,  it  Co.,  and  has  been  cattle  salesman 
since.  lie  has  charge  of  the  sale  of  Te.xas  cattle, 
and  does  an  immense  business,  there  having  been 
one  hundrerl  and  sisty->ix  tliousand  cattle  sold  by 
them  last  year. 

Mr.  Keechler  owns  considerable  real  esUite  in  the 
city,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Eirst  Mutual  Build- 
ing and  Loan  Association.  He  was  married  in  this 
city  on  the  4th  of  October,  1881.  to  .Miss  Emma 
Hake,  a  native  of  Blooraington,  111.,  and  the 
dauahler  of  ex-Mayor  S.  S.  Hake,  who  was  a  con- 
tractor and  painter,  and  a  large  property  owner. 
He  is  now  deceased,  but  his  widow,  Mrs.  Elizalwth 
llake.  still  resides  in  East  St.  Louis.  They  were 
the  parents  of  live  children,  three  of  whom  are  liv- 


530 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ing.  Mrs.  Keechler  was  educated  in  East  St.  Louis, 
and  is  a  lady  of  superior  attainments.  In  1888. 
our  subject  was  elected  School  Director,  and  in 
such  a  capable  manner  did  he  fill  that  position, 
tiiat  he  was  re-elected  in  1891  without  opposition. 
lie  takes  a  deep  interest  in  educational  matters, 
was  active  for  the  reform  city  government,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  Board  when  the  Franklin  and 
Webster  school  buildings  were  erected  at  a  cost  of 
#40,000  each.  A  full  system  was  established  in  the 
school.  Mr.  Keechler  is  a  Knight  Templar  in  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  and  is  Past  Master  of  the  East 
St.  Louis  lodge.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Owls, 
St.  Louis  lodge.  He  assisted  in  the  ceremony  of  lay- 
ing the  corner-stone  of  Summit  Avenue  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  laid  by  the  Masons.  Mrs. 
Keechler  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  In  politics,  our  subject  is  a  worthy  Dem- 
ocrat, and  has  been  a  delegate  to  county  conven- 
tions. In  tlie  spring  of  1891,  he  was  appointed  by 
INIayor  Stephens  as  Director  of   the  Library  Board. 


=§^+^[ 


II/U^,  r<;il  W.  HARRISON.  In  the  year  1848, 
III  ))■  '^""  mechanics,  John  Cox  and  Cyrus  Rob- 
/^jj^  erts,  located  in  Belleville,  111.,  and  with  in- 
(^)  telligence  and  industry  and  a  perception 
of  the  wants  of  the  wheat-raisers  in  the  matter  cf 
a  machine  to  save  their  grain,  the  farmers  at  that 
time  trampling  out  their  wheat  with  horses, 
they  commenced  building  a  machine  of  the 
vibrator  class.  Tiie}'  secured  a  number  of  pat- 
ents on  their  machine,  which  was  then  called 
the  Cox  ct  Roberts  Thresher,  but  later  changed  to 
the  Belleville  Vibrator.  Mr.  F.  M.  Middlecroff, 
a  farmer  and  practical  mechanic,  and  our  sub- 
ject, Mr.  Harrison,  after  being  in  the  employ  of 
Cox  and  Roberts  several  years,  purchased  Mr. 
Cox's  interest  in  the  business  in  1855.  At  tiiis 
time  the  business  had  grown  from  eight  to  ten 
machines  built  the  first  j'ear  to  over  one  hundred. 
Mr.  Roberts  sold  his  interest  to  Mr.  Buchanan  in 
1857,  and  since  then  Mr.  Harrison  and  iMr. 
Buchanan  have  been  together,  perfecting  and  im- 


proving this  style  of  machine.  The}-  have  de- 
voted all  their  energies  to  the  important  interest 
of  building  a  grain  saver  and  cleaner,  and  to  their 
growing  business.  In  1878  it  was  deemed  best,  for 
many  reasons,  to  organize  under  the  State  law  as  a 
stock  company,  with  C^yrus  Thompson  and  Hugh 
W.  Harrison  as  associates  of  the  old  members  of  the 
firm  and  under  the  corporate  name  of  the  Harrison 
M.achine  Works.  As  others  claimed  the  invention 
of  filename,  the  Belleville  Vibrator,  to  distinguish 
a  different  machine,  Messrs  Harrison  called  theirs 
the  Belleville  Separator.  It  lias  since  been  suggested, 
owing  to  its  merit  in  saving  the  largest  percent- 
age of  grain,  that  it  be  called  the  Belleville  (jrain 
Saver.  The  experience  of  nearly  forty  years,  the 
suggestions  received  from  thousands  of  the  best 
threshers  the  hundreds  of  tests  they  have  made  in 
all  grain,  and  the  success  and  gre.at  demand  for  the 
"Belleville"  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  must  and  do 
impress  the  threshers  and  farmers  and  heli)  them  in 
deciding  where  to  get  reliable  threshing  raacliineiy. 
They  guarantee  and  assure  the  threshers  and  grain- 
raisers  a  machine  that  will  save  the  grain. 

The  threshing-machines  they  build  are  not  experi- 
ments. In  the  season  of  1880  inanj'  new-style  thresh- 
ers were  thrown  on  the  market  in  their  vicinity',  but 
they  failed  to  save  the  grain  and  were  returned  to 
the  manufacturers  or  their  agents.  Farmers  and 
threshers  cannot  afford  to  lose  ten  or  twelve  days' 
time  on  an  untried  machine,  or  one  that  will  not 
save  the  grain.  The  Belleville  Separator  in  im 
instance  failed  to  give  entire  satisfaction.  The 
Belleville  is  built  by  experienced  men,  well  e<lu- 
cated  in  the  requirements  of  this  class  of  woik, 
with  long  years  of  experience,  and  ample  facilities 
for  testing  ever}-  improvement.  In  August,  1873, 
this  company  purchased  large  buildings  near  their 
thresher  works  and  fitted  them  up  with  the  best 
tools  obtainable  for  building  first-class  engines. 
There  is  no  similar  establishment  better  fitted 
P^ast  or  West  llian  this  for  making  good  thresh- 
ing engines.  These  engines  have  proved  all  and 
more  than  the  manufacturers  expected  of  them,  in 
having  inoie  power,  consuming  less  fuel,  requiring 
less  water,  using  steam  more  economically,  and  be- 
iug  more  durable  and  more  easily  managed.  The 
extension  of  thisciigiiK?  and  thresliei'  trndp  t<>  var- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BKKiRAlMIICAL   RECORD. 


531 


ious  parts  of  the  country  is  a  noticeable  feature, 
speaking  much  in  favor  of  the  uiachinery.  They 
sell  threslier  outfits  in  Illinois,  Missouri,  Iowa, 
Kansas,  Nebraska,  Indiana.  Ohio,  Kentucky,  Ten- 
nessee, Louisiana.  Tex.as,  Montana,  Dakota.  Color- 
ado and  ^lexico.  In  this  age  of  steam  and  tele- 
gr.nph,  when  knowledge  is  quicklj-  and  widely 
disseminated,  the  l)est  is  souglit  and  will  be  had. 

The  Harrison  Machine  Works  are  located  on  the 
Cairo  Short  F.ine  Railroad  in  Helleville,  cover  sev- 
eral acres  of  ground,  and  are  fitted  up  with  the 
latest  and  most  improved  machinery,  having  all 
the  convenience  for  doing  a  large  and  satisfactory 
business.  The  completeness  and  magnitude  of 
the  works  are  an  agreeable  surprise  to  all  who 
visit  them,  and  bv  the  addition  of  large  shops, 
and  the  purchase  of  new  lathes  and  tools,  they  have 
increased  their  c,ii)acity  twenty-five  to  fifty  per 
cent.  It  is  a  pride  to  the  locality  to  know  that 
such  an  establishment  h.as  grown  up  in  the  Mississ- 
ip]ii  Valley  in  the  face  of  the  sternest  competi- 
tion, and  througli  the  energy  and  pluck  of  men  born 
and  reared  in  St.  Clair  County,  III.  While  there 
are  larger  works  elsewhere,  of  greater  age  and 
more  extensive  capital,  yet  there  are  none  more 
complete,  with  better  tools  or  more  skilled  mechan- 
ics. "Their  tr.action  engines  have  and  will  attract 
much  attention.  Messrs.  Harrison  and  Buchanan 
have  made  special  efforts  to  build  an  engine  pro- 
pelled by  its  own  motive  power  attached  to  rear 
or  hind  wheels,  .and  this  they  have  accomplished 
more  successfully  than  in  any  in  the  market.  Their 
;*peciality  and  I>usiness  is  making  threshing  nia- 
chiner\-.  They  build  nothing  else,  and  devote 
their  entire  energies  to  making  and  perfecting 
machinery  to  thresh  and  save  the  grain  of  the 
farmer  in  the  esisiest  and  cheapest  way. 

Hugh  W.  Harrison.  .Secretary  of  the  Harrison 
Macliine  Works,  is  a  native  of  Illinois,  born  in 
Belleville  .\pril  2(;,  18;')3,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas 
O.  and  Kliza  .1.  (Calbrealh)  Harrison.  His  grand- 
father, .lames  Harrison,  with  his  great-grandfather, 
Thomas  Harrison,  were  among  the  earliest  pioneers 
of  St.  Clair  County.  Tlioin.as  O.  Harrison,  father 
of  our  suject.  was  educated  in  Belleville  and  at 
McKendree  College.  Lebanon.  111.  When  a  young 
man  he  entered  the  mill  with  his  father  and  there 


learned  the  business  tboroughlj'.  Later,  with  his 
brother,  C.  (i.  Harrison,  who  is  now  in  Los  Ange- 
les, Cal.,  he  purchased  the  business.  The  Harrison 
Mill  was  located  at  the  west  end  of  Main  .Street, 
and  still  stands  as  built  by  the  Harrisons.  It  is  the 
leading  mill  of  the  city  and  the  flour,  wtiich  is  well 
known  throughout  Europe,  is  still  known  as  the 
••  T.  Harrison  Brand."  They  sold  that  mill  in 
about  the  year  1858  or  1859,  and  went  io  Hast- 
ings, ^linn.,  where  they  built  flouring  mills  and 
operated  them  until  the  death  of  Thom.as  ().,  which 
occurred  in  18(51.  C.  G.  Harrison  then  sold  out 
and  went  to  Los  Angeles,  Cal.  Thomas  O.  Harri- 
son had  married  in  Belleville.  III..  Miss  Calbrealh, 
daughter  of  Hugh  Calbreath,  of  Shiloh  A'alley  and 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  that  place.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Harrison  were  born  five  children,  four  sons  and 
one  daughter,  who  are  named  in  the  order  of  their 
births  as  follows:  Hugh  W..  C.  AV.,  F.  L.,  T.  O., 
and  Olive,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  K.  I-".  \\'aiigli, 
of  Belleville. 

The  educational  advantages  of  our  subject  were 
received  in  Hastings,  Minn..  St.  Louis  and  Mc- 
Kendree College,  after  which  he  entered  the  Har- 
rison Machine  Works,  where  he  learned  the  trade 
of  m.achinist,  boiler-maker  and  moulder,  becoming 
familiar  with  all  department*.  He  entered  the 
business  first  in  1870,  and  for  sixteen  years  has 
filled  the  position  of  Secretary.  He  is  a  persever- 
ing, thorough-going. energetic  business  man  and  is 
eminently  deserving  of  all  business  success.  He 
is  highly  esteemed  in  the  community.  Mr.  Harri- 
son was  married  in  Virginia,  111.,  on  the  26th  of 
September,  1877,  to  Miss  I'arthcnia  F.  Tureman, 
daughter  of  J.  H.  Tureman.  and  he  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in 
which  he  is  at  present  .Steward.  He  has  been 
Trustee,  Usher,  etc.  Mr.  Harrison  has  shown 
his  gr«at  appreciation  of  secret  organ izatioris  in 
general  by  becoming  a  member  of  the  .\neient  Free 
iV-  -Vccepted  M.asons.  Knights  of  Pythias,  Knights 
of  Honor,  Associated  Order  of  Tnited  Workmen, 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  is  a  Knight 
Templar  in  the  first-mentioned  order.  Mr.  Harri- 
.-ion  gives  almost  his  entire  attention  to  the  ma- 
chine manufacturing  business,  and  the  present 
ottic.ers  of  the  Harrison   Machine  Works  are  Will- 


532 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


iam  C.  Buchanan,  President;  Lee  Harrison,  Mce- 
president;  Cyrus  Tliompson,  Treasurer;  and  Ilugli 
W.  Harrison,  Secretary.  Tlie  works  cover  about 
ten  acres  and  give  employment  to  about  two 
hundred  and  (ifty  men  tlie  year  round.  The  cap- 
ital stock  IS  $300,00(1. 


\t  AME.S  AMO.S  WILLOUGHBV  is  Postmaster 
of  Belleville,  11!.,  and  associate  proprietor 
with   Mr.  Thomas   of   the  Advocate.     In  an 

early    day  there    arrived    in    America    the 

AVilloughby  family,  representatives  of  the  Eng- 
lish race,  which  has  contributed  so  much  to  the 
tlirift,  industry  and  prosperity  of  this  country; 
and  one  of  their  direct  descendants  was  William 
K.  Willoughby,  who  was  born  in  Kent. County, 
Del.,  March  7,  1823.  He  came  with  his  father, 
William,  to  Illinois  in  1833,  where  he  grew  up, 
and,  .so  far  as  outward  cireunistances  could  mould, 
became  thoroughly  Americanized.  They  settled  on 
the  American  Bottom,  in  St.  Clair  County,  near 
CoUinsville,  where  William  AVilloughby  was  called 
from  life. 

AVilliani  E.  \\illoughby  was  lirst  married  to  Miss 
I'enu,  who  died  without  issue,  and  on  the  1st  of 
.lanuary,  1852,  was  united  to  Miss  Mary  Moore, 
tlieir  union  proving  a  very  hapi\y  one.  She  is  the 
second  daugiiter  of  William  and  Margaret  (Alexan- 
der) Moore,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Geor- 
gia and  the  latter  in  Pennsylvania.  Mrs.  Wil- 
loughby was  born  on  the  14th  of  .June,  1825,  at  the 
old  family  homestead,  near  Belleville,  where  her 
parents  settled  either  in  1811  or  1815.  Tlirough 
the  ardent  devotion  of  her  father  to  educational 
interests,  she  iind  all  tiie  advantages  in  that  line  that 
the  unorganized  subscription  method  of  that  day 
afforded — in  chance  empty  cabins,  on  slab  seats, 
with  neither  backs  nor  desks,  with  the  light  ])eep- 
ing  through  a  single  row  of  glass,  8x10  inches  in 
size,  sashed  in  l)y  the  removal  of  as  much  log  on 
either  side  of  the  humble  edifice,  where  usually 
the  "rule  of  three"  was  the  goal  of  ambiticui. 
Aftur  his   marriage,  William  E,  \\'illoughli\  lo- 


cated on  a  farm  on   Looking  Glass  Prairie,  north 
of    SuninierBeld,   where  he    actively  and  success- 
fully iHirsued    the  avocation  he  had    been  reared 
I    to — agriculture    and    stock-raising.     As    a    re»ult 
!    of  Ins  marriage  vow,  his  family    was  enlarged  by 
I    the  birth  of  four    children,  of  whom  James  Amos 
1    was  the    second    in  order    of   birth;  he   first  saw 
I    the  light  of  day  on   Looking  Glass  Prairie  May  2, 
1855,  and  was  brought  up  on  a  farm,  where  dur- 
ing his  minor  years,  when  not  at  school,  he  took 
;    cheerfully  an  active  part  in  the  routine  labors  of 
i   agricultural  life.     By  studious  ai)plication  he  mas- 
I    tered  the   common   English  branches;  after  which 
he  entered  McKendree  College, and  in  the  Class  of 
i    '74    was    graduated   in    the   scientific  department 
with   tiie  degree    of  A.  B.     He  next,    wishing    to 
acquire  a  knowledge  of  law,  the  underlying  stratum 
of  our  liberties  and   the  ethical    channel  through 
which  justice    is  measured   to  the   people,  entered 
the  University  of    Michigan,  at  Ann    Arbor,  as  a 
law    student,    and    in    1876    received    a    diploma 
of  admission   to    the    Bar    of   Ann   Arbor,  and   a 
short  time  later  of    Belleville,   III.     Attracted    by 
the   seeming    fair   profits    druggists    were  receiv- 
ing at  that    time,   Mr.    Willoughby    engaged    in 
that  business  in   1877,  and    followed  it   at   Leba- 
non, 111.,  until  December,  1880,  although  the  -busi- 
ness did  not  meet  his  expectations  remuneratively 
or  congenially. 

Our  subject  then  entered  the  political  arena 
and  was  elected  the  first  Recorder  of  St.  Clair 
County  by  the  Republican  party,  over  .John  Ben- 
ner,  in  1880,  and  held  the  position  very  eHici- 
ently  for  four  years.  Upon  again  making  the 
race,  in  1884,  he  was  defeated  by  two  hundred 
and  eighty-two  votes,  as  the  county  had  a  Denid- 
cratic  majority  of  seventeen  hundred  votes.  In 
1885,  soon  after  the  expiratitm  of  his  t)tticial  du- 
ties, in  connection  with  Mr.  Thomas,  he  began 
publishing  the  Belleville  ^kh'ocatc,  the.  leading  Re- 
publican paper  of  the  county,  .and  is  still  pursuing 
that  calling,  stimulated  to  action  through  the  in- 
spiration of  a  strong,  ardent  and  unwavering  faith 
in  the  .assumed  fact  that  Hepublican  i»olitics  will 
best  ser\e  public  interest,  lie  is  an  honest  man, 
Iruc  lo  his  Clin victidiis,  and  en j.iys,  regardless  of 
politiral  theory,   the  esteem   and  ciuilldence  ut  his 


,.N-^^^'^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  HIXUKD 


535 


acquaintances,  and  now,  as  a  result  of  a  spotless 
life  and  active  political  devotion,  is  Postmaster  of 
Belleville,  to  which  position  he  was  appointed 
February  11.  Ih;)(>,  cntiriiiu-  upon  the  duties  of 
his  office  Ajiril  1.  The  pust:il  receipts  for  the 
year  ending  A|)ril  1,  l!S!)2,  were  *1 2,000.  The 
city  has  a  free  delivery,  with  seven  carriers,  and 
two  men  are  constantly  re(Hiircd  in  the  otticc. 
Samuel  Stookey  heing  Deputy. 

Although  not  a  nieniluM-  nf  any  cluucli.  Mr. 
^VillllUirhlly  is  n  l)elicver  in  and  lean,'*  Iciwanl  the 
Methodist  doctrine.  Realizing  the  fact  that  it 
is  not  good  to  li\»e  alone,  on  the  lltli  of  No- 
vember, 1886,  he  was  united  in  marriage  witli 
Aliss  Lizzie  V.  Hughes,  daughter  of  ex-SherilT  and 
Postmaster  James  Hughes  (deceased).  Socially, 
Mr.  Willuughliy  is  a  member  of  the  Ancient,  Free 
it  Accepted  Masons.  The  AcIvovaU'  is  an  ably  con- 
ducted paper  and  has  a  circulation  vf  eighteen 
hundred.  His  father  is  still  living  at  Lebanon, 
and  is  highly  honored  throughout  that  section  as 
an  upright,  useful  ami  loyal  citi/cn.  The  mother 
!.-•  deceased. 


/^  •i'^E'H 


I  KWIS  y\.  .lOHNSON.  Wo  know  lliat  the 
I!  ifiS'  poor  we  have  alwa\s  witii  iis.  and  the  gcii- 
j^--*^  tleman  whose  name  opens  this  sketch  has 
iiad  the  sorrows  of  this  pre[)onderating  class 
brought  more  clo.-iely  to  his  notice  than  have  the 
majority  of  people.  He  who  becomes  Overseer  of 
the  Poor  in  any  district  must  unite  in  himself 
many  qualitications.  among  wliicli  sliould  lie  great 
kindness  of  heart  with  great  Hrmness  of  will. 
These  desirable  characteristics  Mr.  .lohnson  pos- 
sesses, and  is  therefore  well  liUcd  for  the  dilficult 
position  which  he  imlds. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Moses  .Tohnson, 
was  a  very  early  settler  in  Orleans  {'ounty,  N.  Y., 
where  he  brfiught  his  family  in  1811.  He  became 
a  farmer  in  that  fei-tile  section  and  there  he  re- 
mained until  the  death  of  his  wife,  when  he 
removed    to  the  Far  West,  and  there   died.     The 

25 


father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  eastern  New 
York,  and  bore  the  name  of  L^-man.  He  was 
reared  in  Rochester  and  there  married.  lie  car- 
ried on  farming  until  1850.  when  he  located  in 
Rochester  and  became  connected  with  the  police 
and  detective  department,  and  was  one  of  the  most 
valuable  oiticers  in  the  Government  employ  dur- 
ing the  war,  causing  desolation  to  the  bounty 
jumpeis.  The  mother  of  our  subject,  Charlotte 
Drew,  was  lioin  in  Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  and 
passed  away  in  I8i;i.  She  was  the  daughter  of  an 
early  settler  in  Oneida  County  who  followed  the 
trade  of  basket-making. 

Our  subject  w.as  the  third  eldest  child  in  a  family 
of  seven  children,  and  is  the  only  one  now  living, 
one  brother  having  given  up  his  life  for  his 
country.  Lewis  .lohnson  was  born  in  l{ochestcr, 
N.  Y.,  .lune  l.'i,  1837,  and  was  reared  in  his  native 
city,  where  he  attended  the  public  schools.  In 
|85()  he  went  to  Saginaw  City,  Mich.,  and  ran  an 
engine  for  one  season.  During  the  following  vear 
he  became  second  engineer  on  the  steamer  ■'  James 
Raymond,"  and  towed  the  Boating  palace  with 
Spaulding  it  Reger's  circus  from  Hennepin,  111., 
to  New  Orleans,  and  up  the  Red  and  Cumberland 
Rivers,  and  then  back  up  the  Ohio  to  New  Al- 
bany, where  he  left  them.  He  then  went  to  Pa- 
ola  and  ran  an  engine  in  a  gristmill  for  four 
months.  Tiring  of  that  occupation  he  took  charge 
of  the  stage  between  Paola.  Ind..  and  Louisville, 
Ky.,  and  drove  it  w-ith  four  horses.  In  185i»  he 
went  to  Orleans,  Ind.,  and  became  connected  with 
a  linn  dealing  in  lightning-rods,  but  in  the  winter 
of  18()0  he  worked  in  a  sawmill  at  that  place. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  took  place  May  Iti, 
11S(>1,  in  Orleans,  to  Miss  Jennie  R.  Hamilton,  who 
was  born  in  ((range  County,  Ind.  .\boul  that 
liiiic  the  call  came  for  defenders  of  the  country, 
and  .Mr.  .lohnson  was  among  the  first  to  respond, 
lie  enlisted  .Inly  10,  ISCl.  in  Company  (J. 
I  wcnty-fourth  Indiana  Infantry,  and  helped  to 
raise  the  company-  for  the  three  months'  service. 
When  the  call  came  for  three  years,  he  again 
bravely  wi-iit  forth  to  meet  the  uncertainties  of  a 
soldier's  life.  He  was  mustered  in  as  Sergeant  in 
a  company  at  N'incennes  under  ex-Gov.  Ilovey, 
and  was  sent    to    Missouri    in    the    Armv    of    the 


536 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


West.  There  they  were  engaged  in  the  pursuit  of 
Price  Jiiid  then  were  stationed  at  Carondelet, 
guarding  the  gunboat  while  it  was  being  built. 
Later,  the  regiment  was  sent  South  and  was  soon 
in  the  thickest  of  the  struggle.  They  were  at 
P'ts.  Donelson  and  Henry,  Shiloh,  Corinth,  the  ex- 
pedition of  the  Gulf  and  AYhite  River,  Champion 
Hill,  Black  River,  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  then  on 
to  .lackson  and  Xew  Orleans,  in  the  campaign  in 
Louisiana,  and  the  expedition  up  the  Red  River. 
During  this  time  and  in  the  Grand  Review  at 
New  Orleans,  our  subject  was  in  command  of  the 
company.  AVhen  his  time  of  service  expired,  in 
the  spring  of  1864,  the  regiment  was  at  Natchez, 
and  there  he  received  an  honorable  discharge.  He 
had  a  fine  record,  and  there  are  those  who  remem- 
ber that  at  Grand  Gulf  he  it  was  who  volunteered 
to  drive  the  engine  of  a  transport  to  run  the 
blockade. 

In  1864  our  subject  began  work  for  the  Ohio 
and  Mississippi  Railroad  as  brakem.an,  but  later 
became  fireman,  and  afterward  was  engineer  from 
Vincennes  to  Seymour,  Ind.,  until  1869,  when  he 
took  a  position  on  the  A'andalia  Railroad,  and  ran 
from  East  St.  Louis  to  Effingham.  In  1870  he  de- 
cided to  make  this  city  his  home,  and  was  an  en- 
gineer until  January,  1892,  when  he  left  the  load 
on  account  of  sickness.  He  has  had  a  very  fortu- 
nate railroad  life,  as  he  is  one  of  the  oldest  engi- 
neers and  his  only  accident  was  one  in  which  his 
shoulders  were  injured.  He  had  the  honor  of 
taking  the  first  engine  over  Eads  Bridge,  to  test 
its  strength,  which  was  also  a  test  of    his  courage. 

In  addition  to  his  pleasant  residence,  which  is 
located  at  No.  449  CoUinsville  Avenue,  Mr.  John- 
son owns  other  real  estate,  and  is  well-to-do.  He 
is  the  father  of  two  children:  Fannie  C.,  now 
Mrs.  S.  P.  Chapin,  of  East  St.  Louis:  and  Frank  I., 
who  is  an  engineer  on  the  Merchant's  Bridge. 

In  1892,  Mr.  Johnson  was  elected  Chief  Super- 
visor of  East  St.  Louis  Township  and  city.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  committee  on  the  equalization  of 
public  proi)erty,  and  in  tiie  spiing  of  1892  was  ap- 
pointed Overseer  of  the  Poor  by  the  Mayor  and 
Council.  In  the  McDowell  Post  No.  507,  G.  A. 
I}.,  lie  is  a  prominent  member  and  was  the  first 
Coinmander.     He  belongs  to   Eureka    Lodge    No. 


81,  K.  P.;  Ratlibone  Division  U.  R.  K.  P.,  No.  17, 
and  now  is  Brigadier-Major  and  Aid-de-Camp  of 
the  Brigadier-Commander  of  Illinois  of  the  U.  R. 
K.  P.  He  is  also  identified  with  the  Knights 
and  Ladies  of  Honor,  and  has  been  an  officer 
and  an  active  member  of  the  Locomotive  En- 
gineers. He  has  not  neglected  politics  in  his 
busy  life,  but  has  been  a  delegate  to  the  Republi- 
can State  and  count)'  conventions. 


-r^^- 


■r^-= 


»S^/NDKEW  B.  SMILEY,  a  retired  farmer, 
living  in  a  beautiful  home  on  the  corner 
of  South  Jackson  and  Sixth  Streets,  was 
(^  born   in   this   county  December    8,    1846. 

His  parents,  Mathew  A.  and  Mary  C.  (Christy) 
Smiley,  were  natives  of  Kentucky  and  Ohio,  re- 
spectively, the  former  coming  to  this  State  when 
about  thirt\'  years  of  age.  He  was  married  here 
and  died  three  months  before  the  birth  of  his  son, 
our  subject.  The  mother  continued  to  reside  in 
the  old  home  place  in  Caseyville  Township,  where 
our  subject  grew  to  maturity. 

Mr.  Smiley,  our  subject,  received  his  early  edu- 
cation at  the  public  schools,  and  from  there  went 
to  the  Wesleyan  University  at  Bloomington,  111. 
Upon  his  return,  he  engaged  in  farming  with  his 
mother  until  her  death,  whicii  occurred  July  27, 
1889.  Mr.  Smile3'  has  one  brother,  Samuel  C., 
and  a  half-brother  and  sister,  Joseph  Porter  and 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Begole,  on  his  mother's  side;  and 
two  half-brothers  and  two  half-sisters  on  his  fa- 
ther's side,  namely:  James  A.;  AVilliam  G.;  Martha, 
Mrs.  John  Duggcr;  and  Emily,  married  and  liv- 
ing in  the  South. 

Our  subject  remained  on  the  home  farm  for 
about  six  "months  after  the  death  of  his  mother 
and  then  invested  in  two  fine  !arms  for  himself, 
one  of  one  hundred  and  sixl}'  and  the  other  of 
one  hundred  and  eighty  acres,  in  O'Fallon  Town- 
ship. Later,  Mr.  Smdey  purchased  land  and  built 
a  beautiful  two-story,  pressed  brick  residence,  of 
modern  design,  25x63  feet,  finished  in  hard  wood 
and  healed   with   tiie    liot-waler    svsteni   through- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


537 


out.  It  is  one  of  the  most  modern  houses  in  con- 
strui'tioii  in  tlip  town  :ind  is  fini.sjied  inside  and 
out  in  iIk'  lii'sl  anil  most  coiiipU'te  manner  |)<)s- 
siblc. 

Mr.  .Smiley  was  niarn'ed  Dccemlier  17.  lt<72,  to 
Mi.ss  Susan  (■'•.  Bowler,  of  tiie  same  township. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  the  soil,  and  her  father, 
Benjamin  F.  Bowler,  was  one  of  the  earl.v  settlers. 
Mr.  and  Jlrs.  .Smiley  have  one  son,  Frank  B..  now 
attending  tlie  Missouri  Military  Academy,  in 
Jlexico.  Mr.  Smiley  is.  politically  speaking,  a 
Democrat,  hut  prefers  to  use  his  influence  in  a 
quiet,  private  way,  feeling  that  more  good  can 
be  accomplished  in  this  way  than  in  office.  lie  is 
an  active  and  popular  member  of  St.  Clair  Lodge 
Xo.  24,  A.  F.  A!  A.  M.  Mr.  Smiley  and  his  esti- 
mable wife  are  charming  people,  whom  it  is  a 
pleasure  to  meet,  and  they  enjoy  the  respect  and 
esteem  of  the  hosts  of  friends  they  have  made  for 
them.selves.  not  only  in  the  city  of  Belleville,  but 
wherever  tlie\-  have  l)een. 


li^^^ 


;:OSKlMI  KElCIlKirr.  riie  sketch  whicli  we 
now  place  liefore  tiie  public  concerns  the 
President  of  the  Reichert  Milling  Company 
at  Freeburg,  .St.  Claii-  County.  III.  He  is 
the  son  of  .Io.«eph  Keidiert.  wlio  was  liorii.  reared 
and  married  in  (iermany.  For  many  years  he  had 
cherished  Ihougiits  of  the  land  across  the  ocean,  to 
which  .so  many  of  his  countrymen  had  gone  and 
obtained  homes,  and  wlicii  his  family  had  been 
increased  to  the  numliei-  of  i-ighi  beside  himself 
and  wife,  he  decided  to  make  the  long  journey. 
The  biograiiher  has  often  thought  of  the  courage 
that  a  course  of  llii.-  kind  must  have  demanded. 
Many  of  our  (ierman  citizens  had  never  before 
left  the  shadow  of  the  home  tiees  before  they  set 
out  (ni  that  voyage  into  the  strange  country, 
where  the  language  was  unknown  to  them,  and  the 
customs  of  the  i)eo|)le  totally  strange.  However, 
this  record  gives  little  space  for  moralizing.  .SntHce 
that  the  father  of  our  subject  was  one  of  the 
honseholders    who     left     his    (ierman     lioiin-     ami 


with  his  familj-  set  sail  for  America.  They 
arrived  in  New  Orleans  May  i?(l,  1847,  thence 
m.ide  their  way  up  the  Mississippi  River,  and  finally 
settled  in  St.  Clair  County jwhere  they  found  many 
honest,  hard-working  people  from  the  Fatherland. 
There  .Joseph  Reichert  bought  land  adjoining  the 
town  of  Freeburg  and  lived  a  good  and  useful 
life  until  his  death  in  .Tuly.  186'.).  His  birth  oc- 
cuned  .lanuary  24,  171U.  The  aged  motherof  our 
subject  was  born  December  11.  179!),  in  Bargn,  a 
village  of  Baden,  in  Germany, and  died  in  1882. 

After  the  .arrival  of  the  family  in  this  county, 
the  subject  of  our  sketch,  who  was  then  a  sturdy 
boy,  offered  his  services  to  a  neighboring  farmerat 
a  salary  of  *()  a  month  and  was  accepted.  Joseph 
was  at  first  awkward  with  the  cradle,  which  was 
given  hini  with  which  to  cut  the  wheat,  for  this 
rapid  and  convenient  agricultural  implement  was 
totiilly  unknown  to  liim.  But  he  watched  the 
others  and  by  the  second  day  was  able  to  keep  up 
with  th(!  n.en  who  were  receiving  regular  harvest- 
ing wages.  The  lad  was  not  offered  more  paj-.  al- 
though he  did  as  much  work  as  any.  but  he  con- 
tinued here  for  three  months.  In  the  fall  of  the 
year,  he  went  to  St.  Louis  and  learned  the  trade  of 
a  coojier,  remaining  there  about  two  3'ears. 

.Mr.  Heichert  then  returned  to  his  home  and  on 
the  28th  of  October.  18o0,  he  wits  united  in  matri- 
mony with  Miss  Maria  Rautli.  F'rom  this  union 
there  have  been  eleven  children,  eight  of  whom  arc 
still  living:  Louisa,  wife  of  Henry  .Sentli;  Mary, 
wife  of  .Toll n  Curan.  of  Belleville;  George,  living 
at  Freeburg,  and  the  Vice-president  and  manager 
of  the  Heichert  Milling  Company;  Catherine,  wife 
of  Charles  Becker,  a  coal  operator  of  Freeburg; 
William.  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  the  milling 
eompaiiy:  Kiniiia,  wife  of  .John  Reiter,  of  Krci- 
biirg;  Lena,  wife  of  August  Barthel,  of  Belleville; 
and  Ida,  living  at  home. 

For  four  years  succeeding  his  marriage,  our  sub- 
ject followe<l  his  trade  of  cooper  and  with  it  com- 
bined farniing.  but  in  1854  lie  opened  a  cooper 
shoi)  in  Freeburg.  In  18.57,  he  had  become  so  well 
and  favorably  known  that  he  was  elected  Con- 
stable of  the  Fayetlcville  precinct,  which  office 
he  held  until  1MC2.  when  he  resigned  and  went 
iiilii  the  inilliniJ  biisiiu'ss.   Mr.  Reichert  was  obljijed 


538 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


to  go  deeply  in  debt  for  the  mill  property,  but 
this  action  laid  the  foundation  for  that  success 
which  has  crowned  the  efforts  of  his  life.  Fitted 
by  nature  for  this  particular  business,  all  has  gone 
well  with  him. 

During  the  Civil  War.  our  subject  watched 
closely  the  fluctuations  of  the  wheat  and  flour 
markets,  and,  by  taking  advantage  of  the  changes, 
made  a  fortune.  His  practical  knowledge  of  coop- 
ering, combined  with  the  milling  business,  greatly 
aided  him  in  bringing  about  results.  To  be  inde- 
pendent was  his  watchword,  and  he  has  striven  to 
make  all  branches  of  his  business  work  together. 
He  owns  and  controls  a  coal  mine  as  a  valuable 
adjunct  to  his  mill,  and  he  has  bought  several 
farms.  His  eminent  business  qualifications  led  his 
fellow-citizens  to  elect  him  a  member  of  the  Town 
Council,  of  which  body  he  was  made  President, 
holding  the  office  for  seven  or  eight  years,  in 
fact  as  long  as  he  would  accept  it.  Mr.  Reichert 
takes  a  great  interest  in  agricultural  affairs  and 
was  for  Ave  years  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Direc- 
tors of  the  St.  Clair  County  Agricultural  Associ- 
.ation,  serving  one  year  as  Vice-president  of  that 
organization,  and  in  1879  was  chosen  President. 

In  1879,  desiring  to  see  his  old  home  which  he 
had  left  when  a  lad,  our  subject  made  the  trip  to 
his  birthplace  in  Bargn,  Baden,  Germany,  where  he 
was  born  November  17,  1828,  and  after  this  visit 
was  more  than  ever  |)leased  with  the  value  of 
American  institutions.  One  of  the  pleasant  memo- 
ries of  his  life  will  ever  be  his  attendance  upon  tiie 
golden  wedding  of  his  parents  at  the  home  of  his 
brother,  Octciber  1,  18(38.  There  were  gathered 
together  on  that  occasion  eight  children,  thirty- 
four  grandchildren  and  nine  great  grandchildren. 
The  event  was  enlivened  with  music  by  the  Belle- 
ville band,  and  speeches  were  made  by  friends, 
among  them  Father  Bartel,  of  Hanover,  and  Bre- 
feld,  of  Hill;  Maurer,  of  Columbia;  and  Janssen,of 
Mud  Creek.  Altogether,  it  was  an  occasion  of 
much  good  cheer  and  a  source  of  rejoicing  to  the 
father  and  mother. 

Politically,  Mr.  Reichert  has  always  lieen  a  Dem- 
ocrat and  active  in  the  ranks  of  his  party.  This 
pirty,  recognizing  his  worth  and  desiring  his 
services,  have  twice  nominiUod  him  as  Uepresentu- 


tive.  Hosts  of  friends  gather  about  him,  and  the 
general  verdict  is  that  he  has  made  a  success  of  his 
life  because  of  his  promptness  and  energj'  in  every 
emergency.  His  church  is  the  Roman  Catholic  and 
to  that  church  he  looks  for  consolation  in  his  hours 
of  need.  The  family  is  one  of  the  most  prominent 
in  this  part  of  the  conntv. 


^IpTT'RKDKHICK  TKACTMANX.  who  owns  a 
||— j(g^  large  farm  on  section  9,  Caseyville  Town- 
.Ji  ship,  is  a  native    of   our   sister    Republic, 

France.  He  was  born  in  18.38,  in  Alsace,  and  is  a 
son  of  Philip  and  Caroline  (Uueckel)  Trautmann. 
The  parents  of  our  subject  were  both  born  in  the 
same  province.  The  father  was  reared  in  a  village 
and  when  in  his  youth  he  went  to  Paris,  he  en- 
tered the  service  of  a  gentleman  and  worked  for 
some  time  as  his  servant.  After  his  marriage,  he 
carried  on  a  store  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1840.  His  wife  survived  him  about  ten  years. 
Their  family  consisted  of  two  sons:  Philip,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  and  Frederick,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch. 

For  two  3'ears  after  his  mother's  death,  Frederick 
made  his  home  with  an  aunt  and  then  went  to  the 
city  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  saddler  and  harnes.s- 
maker.  After  mastering  that  trade,  he  followed 
the  same  occupation  in  his  native  country,  and  for 
two  years  after  his  arrival  in  the  United  States.  In 
1858,  liidding  adieu  to  his  friends  and  tlie  scenes 
of  his  youth,  he  set  his  face  Westward  and  came  by 
ship  to  America.  He  first  located  in  St.  Louis, 
where  he  engaged  in  harness-making  for  some  time. 
In  1862,  he  purchased  his  present  home  where  he 
has  since  resided.  He  now  owns  a  well-cultivated 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  Illinois, 
and  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  situ- 
ated in  Missouri. 

Ill  St.  Clair  Cuunty,  .Mr.  Trauliiiauu  was  united 
in  matrimony  to  Dorothe  Deck,  daughter  of  Philip 
and  Dorothe  (Koehloeflfer)  Deck.  The  cereiimny 
was    ]jerl'ornR'd    in    1859.     By  llii*    marriage,  six 


LIBRAHY 

01    THE 


^^.tr^^-T-z-e^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  ISlOdUAPIIKAL  RECORD. 


r.4i 


children  were  born  who  are  still  living  and  two 
who  died  in  infancy.  Tliose  who  survive  are: 
Fred,  who  married  Louisa  Haldus;  Emma,  who  is 
the  wife  of  Henry  Stolherg;  Louisa,  who  is  the  wife 
of  .John  Stolberg;  Philip,  Caroline  and  William. 
These  children  have  all  had  the  advantage  of  a 
good  education. 

in  religious  faith.  Mr.  Trautmann's  family  are 
Protestants.  l\)litically,  he  is  a  supporter  of  the 
Republican  [larty  and  takes  an  active  interest  in 
its  welfare,  lie  served  as  Supeivisor  of  Roads  in 
his  township  for  one  year,  to  the  satisfaction  of 
his  fellow-eiti/.ens.  His  large  farms  are  models  of 
thrift  and  bespeak  the  care  and  industry  of  their 
owner.  He  has  a  pleasant  home  which  issurrounded 
by  substantial  farm  buildings.  He  has  always  been 
a  faithful  and  industrious  agriculturist,  and  has 
devoted  his  time  almost  exdusivel^y  to  his  business 
affairs.  Py  a  simple  and  unassuming  life,  he  has 
won  many  friends  who  esteem  him  highly  for  his 
sterlinor  character  and  worth. 


*\fOHN  MEMES.  Men  who  live  in  our  daily 
sight  and  from  an  humble  position  work  out 
^.^  ,  a  truly  noble  character,  are  the  most  valuable 
l^^/  teachers.  The  life  of  Mr.  Niemes  is  full  of 
lessons  of  self-helj)  and  self-respect,  and  shows  the 
efflcac3'  of  these  characteristics  in  gaining  for  a 
man  an  honorable  comi)etence  and  solid  reputation. 
He  is  a  membei'  of  the  lirm  of  Xiemes  &  Reimann, 
contractors  and  builders,  of  East  St.  Louis,  and  is 
one  of  the  most  entcrprisinir  business  men  of  the 
city. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  Henry  Neimes,  was  a 
native  of  Germany,  and  in  that  country  carried 
on  business  as  a  contractor  and  builder.  I  pon 
emigrating  to  America  he  located  iuTivoli.  Dutch- 
ess County,  N.  Y.,  and  there  engaged  in  the  same 
employment.  He  was  accidentally  killed  Iiy  fall- 
ing from  a  building.  In  religious  matters,  he  w.'is 
a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  which  he 
assisted  in  every  way  within  his  power.  The 
principles  of  the  Democratic  party  alwa\'s  received 


his  active  support.  The  mother  of  our  subject, 
Barbara  liCdig,  was  horn  in  Germany,  whence 
she  came  to  America,  living  to  the  advanced 
•age  of  seventy  years.  Of  the  four  children 
born  to  this  worthy  couple,  only  two  remain: 
.lohn,  the  subject  of  this  notice;  and  William, 
a  brave  soldier  in  the  Civil  War,  who  now  resides 
in  Turner's  Falls,  M.ass. 

.lolin  Niemes  was  born  in  Pavaria,  near  Kirchcim, 
(rcrmany,  June  15,  183H.  His  childhood  was 
spent  in  his  native  country  until  he  was  eleven 
years  of  age,  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to 
America.  No  doubt  the  voyage  was  a  great  ex- 
perience for  both  parents  and  children,  but  all 
were  glad  when  the  good  sailingship,  the  "Rhine," 
anchored  at  New  York,  after  a  passage  of  thirty- 
eight  days.  The  bo^'s  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Tivoli,  and  .so  quick  and  intelligent  w.as  .John 
that  in  six  months  he  could  speak  the  English 
language.  His  father  was  a  practical  man,  and, 
when  John  was  sixteen  years  old,  he  took  the  boy 
under  au  apprenticeship  to  himself,  and  taught 
him  brick-liiying. 

In  the  summer  of  18y7,  our  subject  came  West 
to  Chicago,  and  worked  at  his  trade  there  until  he 
went  to  Watertown,  AVis.,  where  he  remained  until 
the  spring  of  1858.  From  that  place  he  removed 
to  St.  I^ouis,  where  he  was  married  January  .'51, 
18(51,  to  Miss  Theresa  Heacker,  who  was  born  in 
Germany  and  reared  in  I^ouisville,  Ky.  In  1H62, 
he  located  permanently  in  East  St.  Louis,  and 
began  building  and  contracting,  and  working  in 
stone  and  brick.  He  erected  the  lleims  Prewery 
the  Franklin  and  Webster  Schools,  and  the  Peatty 
.•ind  Adelle  Plocks,  the  largest  in  the  city.  He 
also  built  the  East  St.  Louis  Water  Works,  and  the 
retaining  wall  on  Proadway  and  Collinsville 
Avenue.  At  times  he  has  employed  as  man\  as 
one  hundred  and  fifty  men. 

In  1883,  Mr.  Niemes  formed  a  partnership  with 
Peter  Reimann,  and  in  1884  opened  the  Falling 
.Springs  Stone  Quarry,  with  railroad  connections. 
He  is  the  owner  of  some  real  estate  in  the  city,  and 
was  a  stockholder  in  the  first  loan  association  in 
the  Workingmen's  Pank.  He  has  been  honored 
by  his  fellow-citizens  by  being  called  upon  to  act 
as  Alderman  for  three  terms,  and   has  served   ac- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ceptalily  on  man.y  different  committees.  He  is  a 
Royal  Avch  Mason  and  Knight  Templar,  and  is 
identified  with  the  Kniglits  of  Honor.  In  his 
political  faith,  Mr.  Xieines  is  a  stanch  Republican, 
and  has  been  a  delegate  to  the  State  and  county 
conventions.  He  has  a  very  fine  lesidence  at  No. 
;127  North  Seventh  Street,  which  is  one  of  the 
most  attractive  homes  of  the  city.  lie  and  his 
wife  are  the  parents  of  five  children:  Frank  .l.,wiio 
IS  in  business  with  his  father;  John  H.,  Cxeorge, 
Theresa  A.  and  Minnie  B.  Mr.  Niemes  is  a  liberal, 
public-spirited  man,  and  a  representative  of  the 
successful  business  men  of  East  St.  Louis. 


-~5- 


^^m>^^<m 


BRAHAM  GRIFFEN  owns  a  farm  on  sec- 
tion 15,  Shiloli  Vallej' Township.  He  was 
•'  born  in  Albany  County,  N.  Y.,  on  the  1st 
of  May,  1843,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and 
Jane  A.  (Peers)  Griffen.  His  father  was  born  in 
Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1805,  and  his  wife  was 
also  born  in  the  Empire  State,  on  the  4th  of  June, 
1810.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject 
was  Jacob  Griffen.  The  father  was  the  youngest 
of  four  sons,  Joseph,  Abraham,  Isaac  and  Jacob, 
who  all  received  good,  common-school  educations. 
Jacob  came  to  Illinois  in  1843  with  his  famil3-and 
settled  near  the  place  where  our  subject  now  lives. 
Previous  to  coming  West  he  had  married  in  New 
York  State  Jane  A.  Peers,  daughter  of  Henry 
Peers.  He  first  carried  on  a  farm  of  forty  acres, 
which  he  received  from  his  brother  Joseph.  He 
operated  that  land  quite  successfully,  but  for  many 
years  previous  to  his  death,  in  1850,  was  in  very 
I)Oor  health.  The  death  of  his  wife  occurred  in 
18811.  In  their  family  wereeightchildren:  Peers; 
Joseph;  Emeline,  who  married  Edwin  Alexander 
and  lias  four  children:  Cora  A.,  Jane  and  Lucy 
(twins),  and  George  E.;  George,  deceased;  Jacob, 
who  makes  his  home  in  Randolph  County,  Mo.; 
Mary,  who  married  Nathaniel  Cox  and  has  a  family 
of  five  children,  of  whom  two,  Isaac  and  Frank,  are 
living;  Isaac,  deceased;  and  Abraham,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  who  completes  the  family.     Isaac 


enlisted  in  Company  A,  One  Hundred  and  Seven- 
teenth Illinois  Infantry,  and  died  during  the  war 
of  lung  troulilc. 

Abraham  Griffen,  who  was  the  youngest  of  his 
father's  family,  lived  with  his  mother  upon  the 
home  farm  until  her  death.  Since  that  time  he 
has  been  in  partnershi|)  with  his  brother  Joseph, 
and  has  engaged  (piite  extensively  in  agricult\iral 
pursuits  and  stock-raising.  They  carry  on  the  old 
homestead  place  and  have  added  to  that  tract  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres,  iniiking  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acios.  The  fai-m  is  higiily  cultivated 
and  shows  on  every  hand  the  attention  and  thrifti- 
ness  of  its  owners.  (_)n  the  place  is  a  substantial 
residence,  barns  and  other  necessary  farm  build- 
ings. By  the  careful  management  of  Mr.  Griffen. 
it  has  steadily  increased  in  value,  and  is  now  con- 
sidered one  of  the  best  farms  of  the  townshiii. 

Our  subject's  father  was  a  AVhig  in  politics,  and 
his  sou  is  a  stanch  sui)p(]rter  of  the  Republican 
principles  and  part\.  Mr.  (iriffen  takes  a  leading 
part  in  local  affairs  and  his  influence  is  devoted  to 
the  advan(e  of  the  best  interests  of  the  community 
in  which  he  resides.  He  has  made  many  friends 
during  his  long  residence  in  this  couTity.  who  es- 
teem him  highly  for  his  worth  and  uiu-ight  char- 
acter. 


y,.y  rtiUST  TIEMANN  is  one  of  the  old  and 
(!3/4!l|  honored  residents  of  the  city  of  Belleville, 
il  for  here  he  has  resided  since  1850.  He  en- 
joys the  reputation  of  lieing  not  only  a 
substantial  and  progressive  citizen,  but  a  thor- 
oughly- posted  man  in  all  iiublic  affairs.  He  has 
always  been  noted  for  honorable,  upright  dealing, 
and  his  example  of  industry  and  his  earnest  and 
sincere  endeavor  to  succeed  in  life  are  well  worthy 
of  imitation  by  the  rising  generation.  He  was  born 
in  Minden,  Prussia,  in  1833,  and,  when  a  boy  of 
fifteen  years,  came  directly  from  that  place  to 
America,  bringing  a  brother  and  two  sisters  younger 
than  himself,  whose  support  fell  upon  his  slender 
and  youthful  shoulders  at  the  death  of  their 
mother.     He  was   not,  afraid   of  work  and  showed 


PORTll-UT  A:ND  BIOGUArilJCAL   KKCORD. 


543 


much  jiiclgineiit  in  looking  after  liis  sisters  and 
brother  and  in  securing  eniploynient  tliat  wouM 
bring  him  tlie  means  of  livelihood. 

Our  subject  learned  tlie  cabinet-maker's  trade. 
at  which  he  worked  for  four  years,  but  upon  cri|)- 
liling  his  arm  he  had  to  seek  otlier  employment, 
when  he  embarked  in  the  hotel  and  saloon  business, 
lie  built  the  Tiemann  House  in  1800  at  the  corner 
of  .Main  and  Mascoutah  .Streets,  a  large  three-story 
brick  building,  in  which  he  is  still  conducting  a 
successful  business.  His  establishment  is  noted  foi 
home-like  appointments,  its  excellent  table  service 
and  its  reasonable  prices.  Mr.  Tiemann  makes  an 
admirable  host,  for  he  is  not  only  anxious  to 
supply  every  want  of  his  guests,  but  he  is  very 
courteous,  genial  and  accommodating.  He  has 
always  been  alive  to  his  own  interests,  has  grasped 
all  opportunities  for  making  money,  but  has  ever 
been  the  soul  of  honor  in  his  l)usiness  transactions 
and  has  the  unbounded  satisfaction  of  knowing 
that  he  has  never  wionged  anyone  or  taken  what 
was  not  rightfully  hi'*. 

Mr.  Tiemann  is  a  prominent  member  of  the 
.Sucker  .State  Drill  Works,  is  one  of  its  largest  stock- 
holders, and  for  some  time  was  President  of  the 
same.  Although  he  has  filled  the  position  of  Al- 
tlerman  and  has  always  manifested  considerable 
interest  in  political  matters,  both  local  and  n.t- 
tional,  he  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  public 
favor,  and  what  honors  he  has  received  in  this  way 
have  come  to  him  unsought. 

Our  subject  was  united  in  raarri.age  to  Miss  Au- 
gusta Henschel,  of  Helleville,  but  who  was  born  in 
Auswalde,  near  Berlin,  (Germany,  and  cthu'  to 
America  in  her  j-outh.  Her  union  witli  Mr.  Tie- 
mann resulted  in  the  birth  of  eight  cliildren: 
Bertha,  the  wife  of  AVilliam  B.  Huff,  of  Hellevillo: 
Lizzie,  wife  of  John  Brosious;  Augusta,  wife  of 
Fred  Sattler:  Ida,  wife  of  ('.  II.  Lennig:  Pauline, 
wife  of  Adolph  Knobeloch;  Kmily,  Lena,  and  Louis 
E.,  who  is  the  third  of  this  family  in  order  of 
birth. 

Louis  K.  Tiemann  was  Ijorn  in  Highland,  111., 
November  12,  185',),  and  was  fortunate  enough 
to  receive  the  greater  part  of  his  scholastic  educa- 
tion in  the  Morgan  Park  Military  Academy,  of 
Chicago,  111.,  after  which    he   obtained  a   practic.il 


education  through  bard  experience  in  the  every- 
day affairs  of  life.  Following  his  school  days,  he 
was  in  tlie  wholesale  grocery  business  in  St.  Louis 
until  his  father  was  disabled,  when  he  returned  to 
Melleville,  in  1882,  and  at  the  present  time  is  the 
etfieient  and  succe.-^sful  manager  of  the  Park  Theater 
and  Garden,  also  of  a  saloon  opposite  the  Air  Line. 
He  is  the  city  bill  poster  and  the  .agent  for  the  An- 
heuser-Busch Brewery  of  .St.  Louis.  He  is  a  wide- 
awake young  man,  prompt  and  energetic,  honorable 
and  courteous,  and  the  establishments  over  which 
he  has  control  are  quiet,  yet  very  popular,  places  of 
resort  and  are  patronized  by  the  elite  of  the  city. 
Mr.Tiem.ann,  Jr.,is  a  stockholder  of  the  Williams' 
Lirery  Stable,  which  is  a  well-patronized  establish- 
ment, owing  to  the  fact  that  it  is  supiilied  with 
excellent  vehicles  of  all  description,  and  good 
horses  that  arc  properly  cared  for  and  are  always 
read}'  for  use.  He  is  Vice-president  of  the  State 
Bill  Posters'  Association,  and  has  in  various,  other 
ways  shown  that  he  is  a  man  of  progressive  and 
independent  ideas.  September  20,  1882.  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Laura  Wilding,  by  whom  he  has 
three  sons:  Leon,  Clarence  and  Xorinaii. 


HILIP  M.  OrXDL.VCII.  Among  the  man- 
,  m  nfacturing  corporations  of  Belleville  whose 
capital,  energy  and  enterprise  have  been 
and  are  the  most  important  factors  in  the 
development  of  the  resources  and  expansion  of 
the  trade  in  the  city,  may  be  mentioned  the  fac- 
tory established  and  carried  on  by  Mr.  Gundlach 
for  the  manufacture  of  grain  drills.  .Mthongh 
small  in  its  inception,  it  has  rapidly  exjianded  to 
Us  present  dimensions,  and  now  occupies  a  posi- 
tion among  the  largest  houses  of  the  State.  Its 
success  is  entirely  due  to  the  push  and  persever- 
ance of  the  owner,  and  it  will  therefore  be  of  in- 
terest to  note  a  few  facts  with  reference  to  his 
life  and  work. 

July   13,  1831,  Mr.  Gundlach    was   born    in   the 
Dukedom  of  Nassau,  the  village    of    Niederhaeg- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


stadt,  near  Frankfort-on-tlie-Main,  Prussia.  His 
parents  were  Pliilip  and  Susie  (Scliitz)  Gundlaeli, 
natives  of  the  same  i)laee  as  himself.  The  father, 
whose  occupation  was  that  of  a  farmer,  was  in 
Gen.  Blucher's  army  at  the  famous  battle  of 
Waterloo.  To  him  is  diie  the  credit  for  the  intro- 
duction of  the  process  of  burning  briclvS  by  coal. 

On  coming  to  America  in  1842,  Mr.  Gundlach, 
Sr.,  located  three  miles  east  of  lielleville,  where 
lie  purchased  a  half-section  of  land  and  made  his 
home  until  death  terminated  his  career  in  1862. 
at  the  age  of  seventy-one.  His  widow  survived 
him  some  years,  passing  away  at  the  age  of 
eighty-five  years.  They  were  the  parents  of  five 
eiiildren,  of  whom  Philip  M.  was  the  youngest, 
the  others  being:  John  and  J.acob,  wiio  reside 
upon  the  old  homestead;  Maiy,  the  widow  of  Ily- 
cinta  Germain;  and  Kate,  whose  husband  was  the 
late  .John  Biebel.  Thev  all  reside  in  or  near  the 
city  of  Belleville,  and  are  highly  respected  in  the 
community. 

When  a  child  of  about  eleven  years,  our  subject 
accompanied  his  parents  to  America,  and  with 
them  came  to  Belleville,  where  he  grew  to  a  vig- 
orous manhood  upon  his  father's  farm.  His  edu- 
cation, which  was  meagre,  was  obtained  in  the 
schools  of  the  vicinity,  but  his  lime  was  princi- 
pallv  devoted  to  agricultural  puisuils.  His  mar- 
riage occurred  May  17,  1855,  when  he  was  about 
twenty-three,  and  he  was  then  united  with  Miss 
Eleanor  Boehning,  whose  native  home  was  in 
Germany.  Their  children  are:  Susie,  who  mar- 
ried S.  Poirot  and  resides  in  Missouri;  John, 
Philip  A.,  Alois  and  Joseph,  who  are  employed  in 
the  factory  and  are  sturdy,  self-reliant  yoking 
men. 

In  1858,  Mr.  Gundlach  began  to  manufacture 
grain  drills,  on  which  he  secured  letters  patent. 
The  commencement  of  the  enterprise  was  small, 
and  during  the  first  year  of  its  existence  the 
manufactory  turned  out  only  twenty-five  ma- 
chines. It  has  increased  to  such  an  extent  that 
thev  now  have  an  immense  plant,  making  about 
two  thousand  grain  drills  per  year  and  furnish- 
ing steady  work  to  one  hundred  employes.  The 
demand  for  the  goods  is  proved  by  the  fact  that 
the  sales  each  vear  usually  average  .5!80,()00.     The 


establishment,  in  fact,  is  one  which  reflects  credit 
upon  the  enterprise  and  acumen  of  its  founder. 
The  family  residence  is  an  elegant  and  commodi- 
ous house,  surrounded  h^v  sixty  acres  of  fine  land 
north  of  the  city  limits,  where  the  plant  is  lo- 
cated. 


l^+^l 


"if/  .VMES  DliJCN,  who  for  nearly  three-score 
years  has  lived  in  this  county,  owns  a  farm 
on  section  15,  Stookey  Township,  lie  was 
born  on  the  same  farm  where  he  now  lives, 
in  1833,  and  was  a  son  of  Peter  and  Susan  Dunn. 
His  father  was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York  in 
181)8,  but  his  wife  was  of  a  very  old  pioneer 
family  (^f  Illinois,  and  wasboin  in  St.  Clair  County 
a  few  jears  later  than  her  husband.  The  father 
lost  his  parents  when  he  w.as  very  young,  and 
from  that  time  on  he  was  thrown  among  strangers. 
The  first  family  with  which  he  made  his  home 
treated  him  so  unkindly  that  he  ran  away  from 
them. 

Believing  in  the  great  possibilities  for  a  young 
man  possessed  of  determination  and  enterprise, 
Peter  Dunn  came  to  Illinois,  and  was  soon  after- 
ward married  in  this  county  to  Miss  Susan,  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Krsilla  Teeter.  They  had  a  family 
of  four  children,  as  follows:  Adeline,  wife  of  John 
Boul;  ^lary  A.,  wife  of  Walter  Gown;  Maria,  now 
deceased,  formerly  the  wife  of  Matthew  Stookey; 
and  James,  our  subject.  After  coming  to  Illinois, 
iSIr.  Dunn  entered  a  tr.act  of  Government  land,  the 
same  on  which  his  son  now  resides.  When  he  first 
located  in  this  county,  he  had  no  means,  but  bor- 
rowed the  money  to  enter  this  piece  of  inopcrty. 
By  his  industry  and  economy  he  made  a  good 
home,  and  before  his  death  had  accumulated  about 
eight  hundred  acres  of  fine, arable  land.  The  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  James  Dunn,  was  a  native  of 
Ireland,  and  came  to  this  country  in  the  early 
[larl  of  the  present  century. 

Mr.  Dunn,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  was 
united  in  marriage  in  1857  with  Martha  Pulse, 
who  is  a  daughter  of  Louis  and  Jane  Pulse.  To 
our  worthy  subject  and  his  wife  were   liorn    eight 


%.^*'^ 
^h^ 


y 


w'* 


NNIV*^"^ 


POklliAir  AND  IJKKiUAl'lllCAL  RPX'ORD. 


54  7 


t-hildrcn,  four  of  wliom  died  in  infancy.  Those  sar- 
viving  aie  Maria,  the  wife  of  Kdwaid  fiump;  .lane; 
Susan,  wife  of  Fred  Murker;  and  Madii^on.  Tlie 
motiier  of  tliese  t-iiildren  departed  this  life  in  I87(), 
mourned  by  a  large  circle  of  friends. 

Like  his  father  before  liim.Mr.  Dunn  is  a  stanch 
Democrat.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
to  which  he  gives  his  loyal  support.  His  duties  of 
citizenship  are  always  faithfully  performed,  and 
.as  is  indicated  by  his  success  and  prosperity  in 
life,  he  has  always  attended  strictly  and  exclusively 
to  his  large  farm  and  business  interests.  His  life 
work  w.as  begun  by  renting  his  father's  farm,  and 
after  the  death  of  his  father  he  came  into  pos.«e>s- 
ion  of  a  large  portion  of  the  estate,  and  by  toil  and 
perseverance  has  added  to  the  original  tract  until 
he  now  po.ssesses  three  hundred  and  eighty-one 
acres  of  as  fine  land  .as  can  be  found  in  the  county. 
])uring  his  long  years'  residence  in  this  locality,  he 
has  won  the  respect  and  esteen»  of  many  friends 
and  acquaintances. 


^^€#^^ii•^^•|^i■ 


^^  HAUl.KS  IIAI'SS.  A  leading  and  popular 
(ti  house  identified  with  the  trade  in  hardware 

'^^^  specialties,  stoves  and  house-furnishing 
goods,  is  that  of  which  Mr.  Hauss  is  the  proprietor, 
located  at  the  corner  of  Collins  and  Missouri  Ave- 
nue.<.  Mr.  Hauss  was  born  in  (ierniany,  at  Baden 
on  the  Rhine,  in  which  section  his  father,  Charles 
Hauss,  was  also  born.  When  the  Revolution  of 
1818  opened,  he  left  that  country  with  his  wife 
and  two  sons  and  came  lo  America,  settling  at 
Louisville,  Ky. 

Ch.arles  Hau.ss  was  the  eldest  of  this  family  and 
was  reared  in  Louisville,  in  the  |)ublic  schools  of 
which  city  he  .acquired  a  practical  education.  At 
the  age  of  seventeen  years  he  was  apprenticed  to 
a  tinsmith,  and  at  the  end  of  three  years  began 
working  as  a  journeyman.  In  December,  1862, he 
began  working  at  his  trade  in  St.  Louis,  but  in 
April  of  the  following  year  he  came  to  East  St. 
Louis,  and  for  three  years  w.as  in  the  employ  of 
the  Ohio   lir    Mississippi    Railroad   Company.     In 


1866,  he  opened  a  tin  and  hardware  store,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Schaub  tt  Hauss,  but  in  1868  he 
sold  out  to  Mr.  Schaub,  and  embarked  in  the  same 
business  on  Missouri  Avenue.  In  1885,  he  built 
his  i)resent  business  block,  whicli  is  oOxUd  feet, 
made  of  pressed  brick,  two  stories  and  a  basement 
in  height.  He  occupies  one  of  the  stores  himself. 
an(i  the  other  is  used  as  the  Postotlice.  Ho  is  a 
stockholder  and  Director  in  the  Building  and  Loan 
.■Vs.>*ociation,  and  in  1890  formed  a  stock  company 
known  as  the  Hauss  Stove  cV  Hardware  Co.,  of 
which  he  became  President.  C.  V.  Hauss.  Vice-pres- 
ident, and  William  H.  Hauss.  Secretary.  The  cap- 
ital stock  is*ir),00(). 

Tinware  of  an  excellent  quality  i>  manufactured, 
and  a  large  stock  of  all  articles  in  his  line  of  trade 
is  kept  constantly  on  li;iud.  Mr.  Hauss  was  mar- 
ried here  in  186.5  to  Miss  Anna  C.  Hecker.  who 
was  born  in  W'ashlenaw  County,  Mich., and  died  in 
1889,  having  become  the  mother  of  three  children: 
C.  F.  and  William  11..  who  are  associates  in  busi- 
ness, and  Ed  A.,  who  resides  in  Detroit.  Mr. 
Hauss"  second  marriage  was  to  Miss  Louise  Zin- 
graff,  who  was  born  in  the  Buckeye  State.  He  has 
always  been  a  stanch  adherent  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  from  1890  to  1892  was  an  Alderman 
from  the  Fourth  Ward.  His  establishment  ranks 
A  1  in  extent  of  trade  and  excellence  of  reputa- 
tion, and  in  his  dealings  with  the  public  Mr.  Hauss 
is  prompt,  reliable  and  energetic,  and  is  very  popu- 
lar in  the  commnnitv. 


y^'  HARLES  KARCII,  a  well-to-do  and  ener- 
!|  ,  getic  farmer  residing  on  section  .'^1.  Engel- 
^^'  man  Township,  w.as  born  on  the  2d  vf 
June,  1843,  on  what  is  now  the  Stopli  farm,  in 
F'reeburg  Township,  St.  Clair  County.  The  family 
numbered  five  children.  The  parents  were  Ernest 
and  Catherine  (Seip)  Karch,  the  former  a  native 
of  Saxony,  Germany,  and  the  latter  of  Hesse-Darm- 
stadt. In  18:53,  Ernest  Karch  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica, locating    first   on    Dutch    Hill,  and  after   his 


PORTRAIT  AND  BlOORArillCAL   RECORD. 


inaniage  lie  took  up  his  residence  near  Mascoutali, 
in  what  is  now  Freebiirg  Township.  However,  lie 
lived  tlieru  but  a  sliort  time  when,  in  1850,  he  re- 
moved to  a  farm  (ni  section  31,  Engelman  Town- 
ship, the  same  upon  which  our  subject  now  re- 
sides. Tliere  lie  made  his  home  until  1854,  >\hen 
he  removed  to  Fa_yetteville,  where  he  resided  until 
1858.  Mis  death  occurred  on  the  30th  of  January 
of  that  3'ear.  His  wife  still  survives  him  and  has 
now  reached  an  advanced  age.  Only  two  of  their 
children  are  now  living:  Charles  of  this  sketch, 
and  Gustave  E.,  who  is  engaged  in  mercantile 
business  in  Colorado. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  public  schools, 
and  was  earl.y  inured  to  the  labors  of  the  farm,  bo- 
ginning  work  in  the  fields  as  soon  as  he  was  old 
enough  to  handle  a  jilow.  To  agricultural  pursuits 
he  has  devoted  his  time  and  attention  throughout 
his  entire  life,  and  he  now  owns  a  fine  and  valua- 
ble farm, comprising  two  hundred  and  seventy-sis^ 
acres  of  land,of  vvhicli  two  hundred  and  thirty-six 
acres  are  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  yielding 
a  ready  return  for  tiie  care  and  labor  bestowed 
upon  it  by  the  owner.  Wiieat  is  his  principal  crop. 
He  has  made  all  the  improvements  upon  the  place 
and  the  farm  is  complete  in  all  its  appointments, 
supplied  with  all  modern  conveniences  and  ever}'- 
tliing  pertaining  to  a  model  farm  of  the  nineteenth 
century. 

On  the  17th  of  October,  18G7,  Mr.  Karch  was 
mariied  to  Miss  Mary  Heberer,  daughter  of  George 
Henry  Heberer,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Free- 
burg  Township.  They  began  their  domestic  life 
upon  the  farm  which  is  still  their  home,  and  their 
union  has  been  blessed  with  a  famil}'  of  three  chil- 
dren: Gustave.  who  is  now  twenty-four  years  of 
age;  Laura,  a  young  lady  of  twenty-one  sum- 
mers, and  Charles,  a  j'outh  of  seventeen,  who  is 
now  a  student  in  the  State  Normal  University  of 
Normal,  111. 

Socially,  Mr.  Karch  is  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Honor  of  Mascontah,  and  in  his  political  atlili- 
ations  is  a  stalwart  Republican, warmly-  advocating 
the  principles  of  that  party.  He  has  held  the  olHce 
of  School  Treasurer  continuously  since  1880,  a  fact 
indicating  his  personal  popularity  and  the  con- 
fidence reposed  in  him.     He  was  also  Supervisor  of 


the  township  for  one  term  and  has  been  School 

I   Director  in  his  district.     His  entire   life   has  been 

I   spent  in  this  county,witli  the  exception  of  a  short 

I    period    passed    in    Colorado    on    a    visit    to    his 

brother.     His    honorable,  upright  career  has  won 

him  many  friends  and  he  has  the  high   regard  of 

all  with  whom  he  has  been  brf)us3;ht  in  contact. 


•fe^ 


=^ 


'KM  AURICE  F.  TJSSJER.  A  potent  influence 
in  all  matters  jjertaining  to  the  welfare  of 
East  St.  Louis  and  vicinity  is  wielded  by 
the  Weekly  Hei-ald,  a.  favorite  paper  among 
the  cj^ks^is  of  St.  Clair  County.  The  editor,  Mr. 
Tis^ijerj'^Js  a  fWf'cible  and  pleasing  writer,  and  pre- 
sents hews  from  the  world  at  large,  as  well  as  a 
complete  report  of  local  affairs.  The  paper  is  a 
five-column  quarto,  issued  weekly,  and  was  for- 
merly Democratic  in  its  political  affiliations,  but  is 
now  independent,  supporting  those  measures  and 
men  best  adapted  to  promote  the  general  progress 
of  the  community. 

Mr.  Tissier  was  born  in  Florisant,  .St.  Louis 
County,  Mo.,  on  Christinas  Day,  1853.  His  fa- 
ther, Francis,  was  a  native  of  the  canton  of  A'alais, 
Switzerland,  and  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Mary  Tormaz,  was  ^Iso  there  born,  of  .Swiss- 
French  parentage.  The  father  was  a  tailor  by 
trade, and  followed  that  occupation  in  his  native 
country,  from  which  he  emigrated  to  America  in 
1849,  and  sojourned  for  a  time  in  Chicago.  From 
that  place  he  removed  to  Wisconsin  early  in  the 
'50s,  and  was  there  engaged  first  in  the  lumber 
business,  but  later  came  to  St.  Louis  and  began 
business  as  a  grocer.  At  present,  he  is  success- 
fully following  mercantile  pursuits  at  No.  1443 
Biddle  Street,  St.  Louis,  and  is  a  prominent  and 
prosperous  business  man. 

Of  the  eight  children  born  to  Francis  and  Mary 
Tissier,  only  two  are  now  living,  Maurice  F.,  be- 
ing the  elder,  and  Joseph,  who  is  still  single  and 
remains  with  his  parents.  Maurice's  boyhood 
days  were  passed  in  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  and  he 
was  the  recipient  of  an  excellent  education.      Dur- 


I'ORrRAIT  AND  BIOGKAPIIICAL  RECORD. 


.'.i;i 


iiig  18(i5-(!7,  ho  wms  a  sliidcMit  ;il  tlie  Christian 
Brotiiei!-'  Colleop,  later  alteiideil  St.  Vincent  (Ol- 
les^e  at  Caiie  fiirardeau.  Mo.,  for  liueo  \ears,  and. 
lastly,  entered  St.  ^'ineent's  Seniin.<irv,  German- 
town,  Pa.,  where  he  cninpleted  tlie  eonrse  of  study, 
and  graduated  in  IsTl  with  the  degree  of  Bach- 
elor of  Art.-!.  It  will  thus  he  seen  that  he  was  af- 
forded splendid  educational  opportunities,  and  to 
say  that  ho  availed  himself  to  the  utmost  of  his 
advantages  is  hut  to  state  what  actually  occurred. 
.Some  years  after  graduating,  the  degree  of  Master 
of  Arts  was  conferred  upon  liini. 

Returning  to  St.  I.ouis  at  the  close  of  his  col- 
lege life.  ^Ir.  Tissicr  embarked  in  commercial  pur- 
suits, and  from  the  first  success  rewarded  his 
efforts.  In  1875,116  commenced  in  the  grocery 
busine.s.s  on  the  Island,  and  wsis  thus  engaged  for  a 
few  years,  his  fair  dealing  and  uprightness  in  busi- 
ness transactnjus  winning  for  him  a  large  trade,  as 
well  as  a  high  place  in  the  regard  of  those  win  mi 
he  met.  The  M.ayor  of  East  St.  l.ouis  in  1877  ,ip- 
pointed  him  City  Clerk,  in  which  place  he  <  tlici- 
ated  to  the  satisfaction  ot  ;dl.  In  1877,  he  was 
also  appointed  Notary  rnbiic  by  (lov.  CuUom. 
and  has  since  held  that  position.  .Since  the  in- 
ception of  the  Kiii<t  St.  Louis  Herald  in  1878,  he 
has  had  charge  of  its  editorial  department,  as  well 
as  of  the  general  oversight  of  it*  business  manage- 
ment. ItvS  job  ottice  is  now  one  of  the  best 
eijuipped  in  the  county,  and  contains  cvervlhing 
nece.s.sar\'  for  flret-class  work  in  that  line.  In  ad- 
dition to  his  editorial  duties,  Mr.  Ti.ssier  is  serving 
as  Justice  of  the  Peace,  to  which  office  he  was 
elected  in  1888.  At  that  time  his  election  wa> 
contested,  but  he  brought  suit  and  fought  the 
case  in  the  Sui)reme  Coiut,  the  result  being  a  de- 
cision in  his  favor. 

At  East  St.  Louis,  .\ugust  18,  1875,  Mr.  Tissier 
wa-s  married  to  Mi.ss  Catherine  Meyers,  who  was 
born  in  Carondelet,  St.  I-ouis  County,  her  parents 
being  August  Meyei-s  and  Mary  (Annette)  Mey- 
ers. Of  the  marriage  there  liave  been  born,  as 
Mr.  Tissier  says,  "one  boy  for  every  day  in 
the  week  and  one  girl  for  Sunday."  They  are 
Louis,  Marv,  Maurice,  Joseph,  Frank,  Charles  and 
Paul.  The  children  are  all  at  home,  and  the  eld- 
est son.  Louis,  is   assisting  his  father  in  the  man- 


agement of  the  Herald.  In  religious  matters,  .Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Tissier  are  identified  with  St.  Patrick's 
Catholic  Church,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  or- 
ganizations known  as  the  Catholic  Knights  of 
.\merica  ami  of  Illinois.  .Successful  in  his  busi- 
ness pursuits,  .Mr.  Ti.ssier  has  become  the  owner  of 
some  real  estate,  and  has  gained  that  which  is  bel- 
ter still — the  esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens. 


1/,^  ERMANN  OTTEX.  The  subject  of  thi- 
[r  j:  sketch  spends  the  days  of  his  niatining 
^^^''    manhood    beneath     the    same    roof    under 

(^^)  which  he  was  born.  His  i^arents  were  Her- 
mann and  Anna  (Wincklcr)  Often,  both  natives 
of  Hanover.  (Jennany.  The  father  of  Hermann' 
Ottcii.  Sr..  was  Hermann  Henry  Ottcn.  a  native  nf 
(icrinany.  in  whic'h  country  he  iiursucd  the  trade 
of  wagon-maker  and  reniaiiicd  until  the  time  of 
his  death. 

Hermann  Otten,  .Sr.,  father  of  (uir  subject,  re- 
ceived a  good  common-school  education  in  Ins  na- 
tive country,  and  after  leaving  school  adopted  the 
trade  of  his  father  and  grandfather,  that  of  wagon - 
maker.  He  inherited  no  small  amount  of  skill, 
and  with  an  aptitude  for  stud}^,  natural  (luickness 
and  ability,  he  was  recognized  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen as  one  who  had  thorough  I}'  m.istered  the 
trade  to  which  he  had  devoted  himself  as  a  means 
of  livelihood.  His  natural  ambition  and  laudable 
industry  perceived  in  the  [jossibilities  of  his  Eathei-- 
land  but  a  limited  field  for  enterprise,  and  soon 
after  acquiring  his  trade  and  being  pronounced  a 
competent  workman,  he  sought  the  shores  of  the 
New  W(uld  as  a  better  field  for  labor.  It  was  in 
his  sixteenth  year  that  he  started  for  America  in 
a  sailing-vessel  and  landed  in  this  country  at  New- 
Orleans,  La.  From  New  Orleans  he  sailed  up  the 
river  to  St.  Louis,  at  which  place  he  followed  his 
trade  for  several  years,  and  from  there  he  went  to 
St.  Joe,  where  he  worked  as  wagon-maker  for  two 
years.  In  1852  he  married,  his  bride  l)eing  Miss 
Anna  Wincklcr.  also  a  native  of  Hanover,  born 
there  about  the  year  1820.     The  resultsof  this  mar- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


liage  wei-e  seven  cliildren,  namely:  Rosa,  deceased; 
Hermann,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  William; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Bainard  Stumpier;  Anna,  wife  of 
Barnai-d  Lohmann;  Mary,  deceased;  and  Joseph. 
Three  years  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Otteu,  Sr., 
moved  with  his  family  to  St.  Clair  County  and  set- 
tled at  St.  Libor^f,  where  with  but  a  small  capital  he 
opened  and  operated  a  general  store.  He  proved 
himself  as  capable  a  merchant  as  tradesman,  and 
with  thrift,  industry,  prudence  and  foresight,  con- 
tinued to  build  up  his  business  and  became  recog- 
nized as  one  of  St.  Clair  County's  solid  merchants. 
In  addition  to  following  his  mercantile  pursuits, 
he  became  one  of  the  Grist  Mill  Company,  of  St. 
Clair  County,  and  also  operated  a  farm  for  five 
j'ears  with  the  same  amount  of  success  which  char- 
acterized his  other  enterprises. 

In  religion,  he  was  a  member  and  strict  adher- 
ent of  the  tenets  of  the  Catholic  Church,  in  which 
body  he  was  respected  and  looked  to  for  the  as- 
sistance which  he  ever  liherallj' liestowed.  His  po- 
litical sympathies  were  witii  the  Republican  party, 
and  his  support  was  counted  on  at  all  elections  by 
the  representatives  of  that  body  in  St.  Clair 
Count>-.  He  departed  this  life  in  the  year  1874, 
being  then  fifty-four  years  old,  and  will  always  be 
remembered  in  the  community  in  which  he  spent 
a  greater  portion  of  his  life  as  a  man  of  sterling 
characteristics,  strong  principle,  and  one  ever 
ready  to  promote  the  interests  and  welfare  of  his 
fellow-meu.  His  wife  survived  him,  and  after- 
ward became  the  wife  of  Henry  Nienaber.  She  is 
still  living  and  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  esti- 
mable ladies  in  St.  Clair  County. 

Hermann  Otten,  Jr.,  whose  biography  we  are 
writing,  was  born  March  16,  1857,  and  is  nowcarrj'- 
ing  on  business  in  the  house  within  whose  walls  he 
Hrst  saw  the  light.  He  received  a  good  common- 
school  education  and  profited  by  the  educational 
opportunities  afforded  him  in  tiie  township  in 
which  he  was  raised. 

In  the  year  1880,  at  the  age  of  twenty-three 
years,  he  married  Miss  Katie  Shoemakei-,  daughter 
of  Henry  and  Katie  Shoemaker,  and  the  result  of 
this  union  was  one  son,  who  is  now  dead.  His 
first  misfortune  after  assuming  the  responsibilities 
of  wedlock  was  the  loss  of  his  wife,  a  most  popular 


and  agreeable  lady,  who  depaited  this  life  in  1881. 
After  her  death  our  subject  married  Miss  Theresa 
Miller,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Theresa  (Ding- 
worth)  Sliller,  and  to  them  were  born  seven  chil- 
dren, only  one  of  whom  is  now  living,  their  daugii- 
ter  Jlary. 

Hermann  Otten,  Jr.,  commenced  life  in  the  year 
1880  on  a  farm,  and  aftei'  a  few  years  acquired 
enough  by  patient  industry  and  economy  to  start 
in  business  for  himself.  He  has  kept  saloon  in  St. 
Clair  County  for  many  years  and  is  I'espected  by 
all  who  know  him.  In  polities  he  is  a  Republican, 
and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  active  members  in 
the  Roman  Catholic  Church.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Catholic  Knights  of  Ireland,  a  Catholic 
order  of  Illinois.  Our  subject  has  held  the  office 
of  Collector  of  the  township  and  is  n(jw  Townshi|) 
Clerk. 


"if  ACOB  GAUCH.  The  subject  of  this  mem- 
orial sketcii  has  passed  away  from  the  scenes 
of  life,  but  this  record  shows  that  a  man  of 
his  Christian  character  is  not  forgotten. 
Jacob  Gauch  was  born  on  the  11th  of  August,  1819, 
at  Alpstein,  in  Germany,  where  he  was  reared  un- 
til he  came  to  America  with  his  parents  when  a 
boy.  They  first  located  in  New  York,  then  went 
to  Pittsburgh  and  later  came  to  St.  Clair  County. 
Here  the  parents  entered  land  and  remained  until 
their  death. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  on  tlie 
7th  of  January,  184;),  to  Miss  Anna  Maria  Skaer, 
the  amiable  daughter  of  Jacob  Skaer,  who  w.as  boi'n 
in  Germany  in  1827,  and  was  nearly  nineteen 
\ ears  old  when  she  came  to  this  country.  After 
marriage,  Mr.  Gauch  and  his  wife  first  located  on 
section  14  and  here  Mr.  Gauch  resided  until  his 
death,  whicli  occurred  February  27,  1871,  lamented 
by  all.  He  lived  a  life  of  peace  and  good- 
will and  left  ten  of  the  twelve  children  born  to 
him  to  mourn  the  loss  of  a  good  father.  Mary 
died  at  the  age  of  two   years;  J.acob  lives  in  Belle- 


LIBRARY 

Of   ^HE 
lINiVfRSlTY  Uf   (LIINOIS. 


Or 


O^/KZ/riy 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOiiRAPHICAL   Rl-XORD. 


.553 


ville  and  is  engaged  in  the  livery  and  undertak- 
ing business;  Henry  lives  at  Rentchler  Station 
and  IS  a  farmer;  Louisa  died  at  tlie  age  of  twcntv- 
four  years;  Edwaid  lives  on  a  fnnn  in  Monroe 
Countj-;  .Toliu  William  died  at  the  age  of  eleven 
months;  Sophia  Helena  married  diaries  Gross,  who 
lives  at  Waterloo,  III.;  Kmma  Lena  married  Henry 
Press,  who  lives  in  St.  Louis;  Matilda  married 
.loseph  Wilderman.  who  lives  in  Freeburg,  and 
Philip  Adam  and  Eliza  Johanna  at  iiome.  Annie 
Mary  died  at  the  age  of  eleven  years. 

Mrs.  (Taueh.  the  relict  of  the  subject  of  this  notice. 
has  one  hundred  and  forty-five  acres  of  land  on 
which  she  lives.  This  is  the  old  home  place, and  as 
her  husband  w.as  a  successful  farmer,  she  has  every- 
thing verv  comfortable  around  her.  .lacob  Gauch 
and  family  were  all  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  at  Freeburg,  of  which  Mr.  (iauch  was  a 
Trustee.  He  was  highly  regarded  in  it,  and  his 
presence  was  always  welcome,  and  now  his  absence 
is  deeply  felt.  This  testimony  is  given  of  a  good 
man. 


I^^TEPIIAN  \  Alll.KA.MI'.  Mayor  of  Fsxy- 
^^^  etteville,  deserves  worthy  mention  as  be- 
\£^'  "^-^  *""^  '^^  ''"^  most  useful  members  of  his 
community.  He  is  a  native  of  Prussia, 
and  was  born  .Inly  II.  1839.  His  parents,  Theo- 
dore and  Anna  (Borgmann)  A'ahlkamp.  were  born 
near  the  same  place  as  our  subject,  the  father's 
birth  occurring  in  179'2.  and  the  mother's  in  18(io. 
Theodore  \'ahlkamp  received  his  earlv  training 
on  a  farm  situated  on  the  out.-kirts  of  a  Prussian 
village.  He  received  the  education  of  his  earlv 
boyhood  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  vil- 
lage, and  aftervvaid  was  a  pupil  in  a  Hiijii  School 
of  the  province.  At  tlie  age  of  twenty-two  lie 
turned  his  atteiition  to  ilie  trade  of  a  stonemason, 
.and  became  so  proficient  iii  this,  his  chosen  line  of 
work,  that  lie  soon  added  tlie  business  of  con- 
tractor and   builder. 

Native  energy,  enterprise  and  true  business 
ability  brought  Theodore  \ahlkamp  success  in 
his    native    land,  and  at  the  age    of    tweutv-eia:ht 


years  he  had  amassed    a   competence   sufHcient  to 

qualify  him  in  assuming  the  responsibilities  of 
the  head  of  a  family.  He  and  his  wife  became 
tlie  parents  of  eleven  children,  three  of  whom 
died  in  early  childhood,  and  eight  grew  to  ma- 
turity. 'I'hey  are  resjiectively:  Henry;  Chris- 
tina, wife  of  Albert  Donewald;  Gertrude,  who 
is  the  wife  of  ISIatthew  Diekampcr;  Bernard; 
Fred,  deceased;  Stephan.  the  subject  of  our 
sketch:  George;  and  Mary,  wife  of  F.  Erhard. 
Theodore  ^'ahlkamp  amas.sed  quite  a  fortune  in 
his  native  land,  but  the  tide  of  emigration  set  in 
near  his  native  home,  and  in  1848  he  concluded 
to  try  his  fortune  in  other  lands,  and  together 
with  his  wife  and  children  embarked  for  America. 

On  his  arrival  in  the  United  States  Theodore 
A'alilkamp  located  in  .St.  Clair  County,  III.,  and 
soon  became  convinced  of  its  great  possibilities  as 
a  farming  country.  His  first  investment  was  one 
of  several  thousand  dollars,  with  which  he  l)ouglit 
a  large  tract  of  land  and  turned  his  attention  to 
farming.  This  venture  was  crowned  with  success, 
and  the  results  of  his  keen  judgment,  great  en- 
ergy, and  executive  ability,  soon  netted  him  a 
competence  in  this  then  new  district.  He  l:)ecame 
thoroughly  absorbed  in  his  farming  interests,  and 
never  resumed  his  trade  after  settling  in  this 
country.  He  is  well  remembered  in  the  commun- 
ity as  one  of  its  solid  citizens,  a  man  of  sterling 
character,  and  upright  in  his  dealings  with  his 
fellowtnen.  He  was  a  communicant  in  the  Catlio- 
lic  (luircli.  in  which  body  his  assistance  could  al- 
wa\s  he  reliecl  on.  His  political  sympathies  were 
enlisted  on  tin-  side  of  Democr.acy,  and  he  w'as 
ever  ready  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  promote  lli(( 
interests  of  his  party.  He  dei)arted  this  life  in 
18.')it,  his  wife  surviving  him  twenty  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch.  Stephan  Vahlkamp, 
assumed  the  responsibilities  of  his  own  support  at 
the  age  of  twenty-one  years.  He  had  been  reared 
on  a  farm  aad  therefore  tiiiin'(l  to  good  account 
the  intelligence  gleaned  under  his  father's  surveil- 
lance by  entering  the  arena  of  the  working  world 
as  a  f:irmer.  Shortly  after  establishing  himself, 
he  married  Elizabeth  Rank,  daughter  of  David 
and  Katherine  (Kocher)  Rank.  The  result  of  their 
union  was  eleven  children,  live  of   whom   are   ytii 


554 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


living,  i]amel.y:  Theodore;  Ida,  wife  of  Bernard 
Dressier;  Sophia,  who  married  Hermann  Dressier; 
Ilenrj-  and  Jolin.  In  the  year  1889,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Valillvamp,  a  lady  of  most,  excellent  and  endear- 
ing finalities,  passed  away.  Some  time  after  lier 
demise  Mr.  A'alilliamp  married  Miss  Angelica 
Oeier,  a  daiigliter  of  Anton  and  Anna  (Tcier. 

The  business  life  of  Mr.  "N'ahlkamp  dates  back 
to  1865,  when  he  opened  a  store  for  the  sale  of 
general  merchandise.  His  next  enterprise  was  the 
opening  of  an  hotel,  this  proving  a  success. 
He  again  became  interested  in  the  vocation 
of  his  early  manhood,  and  tniiied  liis  atten- 
tion to  farming  and  stock-raising.  He  is  now  tlie 
owner  of  five  hundred  acres  of  fine  farming  land, 
and  proves  his  ability  as  a  slock-raiscr  by  the  line 
cattle  seen  grazing  on  his  pasture.  His  political 
labors  arc  devoted  to  the  interests  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  his  ability  as  an  exponent  of 
jiarty  virtues  has  won  for  hirii  the  admiration  of 
the  community.  He  has  l)een  Mayor  of  Eayette- 
ville  for  many  3'ears,  and  has  held  many  other  lo- 
cal offices,  all  tendered  to  him  as  the  hearty  ap- 
preciation of  his  character  as  a  man,  and  as  tokens 
of  esteem  with  which  he  is  regarded  b\'  his  fellow- 
citizens.  His  religions  support  is  given  to  the 
Catholic  C'hurch,  of  which  body  he  is  a  member  in 
good  standing,  and  one  whose  faith  in  its  teach- 
ings governs  his  daily  life. 


ylLIJAM  SO]/)M()N  SCOTT,  a  well-known 
and  representative  farmer  residing  on 
„  „  section  32,  O'Fallon  Township,  was  boni 
on  the  old  homestead  in  this  county,  December  H, 
183().  His  grandfather,  John  Scott,  was  born  in 
Maryland  and  reared  in  Washington  County,  Pa., 
whence  he  removed  to  Licking,  Ky.  He  there 
married  Miss  AVilson,  and  in  IT'.tT  removed  to 
Kaskaskia,  liandolph  County.  111.  He  afterwai<l 
settled  in  the  American  Bottoms  in  the  western  i)ait 
of  Monroe  County.  His  first  wife  having  died,  he 
was  married,  in  171I8,  to    I'ollv    Kiukade,   who  was 


born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1776,  and  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1786.  Two  children  were  born  of  the 
first  union,  John  and  Solomon,  and  nine  of  the 
second  marriage.  The  grandfather  served  as  a 
soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  died  at  the  home 
of  his  son,  Garrison  Scott,  in  1840. 

Benjamin  Scott,  the  oldest  of  the  second  mar- 
riage and  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Monroe  County  January  23,  1799,  and  acquired  a 
common  .school  education.  September,  27,1824,  he 
married  Clarissa  (4arretson,  daughter  of  James 
(iarretson,  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  this  State. 
He  then  settled  in  the  American  Bottoms,  but  the 
high  water  of  1824  drove  him  from  that  locality. 
In  connection  with  his  brother,  William  Henry 
Harrison  Scott,  he  bought  four  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  of  land  in  Bidge  Prairie,  in  1828, 
and  was  there  eng.aged  in  farming  until  his  death. 
He  was  a  prominent  and  influential  citizen,  highly 
respected  throughout  the  community  in  which  he 
made  his  home.  In  politics,  he  was  a  Whig  until 
the  dissolution  of  that  partj',  when  he  became  a 
Democrat.  He  held  membership  with  the  Bethel 
Baptist  Church  for  many  years.  His  death  oc- 
cuired  September  1.  1877.  when  about  seventy- 
nine  years  of  age.  His  wife  was  born  February 
16.  1806,  in  the  same  locality  as  lier  husband. 

In  the  family  of  this  worthy  couple  were  eight 
children:  Dilyou,  born  December  7,  1825,  is  the 
wife  of  David  Moore,  a  resident  of  Knobnoster, 
Mo.  Thej'  have  had  eight  children,  of  whom  five 
daughters  are  yet  living  and  all  are  married. 
Louisa,  the  eldest,  married  David  Phelps;  Edith 
is  the  wife  of  B.  F.  Taylor,  of  Oregon;  M&vy  is 
the  wife  of  Commodore  Fewell;  Edwin  died  in 
1890,  leaving  a  widow  and  two  children;  Ida, 
wife  of  John  Ellis,  died  in  1888,  leaving  four 
children;  Nellie  is  now  Mrs.  Hanna;  Augusta  is 
the  wife  of  Albeit  Leake,  of  Sedalia,  Mo.;  and 
Martha  died  in  infancy.  Mary,  the  second  child 
of  the  parental  family,  was  born  April  2,  1829.  Sal- 
lie,  born  May  SO,  18.31,  died  in  .Iniiuary.  1842. 
.b)hn  C,  who  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in  Jack- 
son\  ille,  HI.,  was  born  .\pril  24,  18;i4,  and  married 
Miss  Headle,  liy  whom  he  has  four  childien  who  sur- 
vive: Julian  W.,  his  eldest  child,  is  a  [jhysician  of 
\'enice.  111.:    Ralph    is  ;i   druygisl    of  Jacksonville; 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


.555 


Blanche  and  Benjamin  arc  living  in  the  same 
city.  AVilliam  is  the  next  30uiigcr  of  tlie  Sctitt 
family.  James  Wilson,  born  December  7.  1.^4(1, 
married  Miss  Sarah  Wetherell,  of  Lebanon,  111., 
.niid  nsides  in  the  West.  They  have  one  danghter, 
I-cla,  the  wife  of  Fred  Schwartz,  of  Cincinnati, 
Ohio.  Micha  Ann,  born  JIarch  10,  1843,  became 
the  wife  of  E.  F.  Waite,  of  Bond  County,  and 
died  at  her  home  in  O'Fallon  Township,  October 
20.  187o.  leaving  one  child.  Olive  Scott,  who  is 
now  living  with  her  father  in  Texas. 

As  before  stated,  William  Solomon  Scott  was 
born  ou  the  old  homestead  which  his  father  took 
|K)ssession  of  in  1828.  His  education  was  acquired 
in  (he  subscription  schools,  but  he  afterward  at- 
loiided  Shurtleff  College,  of  Upper  Alton.  Subse- 
iiucntly,  he  was  a  student  in  I'ppcr  Alton  and 
at  .lones'  Commercial  College,  of  SI.  Louis,  and 
while  not  in  the  schoolroom  his  time  and  atten- 
tion were  given  to  farming.  He  remained  on  the 
home  farm  until  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and 
then  began  life  for  himself.  In  March,  18r)8,  he 
removed  to  the  Stites  farm,  whicli  he  operated 
for  about  fifteen  years. 

On  the  1st  of  Xovcniber.  18')7,  Mr.  Scott  was 
married  to  Mary  K.  Kader,  daughter  of  John 
Kader,  who  died  in  Lebanon.  The  lady  was  born 
May  29,  1838,  in  Monroe  Count}-,  and  came  to 
St.  Clair  County  in  1842,  when  only  about  four 
years  of  age.  She  had  four  sisters  and  a  brother, 
but  only  two  of  the  sisters  are  now  living:  Mrs. 
.Fohn  IF.  Cook,  of  r>ebanon.  and  Mrs.  Richard 
Marshall,  who  resides  near  Golden  City,  Mo. 
t'nto  Ml',  and  Mrs.  .Scott  have  been  horn  five  chil- 
ilicii:  l'",mina.  liorn  November  12,  1S,')8:  Lyman 
L.,  January  211.  IHiU:  Kdilh  C.,  November  30, 
1869;  Ruth  Rader.  December  29,  1875;  and  Ben- 
jamin (i.,  .lanuary  15,  IK81.  The  family  circle 
yet  remains  unbroken  ami  the  children  are  still 
under  the  parental  louf. 

Mr.  Scott  has  led  ;i  luisy  and  useful  life,  yet 
has  found  time  to  serve  his  fellow-townsmen  in 
several  otflcial  positions.  He  was  Highway  Com- 
missioner for  two  years,  for  two  years  was  Town- 
ship Suiiervisor,  and  at  this  writing  is  I'lesident 
of  the  Board  of  Kdncalion  of  O'Fallon.  He  has 
long    been   a    f:iitliful    uiciiilirr    of    the    .MissionarN' 


Baptist  Church,  of  Oak  Hill,  and  in  politics  is  a 
Democrat.  He  is  classed  among  the  substantial 
farmers  of  this  community,  owning  three  hun- 
dred and  seventy  acres  of  valuable  land,  which 
yield  to  him  a  golden  tribute  in  return  for  the 
care  and  cultivation  he  bestows  upon  it.  He  is  a 
valued  citizen  and  takes  an  active  interest  in 
everything  pertaining  t«  the  welfare  of  the  com- 
munity, ani1  well  deserves  icpresentalion  in  this 
volume. 


-^- 


HOF.  1-KFOKRICK  MOFSFK'.      rhi> 


■nth 


man  is  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  Fiec- 
burg,  and  occupies  the  responsible  position 
\  of  Principal  of  the  Public  Schools.  He  is 
the  son  of  Henry  !Moeser.  who  was  born  in  (Jer- 
iTiany  August  12,  1807,  and  came  to  America 
when  a  young  man.  He  brought  with  him  energy 
and  brawn,  and  hired  out  to  a  man  as  a  laborer 
and  helped  to  clear  land  where  part  of  the  city  of 
St.  Louis  now  stands.  Later,  he  came  to  High 
Prairie,  Smithtoii  Township,  where  he  located  and 
bought  land.  He  was  satisfied  with  his  choice 
and  remained  here  until  the  time  came  for  him  to 
resign  earthly  things,  October  3,   18()."). 

Henry  INIoeser  first  married  Catherine  Weber 
and  they  had  a  family  of  four  children:  Elizabeth, 
the  wife  of  Philip  Skaer,  of  Twelve  Mile  Prairie; 
Oeorge,  who  lives  in  Wellington, K'ui.;  Catherine, 
Mrs.  Charles  Ktling,  now  deceased;  and  ^Margaret, 
d(>ccascd.  Mr.  Moeser  married  for  his  .second  wife 
.Airs.  Christine  Long,  »w  Stephens.  Six  children 
were  born  of  this  marriage,  live  of  whom  are  now 
living:  Henry,  who  lives  in  Smithton  X'illage: 
William,  who  resides  on  the  old  homestead,  one 
:ind  one-half  miles  west  of  Srnilhton;  Mary,  the 
wife  of  William  Press,  li\es  on  a  farm  three-fourths 
of  a  mile  e.ast  of  .Smithton:  our  subject;  and 
Philip,  who  is  ])racticing  medicine  in  New  Athens. 
Sophia  rlicd  when  young.  Onr  subject  was  the 
next  to  the  voungesl  of  the  family.  The  father 
st.arted  out  in  life  with  no  means,  but  at  the  time 
of  his  diMlii  lie  h;id  ;icipiircd  ciinsidi'r.-ililc  properly. 


556 


PORTRAIT  AlSiD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  was  able  to  give  all  of  his  children  a  good 
start  in  life.  He  was  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Belleville. 

Our  subject  was  born  at  the  old  homesttad  in 
Smithton  Township,  September  13,  1857,  and  there 
lie  was  reared  and  received  his  early  education. 
He  was  not  satisfied  with  a  limited  fund  of  infor- 
mation, as  he  was  of  a  studious  and  ambitious  dis- 
position, and  he  attended  the  spring  term  of  the 
Belleville  Public  School.  I^ater,  he  entered  Mc- 
Kendree  College,  at  Lebanon,  111.,  from  which  ho 
was  graduated  in  1882  with  the  degree  of  liacli- 
elor  of  Science.  During  that  time,  Mr.  Moeser  had 
not  been  idle,  but  in  the  intervals  between  terms 
he  taught  the  Broad  Hollow  School  on  Twelve 
Mile  Prairie.  At  the  close  of  his  first  term  of 
teaching,  he  took  advantage  of  the  Normal  School 
at  Valparaiso,  hid.,  and  at  the  expiration  of  his 
second  j'ear  he  took  a  course  in  elocution  with 
Prof .  Brownley,  at  Carbondale,  1 11.  He  then  re- 
entered McKendrec  College  and  was  graduated 
from  there  in  1882,  as  above  stated.  In  the  au- 
tumn of  that  year,  he  entered  the  law  department 
of  the  Missouri  State  University,  and  upon  exam 
ination  was  admitted  to  the  senior  class.  He  was 
graduated  from  that  institution  in  1883,  with  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws. 

In  the  fall  of  1883,  our  subject  married  Miss 
Melissa  J.,  daughter  of  William  Smith,  a  prominent 
farmer  of  Smithton  Townshiji,  who  has  since  moved 
to  Perry  County,  four  miles  west  of  Tamaroa, 
where  he  still  lives.  After  his  marriage,  Mv. 
Moeser  located  in  Belleville,  where  he  continued 
his  law  studies  with  Wildermann  &  Hamill.  In 
the  fall  of  1884,  he  accepted  the  position  of  I'rin- 
ci|)al  of  the  Smithton  school.  He  labored  there 
one  year  and  then  was  elected  to  the  responsible 
position  he  has  since  held.  Three  children  have 
come  to  bless  the  congenial  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Moeser,  as  follows.  Ralph  Eugene,  Frederick 
Adolphus  and  Mary  Ellen  Geneva. 

Politically,  Mr.  Moeser  is  a  Democrat,  and  never 
fails  to  cast  his  vote  for  the  principles  in  which  he 
believes.  He  was  elected  Clerk  of  Smithton  Town- 
ship, but  could  not  qualify  as  he  was  a  non-resident. 
He  is  identilied  with  the  Knii;hts  of  Pythias  and  is 
Secretary  of  Lodge  No.  Ht,  A.  F.  ik  A.  M.,  at  Free- 


burg.  It  is  the  wish  of  his  friends  that  he  may  live 
long  to  instruct  the  youth  of  the  county,  and  enjo^' 
the  fruits  of  the  faithful  labors  of  past  years.  He 
and  his  family  are  important  factors  in  the  social 
life  of  Freebura;. 


L^^HOMAS  KNOEBEL,  Pii.  G.     This   popular 

i'r/^-^  pharmacist,  as  well  as  intelligent  gentle- 
l(i(§i))),   '  '^         '^ 

^\^y    man,  conducts  a  flourishing  business  at  No. 

209  Collinsville  Avenue,  East  St.  Louis.  Born  at 
Belleville  August  30, 1859,the  ninth  of  the  ten  chil- 
dren of  Carl  Kuoebel,  he  spent  his  boyhood  days  at 
that  place,  graduating  rrom  the  Belleville  High 
School  in  1876.  Accepting  a  position  with  .Vdolph 
Finke,  of  East  St.  Louis,  as  drug  apprentice,  he 
shortly  after  entered  the  St.  Louis  College  of 
Pharmac\',  graduating  in  the  spring  of  1880  with 
honorable  mention. 

Realizing  the  value  of  the  microscope  in  phar- 
macy, Mr.  Knoebel  again  entered  the  St.  Louis 
College  of  Pharmacy,  taking  a  special  course  in 
microscopj'.  In  1881,  he  bought  the  drug  stock 
and  fixtures  from  his  former  employer,  and  in 
1888  purchased  propert^^  at  No.  209  Collinsville 
Avenue,  where  he  moved  his  stock  of  goods,  and 
where  he  has  been  located  since  that  time. 

Mr.  Knoebel  has  always  been  an  active  worker 
in  nil  things  |>ertaining  to  the  upbuilding  of 
pharmacy  as  a  profession.  He  took  a  prominent 
part  in  securing  the  Pharmacy  Law  in  Illinois,  and 
has  also  been  identified  with  the  Illinois  Pharma- 
ceutical Association,  having  served  in  it  in  various 
capacities  as  both  an  officer  and  member.  He  is 
also  a  member  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical 
Association  and  the  St.  Louis  Club  of  Micro- 
scopists,  and  is  one  of  the  active,  conscientious 
and  progressive  young  pharmacists  of  the  AVest. 
He  enjoys  literary  work  and  fre(]uently  contributes 
to  the  local  piess. 

As  a  citizen  of  East  St.  Louis,  Mr.  Knoebel  has 
ever  had  unbounded  faith  in  its  future  and  is  a 
strong  supporter  of  all  measures  to  further  its 
advanceinenl.  In  proof  of  this  is  (.-ited  the  fact  that 


^an 


^ 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BKJGRAPIIKAL   RECORD. 


559 


his  was  the  Brst  building  on  Collinsville  Avenue 
raised  to  the  new  jrrade  established.  Fublie-spir- 
iteii,  deliberate  and  generous,  his  name  has  been 
and  ever  will  be  closely  allied  with  the  best  interest.-. 
of  the  new  Ea.sl  St.  Louis.  jNIr.  Knoebel  was  married 
.March  20,  18«.'5.  to  Miss  Minnie  I).  Kslani.-ui.  of 
Belleville,  111. 


fll.LlAM  WAKl.TZ  is  a  nolewortli.v  farmer 
Wv//  '^"^  citizen,  wlio  by  indefatigable  industry, 
'y^  perseverance  and  good  common  sense 
raised  himself  from  poverty  to  affluence,  and  is  to- 
day one  of  the  wealthy  men  of  his  community. 
His  pleasant  home  is  on  section  8,  Fayetteville 
Township.  Our  subject  was  born  in  Hesse-Darm- 
stadt, Oermany,  June  27,  1821.  His  father,  Conrad 
Waellz,  was  also  a  native  of  that  province,  where 
he  married  Miss  Margaret  Metzler  and  worked  at 
the  shoemaker's  trade. 

In  1833,  Conrad  Waeltz  came  to  America  with 
his  wife  and  seven  children,  five  boys  and  two 
girls,  and  located  on  Turke}'  Hill,  where  he  resided 
until  his  death  in  1836.  The  mother  remained  a 
widow  three  years,  when  she  married  Henry  Funk. 
Ikith  are  now  deceased. 

William  Waeltz  served  a  two-years  a|)preiitice- 
shipin  a  blacksmith  shop  in  Mascoutah  before  his 
mother's  second  marriage.  Later,  he  located  in 
Columbia,  Monroe  County,  and  worked  at  his  trade 
one  year,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  he  came 
to  Darmstadt  and  opened  a  blacksmith  shop,  which 
he  operated  for  twelve  successive  years.  While  here, 
our  subject,  realizing  that  it  was  not  well  for  man 
to  live  alone,  took  for  his  life  companion  Mis.s 
Barbara,  daughter  of  Mr.  Dressel,  who  was  formerly 
a  blacksmith  but  in  later  years  turned  his  attention 
to  farming,  and  passed  away  in  this  county. 

From  Darmstadt,  .Mr.  Waeltz  removed  to  Hill 
Prairie,  where  he  operated  a  farm  for  three  years. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  he  came  to  Fayetteville, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  milling  business  two  and  a- 
half  years,  when  his  mill  burned  down.  Then  lie 
located  west  of    the  city  and  cairied  on  fanning 

26 


until  1874,  when  he  removed  toFreeburg  and  re- 
tired from  business.  During  his  residence  here  in 
IHHO.  his  wife  died,  leaving  a  family  of  three  ehil- 
dien:  Regina,  wife  of  Volentine  Ileil,  lives  near 
Marissa,  this  countv;  Lena,  the  wife  of  George  Erb, 
resides  on  a  [lorlion  of  the  home  farm;  and  Hannah, 
wife  of  .lohn  Rank,  who  was  cripjiled  in  the  late 
war  and  is  supported  by  his  pension,  lives  in  Fay- 
etteville. 

After  residing  in  Freeburg  for  seven  years,  Mr. 
Waeltz  spent  a  year  in  visiting  among  his  daugh- 
ters, and  at  the  end  of  that  time  he  married  Mrs. 
Catherine  Sauerwein.  Two  children  have  been 
born  to  them,  namely:  Charles  E.  II.  f^.,born  April 
2,1883;  and  William,  March  29,  1888.  For  two 
years  after  his  second  marriage  he  made  his  home 
in  Fa3'etteville,  and  then  located  upon  his  |>resent 
farm,  which  comprises  four  hundred  and  sixty-two 
acres  of  well-cultivated  land.  The  place  is  notice- 
able for  the  neat  and  substantial  buildings,  as  well 
.as  the  appearance  of  thrift  which  shows  that  the 
owner  is  a  careful  man.iger  and  understands  the 
best  method  of  conducting  his  work. 

In  his  religious  connections,  ^Ir.  Waeltz  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church  and  an  honorable 
exponent  of  its  faith.  He  closely  identifies  him- 
self with  local  politics  as  a  Republican,  and  has 
served  as  .ludge  of  Elections  for  the  p.ast  twenty- 
five  years.  In  1892,  he  cast  his  thirteenth  vote  for 
President,  and  during  the  years  that  have  inter- 
vened he  has  hist  no  opportunity  of  promoting 
the  interest.-'  of  his  chosen  party.  He  is  a  meml>er 
of  Freelnirg  Lodge  No.  418,  F.  &  A.  M.,  .and  has 
served  as  its  Treasurer. 


LEXANDEH  WILDV,  a  prosperous  and 
representative  agriculturist  of  St.  Clair 
County,  and  for  many  years  a  leading 
business  man  of  Lenzburg  Township, 
was  born  in  18o-l,  within  a  few  miles  of  hi.s  present 
hfimestead,  and  is  universally  respected  in  the 
Meighl)orhood  where  he  has  spent  his  useful  and 
busy  life.     His  parents  were  .John  and  Jscojieiia 


560 


POETRAIT  AND  BIOGEAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Wildy.  John  Wildy  was  born  upon  the  old  farai, 
in  1827,  and  was  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Susan 
(Stinson)  Wildj.  Samuel  Wildy,  the  paternal 
yrand father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Switzer- 
land, and  emigrated  to  America  when  a  young 
man,  before  his  marriage,  and  settled  upon  Dutch 
Hill  Prairie,  in  Lenzburg  Township,  St.  Clair 
County,  111. 

John  Wild}'  had  but  few  educational  advantages 
and  earl\'  engaged  in  tlie  active  work  of  life.  His 
father  had  bequeathed  to  him  about  two  hundred 
and  fifty  acres  of  land,  and  in  1853  he  married 
Jacopena  Trauij,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Maggie 
( Farber)  Traup,  all  natives  of  Wurtemberg,  Ger- 
many. The  mother  of  our  subject  was  born  in  the 
Fatherland  in  1832,  .and  her  father  was  born  in  the 
year  1800,  her  mother  in  1797.  Jacob  Traup  was 
a  shoemaker  by  trade,  and  followed  this  avoca- 
tion until  he  came  to  the  United  States  in  1848, 
when  he  settled  upon  a  farm  in  St.  Clair  County, 
and  entered  into  the  duties  of  agricultural  life. 
This  worthy  man  and  excellent  citizen  died  in 
185f!,  and  his  good  wife  passed  away  in  1853. 
The  motiier  of  our  subject  was  one  of  two  daugh- 
ters, her  sister,  Mary,  being  tlie  wife  of  John  P>au- 
ersachs. 

Alexander  AVildy,  our  subject,  is  one  of  nine 
children,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The 
family'  of  brothers  and  sisters  are  Alexander; 
.\lbert,  who  married  Carrie  Bueger;  John,  who 
married  Lizzie  Schneider;  Mary,  Amelia,  Calvin  J., 
Herman  P.  and  Frank  R.  Our  subject  remained 
with  his  mother  after  the  death  of  his  father  until 
lie  had  attained  manhood,  and  com])leted  his  edu- 
cation in  Warrenton  College  of  Missouri,  being 
Mien  well  fitted  for  the  battle  of  life.  Devoting 
most  of  his  efforts  to  agricultural  pursuits,  he  has 
also  handled  successfully  general  merchandise, 
running  a  store  in  Lenzburg  with  his  brother, Mohn. 

In  1885,  Mr.  Wildy  was  married  to  Miss  Katie 
Schneider,  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth 
Schneider,  natives  of  Germany,  who  early  emi- 
grated to  America,  making  the  land  of  the  free  the 
liirthplace  of  their  children.  Mrs.  Wildy  is  a  na- 
tive of  St.  Clair  County,  and  li.as  a  large  circle  of 
friends  in  her  lifetim  home.  Four  children  have 
been  born  uiili.i  our  suliiiM-i  and  his  estimable  wife, 


i\ 


namely:  Harry;  Pearl;  Grant  and  Clark,  twins. 
The  pleasant  home  of  the  family  Is  upon  the  well- 
improved  farm  of  two  hundred  and  twenty  acres. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wildy  arc  valued  members  of  the 
German  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  are  ever 
ready  to  aid  in  its  social  and  benevolent  work. 
Mr.  Wildj^  is  a  Prohibitionist,  and  believes  in  the 
ultimate  triumph  of  the  party.  Our  subject  is  a 
man  of  strong  convictions,  and  as  an  earnest  and 
public-spirited  citizen  commands  the  regard  of  all 
his  friends  and   neishhdrs. 


-^^ 


,ETER  STAUDER.  Belleville  has  its  full 
quota  of  vigorous,  enterprising,  thorough- 
going business  men,  whose  popularity  is 
based  upon  both  their  social  qualities  and 
their  well-known  integrity'  and  business  activity. 
None  among  these  is  better  liked  by  those  who 
have  dealings  with  them  than  he  of  whom  we  now 
write.  Born  in  St.  Clair  County,  111.,  on  tlie  2(1 
of  March,  1837,  Mr.  Stauder  inherits  his  thrift 
and  energy  from  his  Teutonic  ancestors,  his  par- 
ents, .John  and  Magdalena  (Klonich)  Stauder, 
being  natives  of  Germany. 

The  father  was  reared  in  the  Fatherland  and 
when  still  a  single  man  decided  that  America  was 
the  land  of  promise,  and  in  1833  crossed  the  ocean. 
He  settled  in  St.  Clair  County,  111.,  was  married 
in  Belleville  to  ISIiss  Klonich,  and  then  began 
working  at  the  stonemason's  and  brickl.ayerV 
trades.  He  was  a  contractor  and  builder,  who  fur- 
nished the  stone  from  the  quarry  and  the  brick 
from  his  own  yard.  He  put  up  many  of  the  first 
good  buildings  in  the  city  and  many  resi- 
dences both  in  the  city  and  country.  This  busi- 
ness he  continued  very  successfully  until  his 
death  in  1879.  He  left  a  widow  and  seven  chil- 
dren, but  three  of  the  children  died  shortly  after- 
ward. Those  surviving  are:  Peter,  our  subject; 
Margaret,  wife  of  Fred  Swatzenba;  Adam,  in 
Belleville;  and  Josej^i,  of  St.  Louis. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Adam  Stauder, 
also  came  to  the  I'nited   States  and  bought  a  farm 


PORTRAJT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


561 


on  Rich  Prairie.     On  this  he  erected  a  chapel  of 

the  Catholic  Church,  this  beiiis;  the  first  in  this 
section,  and  it  was  erected  even  before  any  in  Belle- 
ville. There  was  also  :i  Catholic  cemetery  on  his 
place  and  many  were  buried  there  before  the 
cemetery  w.is  laid  out  in  the  city.  A  Catholic 
priest,  Father  Meier,  wa;;  here  at  that  time.  In 
1844  tiie  church  was  moved  to  Belleville  during 
tlie  time  of  higli  water.  The  grandfather  followed 
tiie  occupation  of  a  farmer  and  was  one  of  the 
prominent  early  German  Catholics  here.  Before 
the  county  farm  w.as  built  he  had  charge  of  the 
ct)unty  poor,  the  first  one  under  iiis  cliarge  being 
Blind  Frit/.. 

The  scliolastii-  training  of  our  sul)jcct  was  re- 
ceived from  Father  Donne,  and  at  an  early  age 
he  commenced  learning  liis  father's  trade.  After 
reaching  man's  estate,  lie  married  Miss  Catherine 
Schmidt,  a  native  of  Germany  and  the  daughter 
of  Anton  .Schmidt.  'I'liis  union  tool<  place  on  tlu' 
M  of  M.ay.l8r)il,aii(l  directly  afterward  Mr.  Stauder 
began  contracting  and  doing  bridiand  stone  work, 
lie  has  erected  many  good  buildings — the  Rench- 
ler  Building  in  186."!,  many  fine  bricl<  buildings, 
and  many  city  residences  and  stores.  The  City 
Hospital  was  erected  by  him.  the  Orphan  .\sylura, 
St.  Libori  Church,  New  Athens  Catholic  Church, 
Catholic  Church  in  Bartclso  (III.),  Fulton  Lutheran 
Church.  Baptist  Church  of  Belleville. and  St.  Luke's 
Church.  During  busy  seasons  he  usually  works 
about  twenty  men  in  all.  Besides  a  fine  h)t  in 
Belleville  Mr.  Stauder  owns  a  fine  lot,  80x70  feet, 
on  .Second  Street,  opposite  the  Imspital.  where  he 
lia>  a  line  laige  building. 

Our  subject  li.as  made  his  liouic  at  licllevillp 
ever  since  188:i.  and  owns  real  estate  interests  in 
the  St.  Clair  .\ddition.  where  he  is  now  bmlding. 
He  had  liorn  to  liis  niai-riage  eleven  cliildi-en,  six 
of  whom  ••uf  MOW  living.  \iz:  Maiy.  wife  of 
Charles  Kbhie:  Christian:  .Joseph,  wlio  luanicd 
Mi.ss  Pauline  Koch;  Anna.  Adilia  and  IVler 
Michael.  >h-.  Stauder  is  a  member  of  St.  Peter's 
Church  and  is  active  in  all  good  woiks.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Catholic  Knights  of  .\merica  and 
Catholic  Knights  of  Illinois.  Me  was  .Vlderman 
of  the  Fourth  Ward  for  four  years,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Bankers'  Insurance  Company. 


Mrs.  Slander's  father,  Anton  Schmidt,  was  born 
in  Prussia,  Germany,  in  181'?,  and  was  there  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Elizabeth  Keizer.  He  came  to  Amer- 
ica and  settled  in  Belleville  in  18r)2,  where  he  was  a 
successful  farmer.  Mrs.  Stauder  was  born  in  Ger- 
man v  on  the  24tli  of  Mav,  ]H'MK 


IV,  ICIIARl)  W.\.\(;EI.1N.  The  original  of 
this  sketch  is  the  Cashier  of  the  Belleville 
Savings  Bank    and    has    held   the  position 

'^  since  1882,  having  entered  the  bank  April 
1,  186.5.  iis  Teller,  in  which  place  he  continued 
until  1878.  when  he  became  Assistant  Cashier  and 
later  Cashier.  This  bank  opened  its  doors  for 
business  February  11,  I8(>0,  with  a  subscribed  cap- 
ital stock  of  ^156,000,  of  which  twenty  per  cent,  was 
paid.  The  bank  remained  where  it  was  opened 
until  186;'),  when  the  present  bank  was  built.  The 
(irst  President  was  Edward  Abend,  who  is  the  pres- 
ent President.  The  capital  stock  has  been  in- 
creased by  earnings,  until  now  !¥150,000.  with  a 
surplus  of  over  ?i  100,000,  represents  the  stock.  In 
181)1  they  put  in  a  fine  .Safety  Deposit  Vault  from 
the  Diebold  .Safe  and  Lock  Company,  and  also  a 
burglar-proof  safe  inside,  with  time  lock  and  auto- 
matic self-locking  device. 

Our  subject  w.as  born  in  Shiloh  A'alley,  in  tliis 
couuly.  .lanuary  27.  184,5,  and  was  the  son  of 
llniio  Waiiiiclin.  wlio  came  early  to  this  county 
fVoni  (iciuianv.  in  18.'3:3.  when  only  sixteen  years 
old.  lie  uiarried  .Miss  Bertha  .Schubert,  of  Shiloh. 
wlio  .'dso  came  from  Germany.  After  the  birth  of 
oui  subject  the  family  came  to  Belleville,  where 
the  father  engaged  in  merchandising  and  after- 
ward in  milling  in  Lebanon.  He  later  served  as 
(  olonel  of  the  Twelfth  Missouri  Infantry  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  when  he  received  the  commission 
of  Brigadier-tJeneral  and  then  was  made  Postmaster 
of  this  city  for  eight  years,  and  also  served  as 
.\ldei-nian.  His  death  occurred  in  February,  1882, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years,  he  leaving  a  wife  and 
seven  cliildren  to  mourn  his  death.     The  children 


562 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


are  as  follows:  Anna,  wife  of  Frederick  Ropiequet 
of  this  city;  Louisa;  Edward,  Otto,  who  lives  in 
Boulder,  Colo.,  and  who  is  editor  of  the  HerakJ  of 
that  place;  Irvin  H.  and  Walter. 

Our  subject  was  educated  at  Belleville  and  at 
McKendree  College  in  Lebanon,  and  after  leaving 
school  was  appointed  Deputy  Postmaster  at  Belle- 
ville and  later  Deputy  Circuit  Clerk  of  St.  Clair 
County,  in  which  capacity  he  served  until  he  en- 
listed in  Company  H,  One  Hundred  and  Fort3'- 
second  Illinois  Infantry,  on  the  18th  of  May,  1864. 
He  was  made  First  .Sergeant  and  was  sent  to  Tenn- 
essee and  was  with  that  arm}'  until  the  expiration 
of  his  service.  After  his  return  he  took  a  course 
in  Bryant  and  Stratton's  Commercial  College  in 
St  Louis,  then  entered  the  bank,  where  he  retained 
his  position  for  twenty-seven  years.  Mr.  Wange- 
lin  is  the  oldest  Cashier  in  this  city.  Our  subject 
was  married  May  23,  1867,  to  Miss  Sophia  Evans, 
of  Belleville,  and  seven  children  have  resulted 
from  this  union,  as  follows:  Hugo  E.,  wiio  is  prac- 
ticing medicine  in  tiiis  city;  Ernest  E.,  pa3master 
at  the  Belleville  Steel  Works;  Olive,  Wanda,  Fred- 
rick, Louis  and  Hettie  May.  Mr.  A\''angelin  is  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Rei)ul)lic,  the 
Liederkranz,  and  is  ver}'  highly  regarded  by  his 
emijloyers. 


/p^EORGE  HENTZEL,  a  prosperous  and  ex- 
lll  — ,  tensive    fanner    and   for  more  than  a  lialf- 

\iJ^!  century  a  resident  of  St.  Clair  Countv.  111., 
was  one  of  the  pioneer  agriculturists  of  Dutch 
llill  Pr:iiiie.  and  well  known  to  all  the  coninuinity 
ill  aii<l  ab(jul  ]>enzburg  Township,  where  he  is 
highly  respected  as  an  energetic,  industrious  and 
upright  citizen.  Our  subject  was  born  in  Germany 
m  the  year  1832.  His  parents,  Jacob  and  Mary 
Ilentzcl,  were  also  natives  of  the  Fatherland,  and 
were  reared  and  educated  and  married  in  the  home 
of  their  childhood.  Wlien  little  ones  clustered 
about  them,  t\\ey  talked  of  emigrating  to  the  land 
lii'vond  the  ocean,  wliere  there  would  l>e  greater 
(iji])()rtuuilies  fur  their  sons  and  duughtei-s. 


The  father  had  been  trained  to  the  duties  of 
farming  and  had  from  his  earliest  days  taken  an 
active  part  in  the  work  of  life,  and  although  he 
iiad  but  little  capital  did  not  fear  to  try  his  for- 
tunes in  America.  In  1836,  when  our  subject  was 
a  little  boy  only  four  years  old,  his  parents  with 
their  family  and  a  few  belongings  bade  adieu  to 
the  scenes  of  their  lifetime  and,  parting  from  old 
friends  and  associations,  left  behind  them  the 
shores  of  the  Old  World  and  safely  crossing  the 
broad  Atlantic,  landed  in  the  United  States.  Jacob 
Hentzel  first  brought  iiis  famil}'  to  St.  Louis,  where 
he  found  employment  working  out  b\'  the  day. 
Both  the  fatiier  and  mother  desired  to  settle  upon 
a  farm  with  their  family,  and  an  opportunity  of- 
fering itself,  they  were  about  to  avail  themselves 
of  it,  when  the  good  wife  sickened  and  died  in  St. 
Louis. 

The  desolate  father  left  with  the  care  of  his  fam- 
ily soon  after  removed  to  St.  Clair  County  and 
made  an  excellent  investment,  buying  at  a  low 
price  a  good  farm,  which  has  increased  ten-fold  in 
value.  Mr.  Jacob  Hentzel  married  again,  but  did 
not  long  survive  his  second  union,  dying  in  1838, 
and  leaving  our  subject  an  orphan  indeed.  Thrown 
upon  his  own  resources  at  a  very  early  age, 
George  Hentzel  began  to  be  self-supporting  when 
eleven  years  old.  Working  steadil}'  for  others  un- 
til he  was  twenty-three  years  of  age,  he  managed 
out  of  his  small  wages  to  get  together  a  little  cap- 
ital, and  having  now  arrived  at  mature  years  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizalieth  Wildy,  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Margaret  Wildy,  early  set- 
tlers in  the  locality. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hentzel  are  the  parents  of  nine 
children,  of  whom  three  daughters  and  two  sons 
yet  survive:  Jacob,  Mary,  Caroline,  George  and 
.losephine.  The  brothers  an<l  sisters  are  in  their 
various  liomes  well  known  and  are  useful,  honest 
and  industrious  citizens,  respected  by  all  who  know 
them.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hentzel  are  lifelong  members 
of  tlie  Lutheran  Ciiurch,  and  have  ever  aided  in 
the  support  and  good  work  of  that  religious  or- 
ganization. Politically,  our  subject  is  a  strong 
Republican,  and  a  tirm  believer  in  the  principles  of 
the  party.  Beginning  life  without  influential 
frieiuls  or  capital,  the  energy,  courage  and  persev- 


,,V' 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


060 


erance  of  Mr.  Hentzel  have  been  rewarded  with 
financial  prosperity,  and  his  fine  farm  of  six  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres,  all  under  excellent  ciiltivation, 
gives  evidence  of  his  i^ood  management,  thrift  and 
natural  ability. 


«!^i^'l^^l 


^I'OIIX  A.  DAY,  proprietor  of  the  Day  Uncle 
Company  at  Belleville,  the  largest  and  most 
prominent  brick  manufactory  in  .St.  Clair 
County,  was  born  in  .St.  Louis  February 
2.5,  1855.  His  father.  Ignatius  A.  Day,  emigrated 
from  Germany  to  America  and  .settled  in  8t.  Louis 
in  1841).  He  married  Miss  Clara  Mueller,  who 
then  resided  in  St.  Louis,  although  she,  like  her 
husband,  was  a  native  of  Germanj',  the  former 
having  been  born  in  Eisfelt  and  the  latter  in 
Berncastcl,  on  the  Moselle.  Mr.  Day  engaged  in 
the  tobacco  business  on  Second  Street  and  was  a 
liromincnt  citizen  of  St.  Louis.  In  1866,  accom- 
l)anied  1)V  his  family,  he  returned  to  Gei'many  and 
remained  in  Trier  until  his  death,, lanuai-y  1.  1887. 
His  first  wife  died  in  1857,  and  he  afterward  mar- 
ried Miss  Bertha  Abend,  of  Centreville,  111. 

In  the  parental  family  there  were  five  children, 
but  our  subject  was  the  onl}-  one  of  these  who  re- 
turned to  America  and  established  a  home.  'I'he 
others  are:  Mrs.  Edward  Lintz,  who  resides  in 
Dusseldorf,  Germany;  Mrs.  Angelica  Sieben,  of 
Aix  la  Chapelle;  Anna  B.  and  F'erdinand  Joseph, 
who  make  their  home  in  Trier. 

.lohn  A.  Day  attended  .school  in  (iermany  from 
the  time  he  was  eleven  3^ears  of  age  until  he  was 
nineteen,  when  he  was  graduated  from  the  .school 
at  Trier.  Afterward  he  w.as  employed  as  clerk  for 
three  years  in  the  wholesale  drug  business  at  .Vnt- 
werp.  In  187',t,he  returned  to  the  United  States  and 
spent  three  years  in  Davenport,  Iowa,  in  theemiiloy 
of  Nicholas  Kuhnen,  wholesale  tobacconist.  He 
next  spent  three  years  in  St.  Louis  in  the  employ  of 
Meyer  Bros,  it  Co.,  wholesale  drug  dealers,  and  at 
the  expiration  of  that  time  he  came  to  Belleville 
and  embarked  in  the  brick  business,  which  he  is 
now   successfully   conducting.     The    plant  repre- 


sents a  capital  of  $35,000,  and  has  an  output  of 
forty  thousand  brick  per  day.  The  factory  is  lo- 
cated on  the  Freeburg  Road,  corner  of  Tenth  Street, 
where  fifty  acres  .are  devoted  to  brick  uianufac- 
lure.  The  yard  was  in  1882  established  by  Mr.  Day 
and  Mr.  Ed.  Abend,  who  has  lately  .sold  out  his  inter- 
est to  Mr.  Day,  and  contains  all  the  modern  iin[)rove- 
ments  for  the  manufacture  of  brick.  From  forty  to 
sixty  men  are  given  steady  employment  and  the 
enterprise  has  proved  most  successful.  Switching- 
lines  connect  the  yards  with  the  Cairo  Short  Line, 
by  which  the  company  ship  their  goods  to  all 
parts  of  the  country.  They  manufacture  the  reg- 
ular pressed  bricks  of  a  fine  grade  and  also  com- 
mon bricks. 

November  3,  1886,  Mr.  Day  married  Miss  Lena, 
daughter  of  Edward  Abend,  and  they  have  one 
child,  Helen  .Josephine.  The  family  residence  is 
pleasantly  located  at  No.  322  South  Illinois  Street. 
Mr.  Day  is  a  Director  of  the  Belleville  Savings 
Bank  and  the  Belleville  Gas  Light  &  Coke  Co. 
He  is  a  successful  business  man  and  throughout 
his  entire  life  has  exhibited  great  talent  in  that 
direction.  He  enjoys  the  respect  of  his  fellow- 
citizens  and  the  esteem  of  a  wide  circle  of  friends. 
Being  well-to-do,  he  is  enabled  to  exercise  his 
benevolent  spirit  and  is  always  ready  to  aid  the 
deserving  and  the  industrious. 


r^^- 


M.  PRIESTER,  merchant  tailor  and  agent 
for  the  Acme  Brewing  Company,  is  the 
owner  of  one  of  the  most  decided  acquisi- 
tions in  mercantile  enterprises  in  East  St.  Louis. 
His  house  is  the  headquarters  for  fashionable  tailor- 
ing, where  garments  to  measure  embody  every 
feature  of  grace  and  elegance.  The  measuring  and 
cutting  are  done  upon  correct  principles,  and 
a  stock  of  very  fine  woolens  is  kept  to  select 
from  that  covers  all  the  imported  novelties  in 
shades,  patterns  and  textures.  F.  M.  Priester  was 
born  in  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany,  February-  23, 
1854,  in  which  countiy  his  father  is  a  successful, 
merchant  tailor.      The  latter  was  in  the  Rebellion 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  1848  in  Schleswig-Holslein.     His  wife,  formerly    t 
Miss    Anna  M.   Fainkaiiff,    dit-d    in    1889.      Nine 
sous  were  born  of  this   union,  tliree  of  wliom    are 
living:  N.  J.,a  traveling  salesman  of  Minneapolis; 
Leon,  a  business  man  of  Si.  Louis;  and   F.  M.,  the    | 
subject  of  this  sketch. 

F.  M.  Priester  attended  common,  private  and  ; 
High  School,  and  finished  his  education  under  a 
private  tutor,  entering,  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years, 
his  father's  tailoring  establishment,  where  he  ob- 
tained a  practical  insight  into  the  business.  After 
a  time  he  entered  the  School  of  Cutting  at  Dres- 
den, where  he  remained  until  about  tweuty-one 
years  of  age.  After  traveling  for  some  time  he 
entered  the  German  army,  becoming  a  member 
of  the  Twenty-fifth  Regiment,  Eleventh  Army 
Corps,  of  Hesse-Darmstadt,  serving  until  honor- 
ably discharged  at  the  end  of  three  years.  Later, 
he  served  six  months  longer,  then  got  his  pass  to 
come  to  America  for  the  purpose  of  visiting  the 
country,  but  became  so  favorably  impressed  with 
it  that  he  decided  to  stay.  The  voyage  from  Brem- 
en to  New  York  occupied  eight  days,  and  the 
steamer  iu  which  he  sailed,  "Pomerania,"  sunk  on 
its  way  back  to  the  Old  Country.  After  a  short 
residence  in  Philadelphia,  he  went  to  Ann  Arbor, 
Mich.,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  for  two  years, 
but  on  the  6th  of  October,  1879,  came  to  Belle- 
ville, 111.,  and  started  in  business  for  himself,  his 
thorough  knowledge  of  his  calling  winning  him 
almost  immediate  recognition  in  East  St.  Louis 
and  neighboring  towns,  as  well  as  in  Belleville. 
Since  1890,  he  has  been  a  resident  of  East  St. 
Louis,  his  establishment  being  located  at  No.  310 
Broadway. 

His  business  necessitates  the  employment  of 
eii^ht  or  nine  men,  and  sometimes  twice  that 
number  are  employed  with  profit.  The  garments 
made  at  that  house  are  recognized  by  a  critical  pub- 
lic as  perfect  in  style  and  fit,  and  artistic  in  work- 
manship, and  to  seek  his  services  once  is  to  be  his 
patron  alwaj^s.  Among  his  permanent  customers 
are  many  of  East  St.  Louis'  best-dressed  citizens, 
who  thoroughly  appreciate  and  understand  the 
merits  of  a  first-class  tailor.  He  is  an  accomplished 
master  of  the  art  of  cutting  and  fitting,  liberal  and 
just  in  his  dealings,  and  has  won  success  bj'  deserv- 


ing it.  In  1891,  he  became  connected  with  the 
American  Brewing  Company  as  agent  for  Illinois, 
and  keeps  two  men  constantly  on  the  road,  besides 
doing  a  great  deal  of  work  in  that  line  himself. 
He  is  interested  in  an  ice  manufactory  of  the 
place,  and  has  in  other  ways  shown  liimself  to  he 
an  enterprising  citizen. 

He  was  married  in  Belleville  in  December,  18.53. 
to  Miss  Rose  E.  Lenz,  who  was  born  in  St.  Louis, 
a  daughter  of  Augu.st  Lenz,  a  pioneer  citizen  of 
the  former  pljicc.  Their  union  has  resulted  in  the 
birth  of  three  children:  August,  Annie  and  Rosa. 
Mr.  Priester  is  a  Democrat  politically, and  on  vari- 
ous occasions  has  been  a  delegate  to  the  county 
and  State  conventions. 


(*[  if:  R.  PADFIEI.D  is  a  representative  of  one 
\/\li  "^  *'^®  °^^^  families  of  the  State,  for  to  this 
\^^  region  his  father  came  in  1811  with  Gen. 
Hopkins,  and  with  him  participated  in  the  Indian 
wars  of  this  section.  W.  R.  Padfield  was  born  at 
Union  Grove,  within  two  and  a-half  miles  of  his 
present  residence,  September  30,  1821,  a  son  of 
Thomas  and  Temperance  (Hill)  Padfield,  whose 
union  was  celebrated  on  the  10th  of  August, 
1820.  The  father  was  born  in  the  State  of  Mary- 
land, in  1775,  but  when  he  was  about  two  years  of 
age  his  parents  removed  to  the  vicinity  of  IIop- 
kinsville,  Ky.,  where  he  was  educated  and  grew  to 
manhood.  In  1815,  he  and  his  father  came  to  St. 
Clair  County  and  located  on  a  farm  near  Union 
(ti-ovc,  where  the  grandfather  operated  a  Hour  and 
corn  mill.  He  was  a  substantial,  enterprising  and 
intelligent  man  of  business,  and  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-five  years.  After  his  death,  Thomas  Pad- 
field  conducted  the  mill,  which  was  one  of  the  first 
in  this  section  of  the  country,  and  was  i)atronize(l 
by  the  settlers  for  many  miles  around.  He  ,always 
enjoyed  excellent  health  and  lived  to  the  advanced 
age  of  ninety-eight  years,  dying  in  1873.  His  wife 
was  called  from  life  February  20,  18G3,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-three  years.  They  were  the  parents  of 
four  children,  of  whom  W.  R.  Padfield,  the  subject 


PORTRAIT  AND  IJIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


of  this  sketch,  was  the  eldest.  The  other  members 
were  Isaac,  who  died  .it  tlie  ago  of  nineteen  years, 
.lames,  who  died  iMay  21,  1890,  when  about  sixty- 
one  years  of  age,  having  l)een  an  honest  and  pros- 
perous farmer  of  Crawford  County,  Kan.  He  was 
married  to  Miss  Adeline  :Moore,  a  daughter  of 
Robert  and  Nancy  (Abernathy)  Moore.  The 
youngest,  member  of  tiie  paternal  family  is  Julia, 
tlie  widow  of  Dr.  E.  P.  Bland,  formerly  of  Mas- 
criutah.  III.,  who  is  now  residing  in  Moninoiitli, 
Crawford  County,  Kan. 

W.  R.  Pad-field,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
resided  on  a  farm  in  the  vicinit^^  of  Union  Grove 
until  lie  was  fifty-eight  years  of  age,  during  whicli 
time  he  received  the  benefits  of  the  common 
schools  near  his  rural  home,  after  which  he  became 
a  resident  of  liis  present  place  of  abode.  He  is  a 
man  who  possesses  the  instincts  and  training  of  a 
true  gentleman,  which  he  manifests  in  his  daily 
walk  through  life,  and  these  attributes,  in  connec- 
tion with  his  geneious  and  kindly  disposition, 
have  won  him  a  liost  of  friends,  to  whom  he  is 
loyal  and  true.  He  was  first  married  in  June,  1853. 
but  his  married  life  only  continued  until  March, 
18.54,  at  which  time  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Caroline  Alexander,  was  called  from  life.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  John  and  Margaret  Alexander, 
wlio  were  born  in  JIaryland  and  Virginia,  respec- 
tively. In  the  year  1862,  he  took  for  his  second 
wife  Miss  Eva  Kline,  their  marriage  being  cele- 
brated on  the  'i'id  of  November,  but  this  wife  also 
left  him  a  widower,  her  death  occurring  April  18, 
1871.  .March  18,  1875,  his  third  marriage  was  cel- 
ebrated. Miss  Elizabeth  Kline  becoming  his  wife. 
He  is  the  f.athcr  of  three  children:  Damon,  born 
December  25.  1875;  .Sideros,  October  22.  1880.  and 
Siloros,  November  14,  1885. 

Mr.  Padfield  is  an  honest  ••  son  of  the  soil  '"  and 
in  the  conduct  of  his  affairs  has  shown  himself  to 
be  thrifty,  juactical  and  intelligent.  His  occupa- 
tion is  a  healthful  and  independent  one  and  he 
seems  to  be  well  fitted  for  the  business.  He  has 
served  in  the  capacity  of  Highway  Commissioner 
and  for  the  past  twelve  years  has  held  the  office  of 
Justice  of  the  Pe.-vce  and  has  adjusted  his  neigh- 
bors' difficulties  with  the  utmost  fairness.  He  has 
been   a  member  of   the  Ancient   Free  A-    Accepted 


Masons  for  the  past  forty  years  and  belongs  to 
Summerficld  Lodge  No.  342,  in  which  he  has  held 
all  the  offices  except  AVorthy  Master.  Although  a 
Republican  in  national  politics,  he  is  independent 
in  local  affairs. 


W_^^ENRY  IIOl-T.  It  may  well  be  the  pride 
|r^  of  our  subject  that  he  has  reclaimed  a 
i\^  fruitful  tract  of  land  from  its  natural 
(^  condition,  transforming  it  into  a  finely- 
improved  and  highly-cultivated  farm,  one  of  the 
best  in  Fayetleville  Township,  and  in  so  doing  has 
materially  aided  in  perfecting  the  development  of 
the  rich  agricultural  resources  of  St.  Clair  County. 
By  persistent  labor  he  wrought  a  wondrous  change 
ill  the  land,  until  that  which  was  once  a  wilderness 
became  one  of  the  best-tilled  farms  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. Having  .accumulated  a  competency,  Mr. 
Hoff  retired  from  active  labor,  and  now  makes  his 
home  in  the  village  of  Fayetleville,  where  he  is 
passing  his  declining  years  quietly  and  retired 
from  active  life. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  George  Menkie,  was 
born  in  Germany  and  there  reared  to  the  occupa- 
tion of  a  farmer,  which  he  followed  throughout 
liis  entire  life.  Upon  his  marriage  to  Miss  Adeline 
Hoff,  who  was  the  owner  of  considerable  landed 
property  in  Germany,  he  dropped  his  own  name 
and  took  that  of  his  wife,  a  common  occurrence  in 
that  country  where  the  jjossession  of  valuable 
l)roperty  is  involved.  During  the  latter  part  of  his 
life,  the  father  of  our  subject  crossed  the  Atlantic 
to  llie  United  States,  where  he  died  in  the  home 
of  his  daughter. 

The  parental  family  comprised  the  folloxving 
seven  children:  Henry,  our  subject,  who  was  born 
in  Hanover,  Germ.any, in  1828;  Clemans,  deceased; 
Mary, who  is  married;  Barney,  deceased;  G.  Henry, 
a  resident  of  W.ashington  County,  III.;  Caroline, 
wife  of  Barney  Laike,  and  Christena,  who  became 
the  wife  of  Theodore  .\mbers.  In  the  common 
schools  of  Germany,  Henry  Hoff  gained  a  good 
education,  and   upon   the   removal   of   the  family 


568 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


to  the  United  States  in  the  ^ear  1853,  accompanied 
them  hither  and  settled  in  St.  Clair  County  near 
the  village  of  Fayetteville.  Farming  had  engaged 
his  attention  in  the  Fatherland, and  upon  locating 
here  he  purchased  about  one  thousand  acres  of 
land  in  Fayette ville  Township,  to  tiie  cultivation 
of  which  he  gave  his  entire  time  during  the  years 
that  followed.  He  has  prospered  so  well  that  he 
lias  not  only  been  enabled  to  aid  his  children 
financially  by  giving  them  large  tracts  of  land,  but 
he  still  has  sufflcient  to  enable  him  to  live  in  com- 
fort. 

When  twentj--one  years  of  age,  Mr.  Hoff  was 
united  in  marri.age  to  Miss  Anna,  daughter  of 
Theodore  and  Adeline  (Britmann)  Diekcr.  Six 
children  have  been  born  of  the  union,  as  follows: 
Barney,  Frank,  August,  Herman,  John  G.  and 
Anna,  the  last-named  being  the  wife  of  John 
Meuse.  The  children  have  received  excellent  edu- 
cational advantages  and  are  well  informed  and 
cultured.  Frank  fitted  himself  for  the  profession 
of  a  teacher,wliich  he  follows  in  Randolph  County, 
this  State.  In  his  religious  connections,  Mr.  Hoff 
is  identified  with  the  Catholic  Church.  Politically, 
he  is  Arm  in  his  adherence  to  the  principles  of  ihe 
Republican  party. 


'^ 


^1- 


(■i  IkILLIAM  PREDIGER.  St.  Clair  County  is 
\/\Jl/  i^^^^y  proud  of  her  native-born  citizens, 
^^  who  are  honorably  bearing  their  share  in 
sustaining  her  interests  and  extending  her  wealth. 
Among  these  is  the  subject  of  this  biographical  re- 
view, who  is  engaged  in  farming  on  section  7, 
Lenzbuig  Township,  and  is  one  of  its  most  pro- 
pressive  and  enlightened  farmers.  His  estate, 
whicli  comprises  two  hundred  and  thirty  broad 
acres,  is  placed  under  substantial  improvement, 
the  fields  arc  well  tilled,  and  a  neat  set  of  farm 
buildings  adorns  the  place. 

The  original  of  our  sketch  was  born  in  this 
county  in  1853,  on  the  farm  where  he  is  at  present 
residing.  His  parents,  Peter  and  Nancy  (Mc- 
Kahey)    Frediger,  were  natives    of   Germany,  the 


father  born  in  1807  and  the  mother  in  1826.  Peter 
Prediger  spent  the  first  six  years  of  his  life  in  his 
native  land,  and,  on  .accompanying  his  parents  to 
the  United  States  in  1823,  located  with  them  in 
St.  Louis,  Mo.,  where  they  made  their  home  for  a 
short  time.  Afterward  the  parents  came  to  Dutch 
Hill  Prairie,  where  they  purchased  Government 
land,  and  resided  until  their  decease. 

The  father  of  our  subject  received  only  a  lim- 
ited education,  but  added  to  the  knowledge  gained 
in  the  common  schools  by  a  thorough  and  systematic 
course  of  reading,  and  kept  himself  well  posted 
with  regard  to  what  was  going  on  in  the  world. 
He  was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources  at  the 
early  age  o£  nine  years,  and,  when  old  enough  to 
choose  a  life  work,  became  a  farmer,  and  at  his  death 
left  an  estate  of  seven  hundred  acres.  When  at- 
taining his  twenty-first  year,  he  was  married  to 
Nancy,  a  daughter  of  James  and  Margaret  Mc- 
Kahev,  who  bore  him  a  family  of  eleven  children, 
eigiit  of  whom  are  yet  living.  The  elder  Mr. 
Prediger  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and,  as  a 
good  citizen  should  lie,  was  earnestly  interested  in 
all  that  pertained  to  his  township  and  county. 
His  career  was  begun  as  a  poor  boy,  but  by  energy 
and  perseverance,  united  with  economy' and  good 
business  qualifications,  he  became  wealthy,  and  the 
records  show  him  to  have  been  one  of  the  heav- 
iest tax-payers  in  his  township.  He  died  in  1890. 
His  wife,  the  mother  of  our  subject,  has  attained 
the  age  of  sixty-flve  years,  and  now  makes  her 
home  in  Marissa. 

William  Prediger,  of  this  sketch,  obtained  a 
o-ood  education  in  the  public  schools,  was  well 
trained  by  his  father  and  mother  in  all  that  goes  to 
make  an  honorable  man,  and  was  thoroughly 
drilled  in  farm  work  while  yet  young,  so  that  he 
came  to  his  vocation  well  fitted  to  perform  its 
duties.  In  1875,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Anna,  daughter  of  Francis  and  Margaret 
Eisfelder,  and  to  them  has  been  born  a  family  of 
nine  children:  Anna,  Lizzie,  William,  Mary,  Lena 
(deceased),  Jennie,  Jessie,  Louisa  and  Viola  (de- 
ceased). Our  subject  began  life  for  himself  by 
working  on  a  portion  of  his  father's  farm,  where 
he  remained  until  his  marriage.  He  is  a  man  who 
has  so  conducted    himself  in  all  the  affairs  of  life 


RESIDENCE    OF   WILLIAM     PREDIGER,  5EC   7  ,  LENZBURG  TP  ST.  CLAIRCO. ,ILL 


RESIDENCE    OF       FRED    R  H  El  N  ,  SEC -^  ,SM  ITHTON   TP.ST.  CLAl  R  CO.,1  LL  . 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOORAPHICAI.   RKCORD. 


as  to  win  the  confidence  of  his  fellow-citizens. 
Ills  political  convictions  are  identical  with  the 
principles  pronuilgaled  by  the  Democratic  party, 
to  which  lie  gives   lieai'ly  support. 


*^^l 


ll^N^ 


on  the  youthful  manager,  who  despite  Uis  being 
only  twenty-two  years  old,  could  instruct  many 
an  older  fai'nier  in  the  art  of  cultivatintr  the  soil 
to  the  best  advantage.  Mr.  Rhein  follows  general 
fanning  on  his  place  and  is  one  of  the  most  enter- 
|)rising  young  men  of  the   township. 


P'  RED  UIIKIN.  As  his  name  indicates,  tliis 
gentleman  is  of  German  descent,  and  the 
.  success  that  his  family  has  attained  is  oniy 

another  example  of  what  industry  and  per.sever- 
ance  can  accomplish  upon  American  soil.  lie  is  a 
prosperf)us  farmer  of  .'^mithton  Township,  and  his 
estate  is  among  the  finest  in  the  county. 

Our  subject's  father  bore  the  same  name  a.'*  him- 
self and  was  horn  in  IJavaria,  Oermany.  When  a 
small  child  he  came  to  this  country  with  his  par- 
ents, who  made  their  first  settlement  in  St.  Louis, 
but  being  dissatisfied  with  that  citv  they  removed 
from  there  to  St.  (lair  County.  There  they  set- 
tled and  tliei'c  the  grandpai-ents  of  our  subject 
died. 

Fred  Rhein,  Sr..  took  unto  himself  a  helpmate  in 
the  person  of  Miss  Charlotte  Neneninger,  also  a  na- 
tive of  the  Fatherland.  An  enterprising  and  suc- 
cessful fanner,  he  owned  at  the  time  of  his  death 
a  large  amount  of  iiroperty,  amounting  to  two 
hundred  and  thirty  acres  of  land.  He  and  his  es- 
timable wife  had  seven  children,  six  of  whom  still 
remain  to  cheer  the  last  days  of  their  mother.  The 
one  deceased  is  Louts,  and  those  living  are:  Adam 
and  Maggie  (twins);  Pha'be,  Anna,  George  and  our 
subject.  The  father  was  a  consistent  Christian,  and 
his  death  was  mourned  not  only  by  his  family, 
but  by  those  with  whom  he  ha<l  been  ccninected, 
both  religiously  and  socially.  The  mother  still 
resides  on  the  old  homestead  with  her  son.  our 
subject,  and  is  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  know 
her. 

Fred  Rhein,  .Ir.,  is  a  native  of  this  township  and 
county,  having  been  born  in  the  year  1870  on 
the  old  homestead.  He  operates  the  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  thirty  .acres  left  by  his  father. 
This  is  one  of  the  best-improved  estates  in  the 
county,  and  its  fine  appearance  reflects  great  credit 


T.  CL.VRK,  a  well-known  citizen  of  St.  Clair 
County,  is  the  present  manager  of  the 
store  owned  by  D.  Rentchler,  of  Rentchler 
'Ij  A'illage.  His  life  record  is  as  follows:  He 
was  born  in  Cayuga  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1847,  and 
is  a  Son  of  Dr.  Philo  and  Augusta  (Palmer)  Clark, 
the  former  a  native  of  Hampshire  County,  Mass., 
born  ill  1!SII7.  and  tlie  latter  born  in  Ca\  iiga 
County.  N.  Y..  in  LSI,').  The  boyhood  days  of  the 
father  were  spent  among  the  hills  of  his  native 
county,  and  his  education  for  his  profession  was 
acquired  in  the  (ieneva  Medical  Institute,  <if  Xew 
York.  He  hail  previously  removed  to  ('ayug;i 
County,  X.  Y.,  and  had  served  as  guard  in  the 
Auburn  State  Prison  for  a  few  year.s.  .\fter  being 
graduated  in  medicine,  he  began  practice  in  the 
village  of  King's  Ferry,  X.  Y.,  where  he  prosecuted 
his  profession  for  ovt^r  half  a  century.  Having 
then  reached  an  advanced  age,  and  the  arduous 
duties  of  a  [)r.actitioner  resting  heavily  upon  him, 
he  entered  a  drug-store  and  is  still  engaged  in 
that  business.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  r)f  Wynes 
and  Annie  (Lyons)  I'almer,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Connecticut  but  were  of  English  descent. 
The  Clark  family  traces  its  ancestry  back  to  three 
brothers  who  came  from  P-ngland  to  this  country 
ill  Coloni;il  days  and  were  noted  men  in  resisting 
the  persecutions  of  the  English  Government. 

When  but  fifteen  years  of  age,ou]-  subject  began 
life  for  himself  by  teaching  school  in  his  native 
State.  The  following  year,  1862,  he  responded  to 
the  country's  call  for  troops, enlisting  in  the  Union 
.service  as  a  member  of  Company  K,  One  Hundred 
and  Eleventh  Xew  York  Infantry  under  (ieu.  Jliles. 
He  participated   in  several    important    battles,  in- 


572 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


eluding-  the  engagements  at  Colfax,  Culpepei', 
Peach  Orchard  and  Harper's  P>rry.  At  the  last- 
named  place  he  was  captured,  and  after  being  pa- 
roled returned  to  his  home. 

Mr.  Clark  then  engaged  in  teaching  school, 
which  profession  he  followed  for  a  short  time, when 
he  took  up  the  stud^-  of  medicine  with  his  father. 
He  afterward  attended  the  same  medical  school  in 
whicli  his  father  was  a  student,  but  did  not  gradu- 
ate. It  was  in  1871  that  he  came  West,  making 
Ins  first  location  in  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  practice  for  two  years,  when,  his  health 
failing  him, he  changed  his  occupation  and  in  1873 
went  upon  the  road  as  a  tr.'iveling  salesman,  being 
thus  employed  for  a  year.  About  this  time,  in 
1874,  he  was  married,  in  Alton,  111.,  to  Miss  Adelia, 
daughter  of  L.  W.  and  Eliza  Moore.  Their  luiion 
h.as  been  blessed  with  one  child,  a  son,  Ambrose  I). 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Clark  engaged  in  busi- 
ness with  his  father-in-law  for  one  j'ear  as  proprie- 
tor of  the  St.  Charles  Hotel,  of  Alton,  111.  He  then 
removed  to  Belleville  and  resumed  his  old  profes- 
sion of  teaching,  being  thus  employed  for  three 
years  in  St.  Clair  County.  In  1871).  he  became 
manager  of  the  store  of  Mr.  Kenlehler,  and  has 
since  had  charge  of  the  same.  Faithful  to  the  in- 
terests of  his  employer,  he  has  his  entire  confidence. 
In  1884,  Mr.  Clark  was  chosen  Justice  of  the  Peace 
and  re-elected  in  1888.  In  1892,  he  was  appointed 
Township  Treasurer,  discharging  his  duties  with 
promptness  and  fidelity,  which  have  won  him  the 
commendation  of  all  concerned.  In  political  sen- 
timent, he  is  a  stanch  Republican,  and  by  those  who 
know  him,  he  is  held  in  high  regard. 


— ^-^+^e 


^<5^K0Rr;E  SCHAUB.  In  few  branches  of 
III  ^ —  trade  has  the  march  of  progress  wrought 
^^4!  *"*'''  ^  veritable  revolution  as  in  the  stove 
and  agricultural  implement  business.  What  with 
invention,  improvement,  and  the  development  of 
skill,  something  closely'  akin  to  perfection  has 
been  reached  in  these  departments  of  industrial 
activity.     A  popular  and  prosperous  establishment 


in  those  lines  is  that  of  fTCOrge  Schaub,  which  has 
been  in  successful  operation  for  many  years.  Mr. 
Schaub  was  born  in  Germany,  fifteen  miles  from 
Hesse-Cassel,  March  4,18.82,  to  Wilhelm  and  .Sa- 
billa  (Steidz)  Schaub,  who  were  also  natives  of  that 
place,  where  they  spent  their  lives.  The  father 
was  a  tanner  and  currier  by  trade,  which  occupa- 
tion he  followed  in  early  life,  but  he  later  became 
a  tiller  of  the  soil  and  the  owner  of  considerable 
land.  He  was  a  Protestant,  and  died  at  the  age  of 
eightj'-three  years. 

(Tcorge  Schaub  was  one  of  a  family  of  .seven 
children,  three  of  whom  came  to  America  and  are 
the  only  ones  now  living.  He  was  reared  in  the 
land  of  his  birth,  learning  the  rudiments  of  farm- 
ing, and  obtained  a  common-school  education,  but 
at  the  age  of  fourteen  years  he  was  apprenticed  to 
a  coiipersmith  for  three  years  and  at  the  end  of  his 
term  of  service  he  entered  the  employ  of  his  pre- 
ceptor, and  was  afterward  a  journeyman  through 
Prussia.  Upon  examination,  he  was  freed  from 
military  service,  and  in  1853  he  left  Bremen  in  a 
sailing-vessel  and  June  29,  1853,  landed  in  New 
Orleans.  He  came  up  the  Mississippi  River  to  St. 
Louis,  where  he  began  working  at  his  trade,  and 
from  1855  to  1857  was  an  employe  in  the  sugar 
factoiy  in  St.  Louis.  In  the  spring  of  the  latter 
year  he  came  to  East  St.  Louis,  which  was  then 
a  village  known  as  Illinois  Town,  and  in  the  vi- 
cinity began  gardening,  making  a  trip  to  St.  Louis 
everj'  day  for  the  purpose  of  selling  his  produce. 
This  occupation  received  his  attention  for  about 
a  year,  when  the  high  water  drowned  him  out  and 
he  spent  the  following  year  in  St.  Louis. 

In  the  spring  of  1859  he  returned  to  East  St. 
Louis  and  worked  as  a  coppersmith  on  the  Ohio 
&  Mississippi  Railroad  for  seven  years,  having 
charge  of  this  department.  At  the  end  of  this  time, 
in  partnership  with  Charles  Hauss,  he  opened  a 
small  tin-shop  on  Broadway,  but  at  the  end  of  two 
years  Mr.  .Schaub  became  sole  proprietoi-  of  the 
establishment  and  began  gradually  to  add  har<l- 
ware  to  his  stock.  In  the  spring  of  1873,  he  built 
a  substantial  brick  business  house,  and  has  since 
carried  a  large  and  select  stock  of  hardware,  tin- 
ware and  agricultural  implements.  In  1877,  he  built 
a  store  adjoining  his  brick  establishment  and   now 


r.;HTHAlT  AND  BKXiHAl'llK'AL   KECORD. 


;;? 


has  a  double  store  .^OxKKi  feet  \vitli  linsenieiit.  and 
two  ov  three  .stories  hiuii.  lie  owns  -jonie  real  es- 
tate in  the  eitv  and  lias  Imill  a  niiinlier  of  houses. 
He  became  a  nieniber  of  the  (irst  and  second  build- 
ing and  loan  associations  of  the  city,  and  is  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Workingmen's  Hank.  He  hel|ied  to 
incorporate    the  city  in  ISfio. 

Socially,  ^fr.  Schaub  is  a  iiiember  of  the  Aiieienl. 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons  of  Belleville;  the 
Knights  of  Honor,  and  t!ie  Knights  and  Ladies  of 
Honor,  and  in  his  political  views  is  a  stanch  ad- 
herent of  the  Hepublican  i)arty.  He  an<I  his  fam- 
ily worship  ill  the  Lutheran  Church.  He  was 
married  in  IHC;!  to  >n.ss  Klizabeth  >Hlt,  born  near 
Columbia,  111.,  by  whom  he  has  four  children: 
Kmma,  Mrs.  Jordan,  of  K.ist  .St.  Louis;  Bertha.  Mrs. 
(ieorge  Schroader,  of  East  St.  Lf)nis;  .\iina  and 
J.illie  at  home.  Afr.  Schauli  is  a  gentleman  of  pusli 
and  enterpri.se,  thoroughly  conversant  with  the 
wants  of  the  trade,  and  ()opul;u-  :iliUe  with  his 
patrons  and  trade  competitors. 


DAM    fiLNTZ.      Humanity  has   always  de- 
manded   stimulants,  and    it    is  fairly  ar- 
gued that    those  engaged     in     offering  a 
[(^  mild,  wholesome  form,  to  take  the  pl.ace  of 

the  fiery  exhilarants  of  positive  injury,  should  be 
encouraged  and  regarded  as  public  benefactors. 
.\s  a  forcible  illustration  of  this  conclusion,  they 
point  to  the  (Jermans,  a  people  among  whom  the 
consumption  of  lager  beer  to  the  exclusion  of 
other  beverages  is  as  common  as  tea-drinking  in 
other  nations;  yet  there  are  no  steadier,  more  in- 
dustrious or  more  order-loving  citizens  to  be  found 
than  are  embraced  in  our  Teutonic  population. 
One  of  the  most  important  industries  that  center 
in  Belleville  is  the  manufacture  of  lager  beer,  em- 
ploying, a.s  it  does,  a  large  amount  of  capital,  and 
giving  employment,  directly  and  indirectly,  to 
more  people  than  is  done  by  any  other  one  in- 
terest. 

.\dam  (iintz,whois  the  proprietor  of  the  Western 
Brewery,  is  engaged  in  one  of  the  most  important 


industries  in  the  flourishing  city  of  Belleville, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  energetic,  enterprising  and 
successful  business  men  of  the  place.  He  was  born 
at  Rhcinpfal/.,(;erniany,  on  the  Kith  of  July,  IH.'iO, 
and  was  there  educated  until  si.xteen  years  of  age. 
Ill  ISfif)  he  came  to  the  United  States  and  made 
his  w.ay  directiv  to  Belleville,  where  he  entered  the 
employ  of  a  brewing  company  there,  the  firm  being 
New  A-  (Jiiitz.  the  latter  no  relative  of  his.  He 
learned  all  departments  of  the  business,  and  soon 
licc.'iMic  a  practical  brewer.  In  187.'!  the  above 
iiiciiiioned  Hrm  sold  out  to  four  nien.,\dam  (iintz, 
.lohn  Kloes,  William  Brandenberger  and  X'alentine 
Sleeg.  and  >[r.  Ointz  was  placed  in  charge  of  the 
business,  conducting  the  same  and  being  ba<'kcil 
by  the  other  uentlcnicn  until   1881. 

Having  made  a  liiiaiicial  success  of  the  venture, 
-Mr.  (unlz  purchased  the  entire  plant,  and  has 
since  conducted  it  most  successfully.  He  has  made 
a  great  many  improvements  in  the  plant,  erected 
new  buildings  at  an  immense  cost,  and  has  given 
eraplo3ment  to  a  large  number  of  men  and  lioys. 
Mr.  (iintz  takes  a  foremost  i)lace  among  the 
brewers  of  the  county,  and  this  leadership  is  not 
only  in  the  proportions  upon  which  the  manufac- 
ture is  carried  on,  but  also  in  the  quality  of  the 
product,  and  the  large  territory  covered  by  the 
sales.  The  demand  for  this  beer  is  wonderful 
and  this  is  not  oiil,\'  for  local  consumption,  but 
also  foi-  shipment.  Car-loads  are  shipped  daily 
to  all  points  of  the  compass.  The  beer  is  a 
healthy  and  nutritive  family  lievcrage,  made 
from  the  choicest  materials  .and  free  from  salicylic 
acid  or  other  deleterious  preservatives.  The  ili- 
mensions  of  the  establishment  are  marvelous,  and 
the  plant  is  located  in  West  Belleville.  Our  sub- 
ject'slarge  brick  residence  stands  in  close  proximity. 

Mr.  (iintz  is  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  the 
county,  and  has  made  all  his  propcrt}'  by  his  in- 
dustry and  excellent  business  acumen.  He  owns  a 
great  amount  of  real  estate,  and  is  a  public-spirited 
citizen,  being  prominently  identified  with  every 
im[)ortant  enterprise  for  the  advancement  and  de- 
velopment of  the  cit3'.  He  inherits  all  the  thrift 
and  energy  of  his  German  ancestors,  and  has  suc- 
ceeded where  others  would  have  failed.  In  pf)li- 
tics  he  is  a  strong  supporter  of  Democratic  princi- 


574 


PORTEAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


pies.  On  the  9tli  of  IVoveinber,  1871,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Rosa  Gintz,  daughter  of  Peter  Gintz, 
who  had  formerly  operated  the  brewery.  Her 
parents  are  both  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gintz 
are  the  parents  of  throe  children:  Walter,  Fred- 
crick  and  Katie. 


(y^HILlP  H.  SOPP.  The  subject  of  the  pres- 
ent too  brief  sketch  holds  tlie  prominent 
and  responsible  position  of  Principal  of  the 
school  of  F^ast  Carondelet,  Sugar  Loaf 
Township,  St.  Clair  County.  Our  subject  was  horn 
in  Waterloo,  Monroe  County,  111.,  October23,  1860, 
was  reared  in  that  pleasant  little  village  and  was 
sent  to  the  schools  of  that  place.  Always  devoted 
to  books,  he  was  not  satisfied  with  the  educational 
advantages  of  those  places  of  instruction,  but 
went  to  St.  Louis  and  there  took  a  course  in  the 
Ames  School,  where  he  completed  certain  liranches 
according  to  the  curriculum,  but  Mr.  Sopp  is  too 
good  and  experienced  an  educator  to  consider  an 
education  as  ever  really  finished. 

After  being  graduated  from  this  place,  our  sub- 
ject took  charge  of  the  Deer  Hill  School,  which  is 
located  five  miles  west  of  Waterloo,  .and  was  so 
pleased  with  the  position  and  gave  such  great 
satisfaction  to  his  patrons,  that  his  residence  there 
stretched  out  over  a  space  of  four  years.  He  was 
then  offered  his  present  position  of  Principal  of 
the  East  Carondelet  Schools,  which  he  accepted, 
and  has  remained  here  ever  since,  devoting  himself 
to  the  work.  His  ability  is  recognized  and  his  pro- 
gressive ideas  find  acceptance  among  the  intelli- 
gent people  of  P^ast  Carondelet,  while  his  manage- 
ment has  had  the  very  best  results.  The  tenth 
term  is  now  fairly  under  way,  and  Mr.  Sopp  bids 
fair  to  remain  with  this  community  for  ten  years 
to  come. 

An  interesting  event  in  the  life  of  oui  siih- 
ject,vvliicli  made  the  year  1883  memorable,  was  his 
marriage  to  the  daughter  of  Henry  Tebbenhoff, 
who  was    one  of  the  oldest  settlers  of  New  Han- 


over Township.  Annie  E.  Tebbenhoff  was  the 
name  of  the  lady  who  became  his  bride  and  who 
has  proved  a  sympathetic  and  congenial  compan- 
ion. Three  children  came  to  bless  their  home. 
Lulu,  Robert  and  Harry. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  is  a  highly 
valued  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  and  has  done  much  to  advance  the  order. 
In  his  political  preferences,  he  is  an  ardent  and 
active  Democrat,  believing  that  the  principles 
which  were  announced  by  Jefferson  and  which 
were  in  vogue  under  the  Jacksonian  administra- 
tion are  the  ones  best  fitted  for  securing  the  pros- 
perity of  our  country.  Mr.  Sopp  keeps  himself 
well  posted  on  current  affairs  and  is  a  fine  conver- 
sationalist. 

Our  subject  lias  been  honored  by  his  township 
with  the  ottice  of  Collector  and  is  a  very  active 
worker  in  all  that  tends  to  advance  the  interests 
of  the  place  in  which  he  finds  a  home.  He  ha.- 
been  Postmaster  of  the  village,  but  other  duties 
now  claim  his  time.  A  professional  school  teacher, 
many  doors  of  preferment  stand  open  to  him,  and 
it  may  be  only  a  question  of  years  before  Mr. 
Sopp  takes  one  of  the  foremost  places  in  the  edu- 
cational departments  of  the  county.  His  present 
school  contains  eighty  pupils  and  is  managed  in 
two  rooms.  The  religious  denomination  to  which 
Mr.  Sopp  and  his  excellent  wife  belong  is  the 
Evangelical  Lutheran,  and  there  they  hold  places 
of  esteem  and  respect. 


^>^^<^^-J- 


^»^  RASTUS     AL 
iWj      known    and 
11^ — ^  Louisville  A 


ALLEN  THOMAS,  the  widely 
successful  car-tracer  for  the 
Ji — ^  Louisville  A  Nashville  Railroad,  is  one  of 
the  highly  valued  employes  of  this  line  of  rail- 
road, and  a  public-spirited  and  enterprising  citizen 
of  East  St.  Louis,  residing  at  No.  1600  St.  Louis 
Avenue.  Our  subject  was  born  December  7,  1843, 
in  Morristown,  St.  Lawrence  County,  N.  Y.  His  pa- 
ternal grandfather,Gen.  Isaac  Thomas,  fought  brave 
ly  inthe  War  of  the  Revolution  and  made  a  record 
of  which  his  descendants  may  well  be  proud.     Lewis 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Thomas,  the  son  of  the  Revolutionary  hero  and 
the  father  of  Erastus  Allen  Thomas,  was  a  native 
of  Fen ns.vl van ia,  and  served  in  the  War  of  1812 
as  a  captain.  He  was  stationed  at  Morristown  and 
foucrht  in  llie  battle  of  the  Windmill. 

Our  siibjet-t  hasa  pair  of  horse-pistols  and  holders 
used  in  the  struggles  of  1776  and  in  the  War  of 
1812.  These  valuable  relies  have  also  been  used 
ill  hiuiiing  moose  and  elk.  Lewis  Thomas  mar- 
ried in  Pennsylvania  at  eighteen  years  of  age.  He 
went  to  .St.  Lawrence  County  and  took  up  land  on 
the  banks  of  the  St.  I>awrencc  River.  Clearing 
the  land  liimself,  he  built  him  a  house,  and^full  of 
amliition  and  energy,  became  one  of  the  most  pros- 
(lerous  of  the  pioneer  farmers  of  those  early  days. 
A  Presbyterian  in  faith  and  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics, Lewis  Thomas  commanded  tlie  esteem  and 
confidence  of  al!  who  knew  him,  regardless  of  the 
religion  or  iiolitics  of  his  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances; and  when  he  passed  away  in  187.5  he  was 
mourned  as  a  public-spirited  citizen  and  a  man  of 
sterling  integrity  of  character. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Rachael  Sampson;  siie  was  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  the  mother  of  ten  childien,  nine  of 
whom  were  sous.  Siie  died  before  her  husband, 
after  sharing  his  ))ioneer  experience  in  the 
da\'s  of  their  youth.  Following  the  example  of 
his  courageous  ancestors.  Lewis  Tiiomas.  a  iirotiier 
of  our  subject,  named  in  honor  of  his  father, 
enlisted  in  tiie  year  186(1.  in  the  New  York  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  and  as  a  dauntless  color-bearer, 
was  killed  at  (Jcttysliurgli.  Erastus  .\llen,  raised 
u|)on  tlie  banks  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  attended  the 
common  schools  of  liis  neighborhood,  and  was 
never  from  home  until  he  went  into  the  army  at 
nineteen  years  of  age.  when,  running  away,  lie  en- 
listed in  tile  United  States  Regulal•^.  His  parents 
both  had  a  horror  of  tlie  regular  army  life,  and  his 
father  brought  him  home  again,  promising  that  he 
might  enlist  in  the  New  York  Volunteers,  wliich 
he  did,  jt)iiiiiig  the  One  Hundred  and  .Sixth  New 
York  Hegiment,  Company  B.  He  was  mustered 
in  at  Ogdensburg  in  August.  1862,  and  sent  South, 
camping  at  Jlartinsbiirgh,  where  the  regiment  re- 
niaiued  until  the  spring  of  1863,  about  the  time 
his  brother  was  killed  at  Gettysburgh. 


Our  subject  participated  in  the  battles  of  Fair- 
mount,  and  Wade  Hampton,  and  although  suffering 
l>rivations  and  in  constant  peril,  also  had  amusing 
experiences,  .\fter  a  time  the  regiment  returned 
to  Martinsburgli,  and,  a  battle  taking  place,  were 
forced  to  retreat  to  Harper's  Ferr}-,  where  they 
joined  the  .\rmy  of  the  Potomac.  Next  came  tlie 
siege  of  Petersburgh  and  the  battle  at  Brady's 
Station,  about  which  time  Mr.  Thomas  was  put  on 
the  signal  corps,  and  there  remained  until  tlie 
close  of  the  war.  At  Culpei>er  Court  House,  ho 
was  in  charge  of  a  squad  corps,  and  was  wounded 
by  the  cut  of  a  sabre  across  the  face,  but  being 
near  the  handle  it  only  stunned  him.  Our  subject 
participated  in  the  Grand  Review  of  the  troops  in 
Washington,  and  believes  both  parties  were  heartily 
glad  that  the  long  and  bitter  fight  was  over.  Mr. 
Thomas  w.as  mustered  out  at  .\lexandria,  ^'a..  in 
•Inly,  1865.  and  although  he  was  rejoiced  that  the 
horrors  of  civil  war  were  ended,  he  left  the  active 
service  in  behalf  of  his  country  with  regret.  Re- 
turning to  the  home  of  his  parents,  he  remained 
with  them  one  year,  and  Februaiy  23,  1866, 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Dettie  E.  Wliit- 
nej',  a  native  of  Hammond,  St.  Lawrence  County. 
This  estimable  lady  was  the  daughter  of  Samuel 
Whitnej-,  horn  in  Massachusetts  in  1790,  and  a 
successful  farmer  anfl  early  settler  of  St.  Lawrence 
County.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  White  Whitney,  w.as 
a  native  of  Southern  New  York. 

After  the  marriage  of  our  subject  he  operated  a 
farm  one  year,  and  then  came  to  Detroit,  and  en- 
gaged in  a  bakery  and  ran  it  successfully  seven 
yeai-s.  In  1874,  Mr.  Thomas  removed  to  Chicago, 
and  there  found  employment  as  a  photographic 
artist  for  three  years.  In  1877,  he  returned  to 
Morristown  and  settled  upon  the  old  homestead, 
where  he  devoted  himself  to  agricultural  pursuits 
for  five  years  and  lK)uglit  the  old  home  and  made 
it  a  dairy  farm.  In  the  year  1882,  our  subject 
located  in  East  St.  Louis  and  was  employed  as  as- 
sistant ticket  agent  in  the  railwaj-  depot  until  188.5; 
he  then  became  clerk  for  the  Liuiisville  &  Nash- 
ville local  freight  depot,  and  .<oon  received  the 
position  of  car-tracer  for  the  Short  Line,  holding 
this  work  for  four  years,  when  the  Louisville  A 
Nashville  Railroad  brought  Lim  back  here,  where 


576 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


he  has  remained  ever  since.  His  business  terri- 
tory is  the  terminals  of  St.  Louis  and  he  has  eigh- 
teen separate  lines  to  take  care  of.  The  business 
of  a  car-tracer  is  often  complicated  and  requires 
judgment,  energy  and  natural  ability  in  tiieiiand- 
ling  of  its  work. 

Mr.  Thomas  has  been  prospered  and  has  made 
excellent  investments,  owning  valuable  property 
and  having  built  several  houses  in  East  St.  Louis, 
the  last  one  erected  upon  the  corner  of  St.  Louis 
.\venuc  and  Twelfth  Street,  costing  $10,000.  Our 
subject  is  a  member  of  Pride  of  the  Valley  Lodge 
No.  435, 1.  O.  O.  F.,  of  which  he  is  Past  Noble,  and  of 
National  Union  No.  563.  Mrs.  Thomas  is  a  Daugh- 
ter of  Rebekah,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyter- 
ian Church  and  active  in  all  good  work.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Thomas  are  the  parents  of  one  child,  a  daugh- 
ter, Mabel  F.  Politically,  our  subject  is  a  strong- 
Republican  and  an  ardent  defender  of  the  princi- 
ples of  the  good  old  party,  and  is  always  interested 
in  the  local  and  National  issues  of  the  day. 


/p^UTSTAVLS  F.  HILGAKD,  civil  engineer 
ij  (=;  and  surveyor.  Among  the  accomplished 
'^C^^l  and  representative  civil  engineers  of  the 
State  of  Illinois  may  be  mentioned  Gustavus 
F.  Milgard,  whose  place  of  business  is  at  No. 
30.")  South  .Jackson  Street,  Belleville,  III.  He  has 
had  a  long  and  valuable  experience  in  his  profes- 
sion, and  is  well  qualified  for  all  the  duties  pertain- 
ing thereto.  He  makes  examinations  and  furnishes 
reports,  attends  to  municipal  engineering,  and  is 
ever  ready  to  offer  his  services  in  consultations  on 
works  of  any  magnitude,  lie  luis  made  an  evin- 
able  record  as  a  practical,  skillful  and  experienced 
engineer,  and  has,  filled  some  vciy  responsible 
positions  in  a  very  able  manner. 

He  vvas  born  on  a  farm  three  and  n-half  miles 
east  of  Belleville,  .lune  17,  l!:l35,ason  of  Theodore 
Hilgard,  .Jr.,  and  Emma  (lleimberger)  Hilgard, 
who  settled  on  a  farm  in  St.  Clair  County  in  July, 
1832.  The  former  was  horn  near  the  Hhine  l{iver 
in  GerniMn\-,  and  nftei-  (•(iniiiig  to  Aiiu'ricn  resided 


on  a  farm  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  became 
the  father  of  four  sons  and  four  daughters,  all  of 
whom  reside  in  Belleville:  Anna,  wife  of  K. 
Abend;  Emma;  Charles,  in  the  insurance  busi- 
ness ;  Theodore,  who  is  in  a  store  with  his  young- 
est brother  ;  Emily  ;  Ernst,  a  merchant  ;  Eliza, 
wife  of  Mr.  Roemiser,  the  po[)ular  clothier  of  Belle- 
ville, and  Gustavus  F. 

The  latter  assisted  his  fatlier  on  the  farm  until 
he  was  seventeen  years  of  age,  at  which  time  he 
began  studying  surveying  with  G.  F.  Graiier, 
father  of  the  present  County  Survejor;  soon  after 
which,  in  1854,  he  took  a  position  in  the  City 
Engineer's  ottiee  in  Si.  J^ouis,  under  II.  Reiser. 
During  the  two  years  that  he  remained  in  this  po- 
sition he  continued  to  pursue  his  studies  with 
much  diligence,  after  which  he  entered  the  Missis- 
ippi  State  University'  at  Oxford,  where  he  took  a 
mathematical  and  civil  engineering  course,  and 
graduated  iii  the  Class  of  '58.  The  instructors 
at  that  lime  were  men  of  eminence  and  acknowl- 
edged intellect,  and  Mr.  Hilgard  made  the  most  of 
his  opportunities  and  thoroughly  fitted  himself  for 
his  profession.  Upon  his  return  to  Belleville  he 
became  Deputy  County  Surveyor  under  S.  Tindale, 
and  in  1860  was  elected  to  the  position  of  County 
Surveyor  over  his  old  instructor,  G.  I''.  Graner, 
and  filled  the  office  with  marked  ability  until  1876 
(with  the  e.xception  of  two  terms),  making  twelve 
3'ears  of  actu.al  service  for  his  county'.  During  his 
service  a  levee  three  and  a-half  miles  long  was  built, 
also  sixteen  miles  of  drainage,  but  after  the  dis- 
trict had  expended  *  120.000  on  it,  it  was  aliaii- 
doned. 

He  is  a  well-known  coal-mine  surveyor,  and  no 
personal  career  among  the  man^y  honorable  records 
of  the  county  can  be  pointed  out  with  greater 
pride  than  his.  On  the  KUh  of  October,  1862,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  iliss  Alvina  Gle.aser,  and 
by  her  he  is  the  fathei'  of  the  following  children  : 
Eugene  F..  who  was  born  .Vugust  3.  1863.  has 
been  in  the  r:iilrnad  service  siiici'  he  w,as  sixteen 
years  old,  and  is  now  head  clerk  in  the  freight  and 
passenger  de|)iit  of  the  St.  Louis  Shoi't  I^ine;  Edgar 
E.,  who  was  born  October  30,  1865,  died  .\ugust 
11,  1867  ;  Walter  was  born  .lune  7,  1868,  and  died 
.lulv  ^t,  18S.-).    Mrs.  Hilgard  is  a  daiio-htor  of  Fred- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


577 


erlek  and  JIatilda  (Gratch)  Gleaser,  who  came  to 
Anieiica  from  Germany  about  1835.  The  father 
was  a  farmer,  and  died  in  1890  in  his  seventieth 
year,  his  wife  having  been  called  from  life  in  188;"). 
They  were  tlie  parents  of  the  following-named 
children  :  Marie,  wife  of  Otto  Schott,  a  farmer 
residing  near  Shiloh  ;  Alviiia,  .Mi-s.  llilgard  ; 
Charles,  in  the  clothing  business  ;  Emma,  wife  of 
William  Mangelin,  of  Webb  City,  Mo.;  Adolph, 
who  is  the  proprietor  of  a  cutlery  store  at  Bruns- 
wick. Mo.;  and  Fannie,  wife  of  William  Fisher, 
a  dry-goods  merchant  of  Belleville. 


■{.-__.}.:;;=^ 


.,,        ,^ILL1.\M  ll.GRUFF,  the  popular  ex-Alder- 
man from  the  Fifth  Ward,  a  successful  and 


MiiiHU  I  I'uiii  Liiuriiiii  >*  aril,  a  siicctfSMin  aim 
^  ^  extensive  grocer  and  dealer  in  produce  and 
feed,  has  been  an  energetic  and  prosperous  citizen 
of  Fkst  St.  Louis,  111.,  for  the  past  score  of  j-ears, 
and  is  widely  known  as  a  progressive  and  enter- 
prising man.  Born  in  the  Province  of  Osnabruck, 
Hanover,  Germany,  May  2,  18;')(),  our  subject  is 
the  descendant  of  an  excellent  German  family, 
who  had  been  distinguished  for  bravery,  and  .as 
citizens  were  intelligent,  honest  and  industrious. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  Herman  Grupe,  served 
with  fidelity  in  the  German  army  in  the  celebrated 
march  to  Russia.  Herman  H.  Grupe,  the  father, 
w.as  the  owner  of  a  small  farm  in  the  Fatherland 
.and  p.atiently  cultivated  the  soil;  he  also  served 
with  ability  as  an  oflicial  of  the  town,  and 
held  the  various  responsible  |)ositions  of  School 
Director,  Church  Trustee,  and  President  of  the  Dis- 
trict Assembly,  there  being  in  Hanover  seven  Pni- 
viucial  .\ssemblies  which  have  the  right  of  pailici- 
pating  in  the  prf>vincial  legislation. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Mary  SicdhoM, 
the  daughter  of  a  German  soldier,  who  was  killed 
during  a  campaign.  Mrs.  Mary  (Siedhoff)  Grupe 
was  the  mother  of  ten  childi'en,  of  whom  William 
H.  is  the  fourth  of  the  family  of  brothers  and  sis- 
ters now  living,  lie  was  raised  upon  his  father's 
I'arm.    and    allemicd    both    private    and    common 


schools  in  his  native  land,  and  at  sixteen  years 
of  age  entered  the  gymnasium  near  his  home  and 
studied  the  cl.assics,  pursuing  the  course  in  an  ex- 
cellent (iovernment  institution  for  one  year,  when 
he  decided  to  emigrate  to  America.  In  the  fall 
of  IS'iii,  Mr  (irupe,  bidding  adieu  to  his  friends 
and  early  home,  boarded  the  steamer,  "Phoenix"  at 
Bremen,  and  after  a  safe  voyage  was  landed  in 
New  York,  and  from  the  F^mpire  City  came  dircii 
.to  St.  Louis,  where  he  received  from  a  lirothcr 
immediate  employment  in  a  grocery  house.  At 
the  expiration  of  one  year,  our  subject  entered 
the  .Tones  Commercial  College,  and  having,  after 
the  required  preparation,  graduated  from  this  excel- 
lent institution,  soon  became  book-keeper  in  the 
Capitol  Bank,  of  St.  Louis,  and  remained  with 
this  financial  institution  until  its  failure  in    LSTiI. 

During  the  fall  of  this  latter  year,  Mr  ( irupe 
came  to  E.ast  St.  Louis,  and  w.as  engaged  by  I'". 
Hinze,  a  grocer,  and  remained  in  his  employ  until 
1882,  when  the  services  of  our  subject  were  se- 
cured by  the  German  American  Bank,  of  St.  Louis, 
with  which  banking  establishment  he  was  con- 
nected .as  book-keeper  until  1884,  when  he  re- 
turned to  F^ast  St.  Louis  and  bought  an  interest 
with  Mr.  Hinze  in  the  grocery  business,  the  firm 
then  being  (irupe  ct  Hinze.  One  year  later,  our 
subject  became  by  |)urcliase  the  sole  proprietor  of 
the  business,  which  was  one  of  the  oldest  regular 
grocery  establishments  in  East  St.  Louis,  and  which, 
under  the  skillful  management  of  Mr  Grupe,  who 
also  handled  extensively  feed  and  Hour,  soon  as- 
sumed larger  proportions,  and  is  now  one  of  the 
most  prosperous  in  the  city.  ( )ur  subject  was 
married  in  1884  to  Miss  .Viinic  Hinze,  a  most  es- 
timable l:i(ly,  widely  known  and  liiglil,v  respected 
III  ]-',;isl  St.  Louis,  which  is  her  birthpl.acc. 

Mr.  and  IMrs.  (iiupc  have  been  blessed  with  the 
birth  of  a  son.  .Vrtliiir.  a  promising  lad,  intelligent 
Mild  manly.  Mr.  Grupe  is  a  stockholder  in  the  St. 
(lair  Building  and  Loan  Association,  and  was  an 
organizer  and  Vice-president  of  the  same.  Our 
subject  is  a  stalwart  Republican,  and  in  181MI,  was 
elect(!d  one  of  the  City  F'atheis,  and  as  the  repre- 
sentative Alderman  from  the  F'iftli  Ward,  exe- 
cuted the  wishes  of  his  constituents  ellioiently  and  in 
the  disch;ujj;e  of  his  various  oflicial  duties  iviideied 


578 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


excellent  service  to  the  Citj-  Government,  and  dis- 
played a  marked  abilil}-  on  important  committees. 
Mr  Griipe  is  a  Knight  of  Pythias  and  is  a  member 
of  the  Modern  Woodmen  National  Union.  lie  is 
a  valued  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  St. 
Louis,  and  is  ever  ready  to  aid  in  worthy  social, 
benevolent  or  religious  enterprises.  In  both  pri- 
vate and  business  life  our  subject  is  esteemed  as  a 
man  of  honor  and  integrity,  and  commands  the 
confidence  of  a  host  of  friends. 


/^Pfl  C.  JOHNSON,  freight  and  passenger  agent 
[l[  i~  of  the  Louisville  &  Nashville  Railroad  at 
^k^  Belleville,  III.,  to  which  position  he  was 
appointed  May  1, 1880, was  born  in  Shelby  County, 
Ind.,  near  Shelbyville.  He  is  a  son  of  Nathan  and 
Sarah  (Angleton)  Johnson,  and  the  grandson  of 
ISenjamin  Johnson,  the  latter  being  of  (iermaa  de- 
scent and  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  Benjamin 
was  a  jHOueer  of  Indiana,  where  lie  married  Miss 
Anna  French,  and  made  their  home  in  Shelby 
Count}-  until  1865,  when  they  removed  to  Richland 
and  resided  there  up  to  the  time  of  their  death. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  of  Scotch-Irish 
descent,  her  ancestors  coming  over  to  America 
from  Scotland.  She  was  born  in  Crittenden  County, 
Ky.,  April  28,  1838,  and  died  in  Richland  in  the 
year  1873.  His  father,  Nathan,  was  born  January 
22,  1834,  and  was  married  in  1853.  Removing  to 
Richland  County  in  1859,  he  engaged  in  farming 
and  worked  at  his  trade  as  a  carpenter.  He  is  still 
living  in  Ki«liland  County,  where  he  has  filled  the 
ottices  of  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Supervisor  of 
the  Highways  and  School  Director.  He  holds  a 
membership  in  the  Christian  Church.  His  wife 
bore  him  four  children,  as  follows:  C.  ('.,  our  sub- 
ject; JohnS.;  Ella,  wife  of  James  Jeffries,  of  IIous- 
tonville,  Ky.,  and  an  infant  which  died  soou  after 
its  mother. 

Our  subject  received  his  scholastic  training  in 
countr}'  schools  and  at  the  OIney  High  School, 
after  which  he  went  into  the  St.  Louis  &  South- 
eastern (now  the  Louisville  &  Nashville)  Railroad 


office  at  Opdyke,  where  he  learned  the  entire  busi- 
ness, including  telegraphy.  While  there,  he  was 
also  Adams  Express  Agent  and  Deput}'  Postmaster. 
After  remaining  at  Opdyke  three  years,  he  was 
transferred,  in  December,  J  877,  to  Morton's  (Jap, 
Ky.,  and  in  April,  1878,  to  Belleville  as  operator 
and  clerk.  Shortly  afterward,  he  was  removed  to  the 
Belleville  agency  in  Jefferson  County,  then  soon 
to  the  agenc3'  at  McLeansboro,  Hamilton  County; 
followed  in  1880  by  the  transfer  to  the  agency  at 
Belleville.  This  occurred  May  1,  since  which  time 
he  has  filled  the  position  with  credit  to  himself 
and  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  patrons  of  the  rail- 
road. A  heavy  freight  business  is  done  here,  Mr. 
Johnson  having  nine  men  under  him,  and  it  re- 
(]uires  his  entire  lime  to  execute  the  «ork  of  his 
agency. 

The  first  wife  of  Mr.  Johnson  bore  tlie  maiden 
name  of  Ema  Felts.  They  were  married  at  Opdyke, 
where  she  resided,  and  where  she  died  in  1880. 
His  second  wife  was  Miss  Matilda  O.  Ilurd,  of 
Belleville,  born  in  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  B.  Hurd,  one  of  the  older  citizens  of  Belle- 
ville. The  marriage  took  place  Januar}'  24,  1881, 
three  children  being  the  fruit  of  this  union,  namely : 
Leah  B.,  Allan  W.,  and  Helen  Martha.  Our  sub- 
ject is  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen,  being  at  this  time  Master  of  the  Belle- 
ville lodge.  In  the  Presbyterian  Church,  he  is  an 
active  member  being  an  Elder  and  a  Trustee  in 
that  bod  v. 


^I^^ICIIOLAS   BOISMENUE,  of  East  Caronde- 
let.  Sugar  Loaf  Township,  St.  Clair  County, 


'ii^-  111.,  son  of  Joseph  Boismenue,  was  born 
January  10,  1844,  at  Prairie  du  Point,  where  he 
was  reared.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Cahokia,  after  which  he  worked  the  farm  for  his 
mother.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  at 
Cahokia,  St.  Cluii-  County,  and  died  at  Prairie  du 
Point  in  October,  1844.  The  mother,  who  died  in 
1806,  bore  lier  husband  six  children,  onl}'  two  of 
whom  are  living,  our  subject,  and  Miirgarei,  Mrs. 
T(niranjo.  who  lives  at  St.  Louis. 


rOKTKAIT  AXD  lilOGKArHIC'AL    HIXORD. 


581 


The  ancestoi's  of  our  subject  were  French-Cana- 
dians, while  those  of  liis  wife  were  French.  He 
was  married  in  I8()7  to  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter 
of  Charles  Cimuny,  born  in  l^orraine,  this  province 
at  that  tiuie  beino;  a  part  of  France  but  now  be- 
longing to  Ctonnany.  Mr.  Ciinony  loft  Lorraine 
to  make  a  home  in  this  country.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hoismenue  have  been  horn  six  children,  as  follows: 
Julia  Mary,  who  is  at  home;  .lessc,  Laurie, Eli  Am- 
brose. Agnes  Annie,  and  Elizabeth. 

Settling  at  Prairie  du  Point  immediately  after 
his  marriage,  our  subject  carried  on  farming  for 
thirteen  years,  then  removed  to  East  Carondelet, 
in  1880,  where  for  eight  years  he  engaged  in  the 
retail  liquor  trade.  At  the  expiration  of  this  time, 
in  1888,  he  opened  a  general  grocery  store,  which 
he  has  conducted  up  to  the  present  time.  Although 
he  takes  no  |)ronouneed  part  in  educational  mat- 
ters, Mr.  Boisraenuc  feels  a  keen  interest  in  schools 
and  has  manifested  that  interest  by  giving  his  chil- 
dren a  good  common-school  training.  He  is  de- 
cidedly of  the  opinion  that  that  |)arent  is  remiss  in 
his  duty  who  fails  in  this  particular.  Mr.  Boismenue 
was  elected  Collector  of  his  township,  and  so  satis- 
factorily did  he  discharge  the  duties  of  that  po.si- 
tion  that  he  was  re-elected  again  and  again,  hold- 
ing the  office  for  four  continuous  years.  Keeping 
to  the  faith  of  his  fathers  our  subject  has  his  mem- 
bership in  the  Koman  Catholic  Church. 


()SK1'I1    !■.    SMITH. 


Til. 


■■iilijc<-l    of    the 


T 

11  present  sketch  is  a  pros|)eroiis  farmer  and 
^f=^\\  dairyman,  living  on  section  19,  Freebui-g 
^^f/  To-,  iisliip.  The  grandfather  of  our  .suliject, 
John  Sinilli,  was  a  native  of  Lincoln  County,  Me., 
and  brought  his  family  to  Ohio  in  I  8 1(!,  and  in  I.HIH 
or  1819  he  moved  to  tlii>  county  .'ind  settled  near 
(ieorgelown.  The  l:uid  here  w;is  uniinprove<l,  l)ut 
he  cultivated  the  soil  and  developed  a  fine  farm. 
He  died  here  in  I.S'il,  while  in  the  .'let  of  carrying 
w-ater,  during  ii  great  scaicily  of  that  necessity. 
He  was  the  first  adult  who  died  in  what  was  then 
Bielilaud  Precinct  but  is  now  JSinitlion  T<j"lislii|'' 

27 


Tlie  marriage  of  John  Smith  took  place  in  the 

State  of  his  liiilh,  and  at  his  death  he  left  live 
sons  ami  four  daughters.  Benjaniin  .1.,  the  last 
survivor  among  the  sons,  died  September  i;i,  1><9I, 
at  the  age  of  ninety  3-ears.  The  only  surviving 
daughter  is  Sarah,  the  wife  of  W.  W.  Johnson,  who 
lives  in  Monroe  County.  The  father  of  our  sub- 
ject was  born  in  Lincoln  County,  ^le.,  November 
27,  1814,  and  when  four  years  old  was  brought  to 
this  county,  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  January 
Il'>.  1840,  he  married  Miss  Mary  McCnlley,  who 
was  born  in  St.  Clair  County  October  22.  1820, 
and  died  August  7,  1878.  Her  parents  were  na- 
tives of  Virginia  and  were  among  the  early  settlers 
of  the  .State.  Her  father,  John  McCulley,  was  a 
prominent  man  in  St.  Clair  County,  which  he  rep- 
resented in  the  State  Legislature.  Six  children 
were  born  to  the  parents  of  our  subject:  John  J., 
who  died  December  20,  1874;  Ru.ssell  B.,  whose 
death  occurred  October  16,  1889:  Sarah,  the  wife 
of  (ieorge  H.  Tate,  whose  biography  will  be  found 
on  another  page  of  this  volume;  Clarinda  J.,  wife 
of  T.  O.  llolcomb,  of  Piatt  County,  and  Mar\-, 
who  is  the  wife  of  .loscph  ('rawfor(L  of  Indian.Tpo- 
lis,  Ind. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  eldest  of  the 
children  and  was  born  near  Georgetown,  March  ;5, 
1811.  He  was  reared  on  the  old  homestead,  and 
his  education,  which  was  commenced  in  the  public 
schools,  was  completed  in  McKendree  College,  at 
Lebanon,  111.  .\t  an  early  age  he  eng.aged  in  the 
profession  of  teaching,  and  taught  for  nine  succes- 
sive winters.  By  that  time  his  health,  which  had 
been  delicate,  was  materially  improved  and  he  con- 
sidered himself  robust  enough  for  farming.  He 
looked  about  for  a  suitable  location  and  finally 
settled  upon  a  t'ai  in  near  Freeburgand  in  18()9  be- 
gan tlie  life  of  an  agriciiltuiist.  He  was  suecc-s- 
fu!  ill  lii>  work  and  in  187;^  [nirchased  the  farm 
where  he  has  remained  ever  since.  The  soil  of  his 
hind  is  good,  the  grazing  fine,  and  the  markets  are 
conveniently  located. 

On  the  91  h  of  September.  I.S(;9,  Mr.  Sinjih  iii;iirie(l 
Miss  l-'JIen  IC.  .\danis,  who  was  born  near  Fieebiirg. 
and  died  there  November  1,  1H7.'5.  'I'hey  had  one 
.sou,  Edwin,  wl|0  preceded  his  mother  in  death. 
On  the  4lh  of  January,    187G,  .Mr.  Sn^ith  married 


582 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Miss  Ruth  M.  Chesney,  an  amiable  j'oung  lady, 
Ibe  daughter  of  a  resident  of  St.  Clair  Count}-, 
where  she  was  born  October  1,  1856.  By  this 
marriage  five  children  were  added  to  the  family, 
but  death  took  the  eldest,  Delphia  Eloise,  when 
less  tiian  a  year  old.  Gleun  Rollin  was  born  April 
8,  1878;  Vinta  Blanche,  April  12,  1880;  Robert  J., 
May  27,  1882,  and  J.ee  Russell,  June  22,  1891. 

Mr.  Smith  is  a  very  important  member  of  the 
Turkej'  Hill  Grange  No.  1.370,  of  which  he  was  a 
charter  member.  He  has  held  the  offices  of  Master 
and  Secretary,  and  is  at  present  Overseer.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Farmers' Mutual  Benefit  Associa- 
tion, and  is  KSecretary  of  the  county  organization 
at  the  present  time.  Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat, 
believing  that  the  principles  of  that  party  will 
best  advance  the  interests  of  the  nation.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Democratic  Central  Committee  and 
has  long  been  an  active  worker. 

The  farm  belonging  to  Jlr.  Smith  is  well  im- 
proved, and  he  has  found  it  profitable  to  connect  tlie 
dairy  business  with  that  of  agriculture.  He  breeds 
Jersey  cattle  and  has  one  of  the  finest-bred  herds 
in  Illinois.  He  manufactures  a  grade  of  delicious 
butter  that  brings  thirty  cents  a  pound  all  the  year 
round.  His  wife  is  interested  in  the  business  and 
has  the  reputation  of  being  a  famous  butter  maker 
as  well  as  a  capable  housekeeper.  She  has  taken 
the  first  premiums  at  the  State  Dau\y  Association 
of  Southern  Illinois  and  also  for  St.  Clair  County. 
In  addition  to  liis  dairy  business,  Mr.  Smith  is  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  raising  Bronze  turkeys  and 
Plymouth  Rock  fowls.  Socially,  Mr.  Smith  and  liis 
wife  are  esteemed  for  their  hospitality,  and  tiiG 
pleasant  farm  where  they  reside  is  the  home  of  peace 
and  plenty. 


a^DOLPH  K'NOHELOCH,  who  resides  on 
l@Oi    section  2',t,  Shiloh  Valley  Township,  is  one 

11  li  of  the  most  prominent  and  proiiusing 
^  young   farmers  of   the  county.     His   life 

record,  which  we  feel  assured  will  prove  of  interest 
to  many  of  our  readers,  is  as   follows:     He    was 


born  on  the  Pith  of  October,  1861,  on  the  farm 
which  is  now  his  home.  His  father.  <Teorge  A. 
Knobeloch,  was  a  native  of  Darmstadt,  (Termanj'i 
who  was  born  m  1814,  and  with  his  parents,  John 
W.  and  Mary  (May)  Knobeloch,  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1832.  His  education  was  acquired  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  country.  His  par- 
ents were  well-to-do  farmers,  and  he  remained  un- 
der the  parental  roof  until  his  marriage  in  May, 
1860.  His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Cathe- 
rine Haege.  Mr.  Knobeloch  from  the  time  of  his 
marriage  lived  with  his  brother  Thomas,  who 
owned  the  farm  on  which  our  subject  now  resides. 
He  was  a  highh'  respected  citizen,  and  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1872,  was  deeply  regretted  by 
many  friends.  His  widow  is  yet  living  and  makes 
her  home  in  Belleville.  Of  their  family  of  live 
children,  Adolph  is  the  eldest.  He  was  followed 
by  George  W.;  Anna,  wife  of  John  E.  Thomas; 
Emma,  wife  of  W.  A.  Davis,  and  Walter  T. 

After  the  death  of  his  father,  which  occurred 
when  our  subject  was  a  lad  of  eleven  summers, 
he  lived  with  his  uncle,  Thomas  Knobeloch, 
and  by  him  was  reared.  The  uncle  was  also  a  na- 
tive of  Darmstadt,  Germany,  and  came  to  America 
with  the  parents  of  our  subject.  In  1846,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Anna  M.  Haege,  daughter 
of  Philip  H.  and  Susan  Haege.  They  had  no  chil- 
dren of  their  own,  but  gave  to  their  nephew  a 
home  as  pleasant  and  as  comfortable  as  though  he 
were  their  own  son.  Thomas  Knobeloch  met  his 
death  by  accident,  being  thrown  from  his  buggy 
November  19,  1889.  His  wife  >et  survives  him. 
The  primary  education  of  our  subject,  which  was 
acquired  in  the  common  schools,  was  sui)plemen ted 
bv  a  course  of  study  in  Belleville,  and  he  was  af- 
terward a  student  at  Washington  University  in 
St.  Louis.  He  took  charge  of  his  uncle's  farm  in 
1879,  and  has  since  his  death  managed  his  estate. 
He  is  an  able  manager  and  prosperity  has  crowned 
his  well-directed  efforts.  The  farm  upon  which 
he  resides  seems  complete  in  all  its  appointments, 
the  improvements  are  goOd,  the  fields  are  well 
tilled,  and  the  whole  forms  one  of  the  valued 
farms  of  the  community. 

In  1892.  Mr.  Knobeloch  was  joined  in   wedlock 
with  Miss    Pauline    Tiemann,   the  accomplished 


PORTRAIT  A>"!)  I'.KKlHAriUC  AI,    RKCORD. 


583 


daughter  of  August  and  Augusta  (Heiiscbel)  Tie- 
niaiin.  Her  parents  were  I)Otli  natives  of  Germany, 
and  are  nuniliered  anions;  tlie  honored  pioneer 
settlers  of  St.  Clair  (oinity.  Tlicv  had  a  family 
of  seven  dausjhters  ;uid  one  son.  Mrs.  Knobelocli 
is  a  lady  of  culture  and  rctineinent,  who  presides 
with  sjrace  over  her  hospitahle  home.  In  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  we  see  one  of  tlie  wide-awake 
and  progressive  young  farniers  of  the  county,  who 
is  widely  and  favoraMy  known  in  the  community. 
Those  wild  have  known  him  from  boyhood  are 
numbered  amonir  his  best  friends,  a  fact  which  in- 
dicates his  well-spent  and  upright  life. 


i^Hf-^^- 


DOI.l'll  STKIN.  'I"hi-  prominent  citizen 
of  Kayetteville  w;is  horn  in  Hanover, 
(iermany,  December  2f!.  \^AV.  His  par- 
ents, Rudoljih  and  Dorothy  (Meiyer) 
Stein,  were  likewise  natives  of  Germany,  the 
former  horn  in  l,S(l7.  and  the  latter  in  180!).  Dur- 
ing the  early  part  nf  his  life,  the  father  followed 
his  trade,  that  of  a  brick  mason,  but  subsecjuently 
he  was  proprietor  of  an  hold.  He  always  re- 
mained in  his  nati\('  larid,  where  his  death  oc- 
curred in  1><.')7.  when  in  life's  iirime.  His  wife  sur- 
vived him  a  few  ytMrs.  her  decease  occurring  in 
18()().  Ill  their  rcliiiiuus  connections,  they  were 
acti\e  members  of  the  l.iithcian  Church  and  reared 
their  children  in  that  faith. 

The  family  of  which  our  siihji'ct  is  a  mcnilici- 
consisted  of  nine  children.  I'our  of  whom  died  in 
childhood.  Of  the  others  the  following  is  recorded: 
Caroline  married  Louis  Hickenlxug:  Louis  chose 
as  his  wife  Miss  Maggie  He.ssings:  Henry  marriet] 
Miss  Mary  Nienaver;  Sophi.a  is  the  wife  of  (ail 
Wilsnsmeyer;  and  .\dolpli.  mii  subject,  completes 
the  family  circle.  .\t  ;lic  age  of  fourteen,  the  last- 
named  commenced  to  work  on  a  laiiii.  but  some 
time  afterward  was  apprenticed  to  If.Miii  the  trade 
of  a  shoemaker,  which  he  folhiwcd  until  he  em- 
igrated to  the  United  St;iles. 

When  Mr.  Stein  lirst  came  to  this  coiimry.  he 
located   near  Darmstadt,  in  St.  Clair  County,  for 


one  year,  after  which  he  was  in  the  employ  of  vari- 
ous people  near  this  village  until  1878.  At  that 
time  he  rented  land,  and  continued  thusengaged  for 
three  years,  when  he  entered  the  saloon  business 
at  Kayetteville  and  has  since  been  occupied  in  this 
w.'iy.  The  lady  who  became  his  wife  in  1877  was 
foiiiicrly  Mrs.  .Mary  Wrueckner,  and  at  the  time  of 
her  marriage  was  the  widow  of  Lemuel  Crossman 
by  whom  she  had  one  daughter,  Matilda,  now  the 
wife  of  (jeorge  Drasser.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stein  are  the 
jiarents  of  four  children,  namely:  .\rthur,  Iva, 
Adolph,  .Ir.,  and  Celia,  deceased. 

In  his  religious  views,  Mr.  Stein  is  a  piominenl 
member  of  the  Evangelical  Protestant  Church,  in 
Kayetteville,  of  which  he  is  Secretary  and  has  been 
for  thirteen  years.  In  his  political  alliliations,  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  has  served  in  positions  of  import- 
ance and  trust  in  the  village.  At  present  he  is 
tilling  the  olflce  of  Treasurer  of  the  village.  Our 
subject  has  worked  from  the  bottom  of  the  ladder 
u|)  and  is  a  worthy  example,  as  he  has  risen  from 
a  poor  boy  to  be  a  highly  respected  citizen  with  a 
good  competence. 


lli{ISTlAN  MIETZE.  The  dental  profes- 
sion has  one  of  its  most  able  representatives 
in  this  gentleman,  who  is  conducting  a  lu- 
crative and  increasing  practice  in  the  city  of  Belle- 
ville. Although  he  has  been  located  here  but  a 
shnit  lime,  he  li:is  won  for  himself  a  place  among 
the  most  t;iU'iitc(l  ])iofessional  men  of  St.  Clair 
County,  and  is  also  well  and  favorably  known  as  a 
public-spirited  and  enterprising  citizen,  to  whom 
the  welfare  of  the  coiiiiiiunity  is  ever  a  matter  of 
iliteiest. 

A  native  of  (iermany,  which  has  contributed  to 
this  country  .so  many  of  its  ablest  and  most  suc- 
cessful citizens,  .Air.  Muetze  was  born  in  Marburg, 
Hesse-Nassau,  .lannary  17,  18(ii(,  and  is  a  son  of 
Teter  and  Loui.sa  Muetze,  natives  of  the  Kather- 
land,  who  passed  their  entire  lives  in  that  country. 
In  the  ex<'elh'nt  common  schools  of  Marburg  our 
subject    received    his   education,  being  a  graduate 


584 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  the  schools  there.  After  completing  the  course 
of  study,  he  resolved  to  come  to  America  and  seek 
a  home  in  the  "Land  of  the  free." 

Prior  to  emigrating,  Mr.  Muetze  studied  Eng- 
lisli  for  four  3-ears,  and  was  able  to  converse  flu- 
ently in  our  language  when  he  came  to  America 
in  1884.  At  once  after  landing,  he  proceeded  to 
Belleville,  where  he  secured  a  position  as  clerk  in 
a  mercantile  establishment  and  remained  thus  em- 
jjloyed  for  several  years.  Subsequently  lie  entered 
the  office  of  Dr.  Henry  Muetze,  his  brother,  at  St. 
Louis,  and  later  took  a  course  of  lectures  at  tlie 
dental  department  of  Washington  University  in 
that  city.  After  studying  for  two  terms,  he  was 
graduated  in  tiie  Class  of  '92,  with  the  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Dental  Surgery.  In  February  aftei- 
graduating,  he  opened  an  office  in  Belleville,  where 
he  has  since  remained  in  active  practice.  He  has 
gained  an  enviable  reputation  for  skill  and  thor- 
oughness, and  has  an  elegant  suite  of  rooms  at  No. 
1.3  AVest  Main  Street,  where  iiis  office  is  located. 
A  frank  and  genial  conversationalist,  devoted  to 
his  profession,  but  equally  alive  to  all  matters  of 
public  moment,  he  is  lield  high  in  the  regard  of 
the  citizens  of  Belleville  and  the  surrounding 
country. 


?ATHER  .JAMES  M.  GOUGH  is  the  pastor 
of  St.  Luke's  Catholic  Church  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Church  and  C  Streets,  Belleville, 
111.,  which  church  was  separated  from  St.  Peter's 
Cathedral  in  January,  1883,  which  at  that  time 
embraced  the  English-siJeaking  Catholics,  nuinlier- 
ing  about  seventy  families.  The  first  services  were 
held  in  the  hall  of  the  St.  Agnes  Orphan  Asylum 
until  the  fire  at  the  Convent  .January  5,  1885, 
when  they  began  holding  services  in  the  present 
edifice,  which,  in  tlie  meantime,  was  in  course  of 
construction.  This  church  is  of  Gothic  architec- 
ture, is  beautiful  in  ajipearance,  is  svibstantially 
Imill  of  brick  and  is  100  j(  4^  feet  in  dimensions, 
[t   lins  a    seating  can;ic|ty    pf   ,sj\'    liuiidrt'd,    but 


twelve  hundred  persons  have  been  in  the  church 
at  one  time.  The  interior  is  beautifully  fin- 
ished, and,  taking  it  all  in  all,  it  is  one  of  the 
handsomest  and  finest  finished  churches  in  the 
diocese.  The  congregation  now  numbers  over 
three  hundred  families,  and  embraces  among  its 
numbers  the  first  citizens  of  Belleville.  At  the 
time  of  erection  the  church  was  thought  to  be 
much  top  large  but,  in  fact,will  soon  prove  too  small 

I    to    accommodate    the  congregation.     At  different 

j  times  there  has  been  spent  over  140,000  on  this 
church,  but  it  is  a  model  of  beauty  and  convenience, 

i  and  does  credit  to  the  pastor  and  flock,  illustrating, 
as  it  does,    their  zeal,  earnestness  and  energy. 

In  connection  with  the  church  a  fine  parochial 
school  has  been  established,  which  is  successfully 

'    conducted  by  Sisters  from    Notre   Dame,    five    in 

I  number,  the  pupils  in  attendance  being  over  two 
hundred.  This  school,  of  course,  is  under  the  con- 
trol of  Father  Gough,  who  resides  near  by  in  a 
fine  brick  jiriest's  house,  which  has  also  been  erected 

I  since  he  has  taken  charge  of  his  present  congre- 
gation. He  was  born  in  Providence,  R.  I.,  May 
19,  1851,  a  son  of  Michael  and  Ann  (Gough) 
Goush,  both  of  whom  were    from    the    North    of 

:  Ireland,  but  were  not  related  in  any  way,  so  far  as 
known.  Tlie.  father  was  a  business  man  of  War- 
wick and  was  respected  throughout  that  section 
as  a  man  of  honor  and  a  useful  and  valuable  citi- 
zen. The  initiatory  training  of  Father  .Tames  M. 
Gough  was  obtained  in  the  public  schools  of  Prov- 
idence, after  which  he  entered  Bryant  cVr  Strat- 
ton's  Business  College  of  Providence,  where  he  ob- 
tained a  thorough  and  practical  education.  This 
he  followed  up  with  a  four-years  Latin  course  in 
St.  Joseph's  College,  at  Teutopolis,  111.,  and  later 
pursued  his  studies  for  six  years  iu  the  Grand 
Seminary  of  Montreal,  Canada  (Sulpician  Semi- 
nary), during  which  time  he  took  a  very  thorough 
course  in  theology  and  philosoph}'  for  the  pur- 
pose of  entering  the  priesthood,  his  kindly  nature 
instinctively  turning  to  that  broad  and  noble  field 
for  his  life  work. 

He  was  ordained  hy  Archbishop  Edward  Fabre 
at  the  above  mentioned  seminar}',  which  is  the 
largest  in  America,  and  received  the  degree  of  S. 
T,    R,  for    the   diocese    of  ^'t"-"!;  being   assignerl 


^fi^ 


r. '' 


PORTRAIT  AND  BKKiRAPinCAL   RECORD. 


587 


to  Belleville  by  Rt.  Rev.  Peler  Joseph  Baltes, 
before  the  division  of  tiie  diocese.  The  church 
at  Belleville  has  been  iiis  first  and  only  charge 
and  he  has  been  a  resident  of  tiiis  town  since 
the  lillh  of  January,  1H8;?.  lie  was  the  first 
pastor  of  the  church  and  is  the  oldest  priest  in 
point  of  residence  in  the  city,  lie  has  been  a 
faithful  laborer  in  the  vineyard  of  his  Master  and 
has  received  a  portion  of  his  reward  in  this  world, 
for  he  has  the  respect  and  affection  of  outsiders, 
as  well  as  of  the  members  of  his  congregation.  lie 
is  at  the  head  of  several  important  societies  in 
connection  with  his  church,  and  is  a  stanch  sup- 
porter of  temperance  and  advocates  its  doctrines 
on  all  occasions.  He  is  of  a  l)enevolent,  generous 
and  kindly  disposition  and  those  who  seek  his  aid 
or  counsel  are  given  sound  advice  and  substantial 
assistance. 


i>^r<m^- 


[L-^.  ON.  MICHAEL  REIS.  The  subject  of  this 
Ir  jl)  notice  is  the  .senior  member  of  the  firm  of 
:^^  M.  it  II.  Reis,  old  and  prominent  lumber 
(^  dealers  of  Belleville.  lie  is  a  well-known 
business  man.  having  l>een  iiere  for  thirty  year.*. 
Born  in  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany,  November  2.5, 
1831,  he  is  the  son  of  ^'alentine  and  Catherine 
(Freihaut)  Reis,  who  emigrated  to  the  United 
States,  landing  at  New  Orleans  in  July.  1846,  and 
proceeding  thence  to  .St.  Louis.  Our  subject  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  coun- 
try, and  after  he  arrived  in  (St.  Louis  lie  entered 
the  shoe  shop  which  liis  fatlier  had  cstabli-^hed  there, 
and  learned  the  trade. 

At  that  time  an  uncle  of  oursubject,  Bartel  Reis, 
owned  a  lumber  yard,  in  which  young  Michael  be- 
came first  acquainted  with  the  rules  of  the  busi- 
ness. He  remained  in  his  employ  for  five  years, 
and  at  the  expiration  of  that  time  his  father  em- 
barked in  the  same  business,  and  Michael  went 
with  him.  When  his  father  went  North,  our  sub- 
ject engaged  with  Joseph  Hanses.  In  1866,  he 
and  his  brother  Henry  opened  a  yard  under  the 
firm   name  of  M.   &   H.  Reis,  and  have  since  con- 


ducted a  safe  and  profitable  business.  The  firm 
handles  lumber,  sash,  blinds,  doors  and  everything 
pertaining  to  building  and  furnishings.  With  the 
exception  of  O.  Heinrick*.  our  sul)jectis  the  oldest 
lumberman  in  the  city. 

Mr.  Reis  has  been  Alderman  for  the  Third  Ward 
for  two  terms.  He  was  JIayor  for  two  terms,  dur- 
ing which  time  the  cedar  block  pavement  was  put 
HI,  the  water-works  were  completed,  and  the  street 
railroad  was  finished.  During  his  able  administra- 
tion the  city  made  remarkable  progress,  and  manv 
needed  improvements  and  reformations  were  in- 
augurated. He  is  a  member  of  the  Knight*  of 
America,  of  which  he  is  now  President.  In  St. 
Peter's  Benevolent  Society  he  has  held  the  office  of 
President  fourte<-ii  of  the  twenty  years  it  has  l)een 
in  existence. 

May  13,  18.')6,  Mr.  Reis  was  married  to  ]\Iiss  Ap- 
polonia  Eberle,  of  St.  Louis,  a  native  of  German  v, 
and  seven  children  have  blessed  the  union:  Anna, 
who  is  the  wife  of  Anthony  Phillips,  of  Shakopee, 
Minn.;  Ida,  the  wife  of  Julius  Kohl,  of  Indianapo- 
lis; Henry  G.,  Rosalie,  August,  and  two  .sons  who 
died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Reis  and  his  family  are 
highly  respected  in  Belleville,  and  his  business 
standing  is  very  high. 


TT^OBERT  X  Mr  CRACKEN,  M.  D.,a  success- 
V^  ful  and  prosperous  physician  and  surgeon 
§  \V  residing  in  Fayetteville  Township,  St. 
^  Clair  County,  has  an  excellent  and  rapidly 
increasing  practice  in  his  neighborhood  and  vicin- 
ity, and  is  well  known  as  an  able,  intelligent  and 
energetic  citizen,  worthy  of  confidence  and  esteem. 
Our  subject  is  a  son  of  Robert  and  Cora  (Illinski) 
McCrackeu,  both  natives  of  E.ast  St.  Louis.  The 
father  w.as  educated  in  the  city  of  his  birth  and 
attended  the  public  .schools  in  early  life;  he  after- 
ward studied  law  and  fitted  himself  for  the  [jiac- 
tice  of  the  i)rofession,  but,  preferring  other  pursuits, 
never  became  an  attorney.  He  was  married  when 
quite  young  but  had  no  children  by  his  first  wife, 
who  did  not  survive  her  marriage  many  ^ears. 


')8M 


i'ORTRAlT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


The  mother  of  our  subject,  who  was  united  in 
marriage  with  her  husband  some  time  after  liis 
first  wife's  death,  was  a  daughter  of  l^r.  A.  X. 
lUinski,  who  practiced  medicine  successfully  in 
St.  Louis  for  over  fifty  3'ears.  The  mother  of  Mrs. 
Cora  (lUinski)  McCracken  was  in  girlhood  Miss 
Ophelia  Lebur,  and  by  her  first  marriage  she  be- 
came the  widow  of  Dr.  Butler;  she  afterward 
married  Dr.  Illinski  and  now  survives  him.  The 
maternal  grandmother  of  our  subject  is  an  attract- 
ive lady,  possessing  a  large  circle  of  friends,  tried 
and  true.  Dr.  MeC'r.acken  was  one  of  three  chil- 
dren born  unto  his  father  and  mother,  and  is  now 
the  only  child  living.  (Jne  died  in  infancy,  and 
Nicholas,  a  promising  young  man,  died  at  twenty 
j^ears  of  age. 

Dr.  McCracken 's  father  was  one  of  the  few 
seekers  of  gold  in  far-oflf  California  who  there 
achieved  financial  prosperity.  He  was  for  sev- 
eral years  engaged  in  a  store  in  East  St.  Louis  and 
Cahokia.  Politically,  he  was  a  Democrat  and  was 
a  devout  member  of  the  Catholic  Church.  He 
died  when  our  subject  was  but  four  years  old,  and 
his  wife,  wlio  is  yet  living  in  Cahokia,  afterward 
married  C.  AV.  Droit,  and  by  this  union  had  two 
daughters,  Pauline  and  Camille.  Dr.  McCracken 
is  the  grandson  of  Robert  and  Arthouts  (Jarrot) 
McCracken,  who  were  very  early  pioneers  of  Ca- 
hokia, where  the  grandfather  ran  a  distillery. 
After  his  death,  his  widow  married  again  and  be- 
came the  wife  of  Dr.  Brackett.  Our  subject,  a 
direct  descendant  of  the  pioneers  of  the  southern 
part  of  Illinois,  was  born  in  the  old  village  of  Ca- 
hokia in  the  year  1864.  He  enjoyed  excellent 
educational  advantages  and  attended  the  Christian 
Brothers'  School  at  St.  Louis  for  throe  years.  He 
st\idied  at  Jeradon  one  _year  and  was  at  .Tesenett 
one  .year,  and  also  attended  school  at  Valparaiso, 
lnd.,and  received  a  term  of  instruction  in  Foster's 
Academy,  a  commercial  school  in  St.  Louis. 

Later,  Dr.  McCracken  studied  medicine  at  St. 
Louis  Medical  College,  from  which  he  w.as  gradu- 
ated in  1889.  Beginning  the  duties  of  his  pro- 
fession in  Cahokia,  our  subject  practised  medicine 
in  the  home  of  his  childhood  one  year  and  then 
came  to  his  present  location,  where  he  has  built  up 
an  extended  and  largely  increasing  practice, and  has 


won  the  regard  of  the  general  public.  Politically, 
Dr.  McCracken  is  a  ])emocrat.  and  in  religious 
atliliations  is  a  Catholic.  An  earnest  and  energetic 
citizen,  theroughly  devoted  to  the  duties  of  his 
profession,  he  takes  an  interest  in  the  local  pro- 
gress and  leading  movements  of  his  home  neigh- 
hood  and  vicinity  and  is  proving  an  important 
factor  in  the  upbuilding  and  advancement  of 
])romnu'nt  enterprises  of  tlie  day. 


^T'  OHN  K  I  K  F  K  K  .  If  by  success  in  life  we 
mean  securing  a  comfortable  home  and  the 
means  for  a  good  support,  then   is  our  sub- 

ject   one   of  the  successful  men  of  St.  Clair 

C()unty.  He  owns  and  occujnes  a  farm  consisting 
of  eighty-four  acres  of  land  on  section  7,  Marissa 
Township,  which  has  been  developed  and  placed 
in  its  present  state  of  improvement  by  himself, 
and  thus  attests  his  industry  and  thrift.  Many 
of  the  best  and  most  successful  farmers  of  this 
part  of  Illinois  are  natives  of  the  Fatherland,  and 
such  is  the  case  with  Mr.  Kiefer.  He  was  born  in 
(iermany,  December  211,  1826,  and  is  the  son  of 
Lenzburg  and  Mary  (Wolerick)  Kiefer,  also  natives 
of  the  German  Empire. 

The  father  of  our  subject  wiis  a  tailor  liy  trade, 
whicii  occupation  he  followed  his  entire  life.  He 
was  a  son  of  Christopher  Kiefer,  and  in  religious 
affairs  was  a  devoted  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church.  'l"o  'Sir.  and  Mrs.  Lenzburg  Kiefer  wei'e 
liorn  three  children,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the 
second  in  the  family.  The  others  were  Christo- 
pher, and  I'hiiapena,  who  is  now  deceased. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  began  life  on 
his  own  account  at  the  early  iige  of  fourteen  years, 
at  which  time  he  engaged  to  work  in  n  brewery, 
where  he  was  employed  for  four  years.  Later,  he 
hired  out  as  a  farm  hand,  and  remained  in  his 
native  country  tintil  18.J.S,  at  which  time  he  set 
sail  for  American  shores,  landing  in  New  York 
City  with  but  #4  in  money.  Being  very  industri- 
ous and  ambitious  fo  gain  a  competence    fur   him- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


")80 


self,  he  iiDmediately  found  work  on  a  railroad  and 

was  thus  engaged  for  two  niontlis.  At  the  expi- 
ration of  that  lime  he  came  U<  lU'llfviilc,  this 
county. and  aided  in  tlie  construction  of  the  |)lanlv 
road  from  Helh'ville  to  Freeburg.  Fin;iliy.  how- 
ever, renting  land,  he  cultivated  the  soil  Cor  twelve 
years.  Ilis  industry  resulted  in  making  him  the 
possessor  of  as  well-inii)roved  a  farm  as  ma\'  be 
found  in  this  vicinity,  which  he  purchased  in 
188;").  Mr.  Kiefer  is  a  keen,  wide-awake  man  who 
has  gained  much  information  by  actual  experience 
and  b}'  observaticm,  and  takes  a  liigh  rank  among 
his  fellow-agriculturists. 

The  lady  to  whom  our  subject  was  married  in 
1833  was  Miss  .lacobicn,  daughter  of  Philip  and 
Rosa  Sharfer  Kepler.  To  them  have  been  born 
the  following  six  children:  Elizabeth,  Otto,  John, 
Margaret,  jNIary  and  Edith.  Both  he  and  his  good 
wife  are  membeis  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and 
their  names  arc  associated  with  ever^-  good  work. 
He  takes  great  interest  in  polities,  and  always 
votes  with  the  Republican  party.  He  is  recognized 
as  one  of  the  intelligent  as  well  as  successful  citi- 
zens of  the  county,  enjoys  the  confidence  of  the 
business  community,  and  commands  the  esteem  of 
his  neighbois. 


flL^  EXRY  BAHTIIEI,.  One  of  the  prominent 
[ijl)  nien  of  this  city  is  named  in  the  opening 
4i^  vi  tins  notice.  He  was  born  in  the  village 
([£))  of  I.angenselbold.  in  Central  (Jermany, 
.-Vugust  28,  1827.  Ilis  parents  were  William  and 
Catherine  Barthel,  who  emigrated  from  tlie  Father- 
land to  America,  and  landed  in  New  Orleans. 
They  made  their  way  to  Belleville,  where  many 
(ieimans  had  preceded  them  and  they  were  sure 
of  hearing  the  familiar  tongue.  They  looked 
about  for  a  new  home,  and  found  it  about  a  mile 
and  one-half  east  of  Freedom,  Prairie  du  Long 
Township,  but  they  lived  but  a  short  time  to  en- 
joy the  pleasures  of  the  new  country  they  had  un- 
dergone so  much  to  reach.  William  Harthel  died 
in  1841,  and  his  wife  onlv  survived  him  one  vear. 


Henry,  the  subject  of  our  sketch,  was  thus  loft 
an  orpiian,  and  he  went  to  St.  Louis, and  was  there 
apprenticed  to  the  trade  of  harness  and  saddle 
making.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  yeai-s  he  was  en- 
g.aged  by  the  Quartermaster's  Department  of  the 
(iovernment  service,  and  was  sent  to  Santa  Fe.  N. 
M.,  in  1841).  Here  the  superintending  of  manu- 
facturing and  repairing  of  saddles  became  his  busi- 
ness. The  following  year  the  most  of  the  troops 
were  sent  to  the  front,  leaving  (Jen.  Price  in  com- 
mand at  Santa  Fe  with  but  few  men,  and  now  and 
llicn  our  subject  was  enabled  to  break  the  monotony 
of  his  work  with  a  round  of  guard  duty.  Here  he  re- 
mained for  five  years,  when,  in  1851,  he  returned 
to  Illinois  and  settled  on  a  farm  about  three  miles 
east  of  Freedom,  Monroe  County.  After  three 
years  of  farm  life,  he  removed  to  Freeburg,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  His  early  education  was  ob- 
tained in  one  of  the  rough  schoolhouses  of  Prairie 
du  L(Hig,  where,  in  company  witii  Hon.  William 
R.  Morrison,  he  attended  a  school  taught  b\- 
MathewDonohoo.  His  reader  was  the  old  Illinois 
form  book,  and  that  of  Morrison  was  a  history  of 
the  United  States.  This  reader  indelibly  impressed 
upon  his  mind  the  forms  of  legal  papers  and  docu- 
ments. This  has  been  of  great  service  to  him  in 
lii.s  career  as  Justice  of  the  PoaciR,  to  which  posi- 
tion he  was  first  elected  while  living  in  Monroe 
County  in  1852,  and  again  soon  after  making  a 
change  of  home  and  moving  to  Freeburg.  This 
otiice  he  held  for  twenty-four  years,  and  his  life  in 
Ilis  oHicial  position  was  replete  with  incidents,  and 
he  often  mentions  the  ''thank  you"  weddings.  He 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Board  of  County  Com- 
missioners of  St.  Clair  Country  in  1876.  During 
his  long  term  of  oflice.  many  public  improvements 
were  inaugurated.  The  first  iron  bridge  over  the 
Kaskaskia  at  New  Athens  was  built,  the  macadam- 
izing of  the  Centreville  and  St.  Louis  road  was 
done,  the  court  house  square  was  enclosed,  and 
other  like  enterprises  were  consummated.  I  n  chang- 
ing from  county  to  township  organizations,  he  was 
appointed  on  the  commission  to  divide  the  countv 
into  townships,  in  conjunction  with  the  Hons.  T. 
H.  Portal  and  Joscpii  B.  Messick.  and  was  Chair- 
man of  that  commission. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Barthel  lia>  always  been  a  con- 


590 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


sistent  Democrat,  although  his  first  Presidential 
ballot  was  east  for  Gen.  Scott.  This  vote,  he  says, 
was  so  cast  because  he  was  acquainted  witli  Scott, 
and  not  with  Pierce.  In  business  affairs  Mr.  Bar- 
thel  has  always  been  energetic.  lie  opened  the 
first  saddlery  establishment  in  Freeburg  in  1854, 
and  sold  it  in  1858,  and,  in  company  with  others, 
erected  a  brewery,  from  which  he  withdrew  the 
same  year.  In  1861,  he  went  into  general  mer- 
chandizing, and  has  continued  in  it  ever  since. 

Our  subject  was  married  April  12,  1852,  to 
Margaret  Mohr,  who  died  January  14,  1859.  lie 
married  Anna  Maria  Bumb  in  1859,  who  died  Sep- 
tember 8,  1872.  His  present  wife  was  Gertrude 
Bumb,  to  whom  he  was  married  May  12,  1873,  and 
six  children  are  the  result  of  this  union.  Mr. 
Barthel  has  lived  an  honest,  upright  life,  and  is  an 
honor  to  the  community-  in  which  he  has  lived  so 
long. 


ENJAMIN  J.  WEST.  The  original  of  this 
sketch  is  one   of   the    oldest    residents   of 

mil;  Belleville,  having  come  here  with  his  par- 
•euts  in  1818.  He  was  the  son  of  Tilghman 
H.  and  Mary  (Mitchell)  West,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  in  Montgomery  County,  Md.,  in  1767, 
and  was  the  son  of  Benjamin  West,  who  had  re- 
sided in  Virginia  for  a  number  of  years.  A  very- 
interesting  family  history  could  be  written  from 
the  authentic  and  copious  history  of  the  ancestors 
now  contained  in  the  family  bible,  where  the  direct 
line  is  traced  back  to  the  reign  of  Edward  II, 
King  of  England. 

Tilghman  11.  West  left  Virginia  on  account  of 
slavery  and  moved  into  a  free  State.  In  Virginia, 
he  could  not  free  his  slaves,  as  the  law  did  not 
permit  that  then,  but  he  could  take  them  into  a 
free  State  and  give  them  liberty,  and  that  is  what 
he  did.  It  cost  him  a  great  deal  to  live  up  to  his 
convictions  and  he  made  many  sacrifices  and  en- 
dured many  hardships  at  first.  The  father  of 
Tilghman  H.  West  was  Benjamin,  who  died  in 
1820,  at  the  nsje  of  ninety-one  years,  and  his  wife, 


who  was  Elizabeth  (Hilliary)  West,  died  at  the  age 
of  ninety-six,  in  1824.  Their  family-  were  Wash- 
ington, Henry,  Valinda  and  Elizabeth. 

The  marriage  of  Tilghman  H.  West  took  place 
in  Fincastle,  V.n.,  and  to  him  were  born  fen 
children:  Nancy,  wife  of  Richard  Randall;  Sarah, 
wife  of  William  P.  McKee;  Mary,  wife  of  Rev. 
John  Hogan,  who  died  in  April,  1892,  aged 
eight3'-eight  years;  Susan,  wife  of  Dr.  J.  N.  Banks, 
of  Chicago;  Henry  H.,  who  married  Miss  White  in 
1837;  Benjamin,  who  married  Louisa  A.  Mitcliell; 
and  Edward,  who  married  Julia  Atwater.  Tilghman 
H.  West  bought  a  large  tract  of  land  five  miles 
east  of  the  city,  which  was  then  new,  at  $2,  13  and 
$5  an  .acre,  and  improved  it,  and  there  made  his 
home  until  the  death  of  his  beloved  wife.  Hisown 
death  occurred  Jul}-  7,  1851.  He  had  been  a  life- 
long member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
was  alwaj'S  opposed  to  human  slavery,  and  w.as  a 
strong  Whig. 

Benjamin  J.  West  was  horn  at  Fincastle,  Va., 
August  23,  1812,  and  with  his  parents  came  here 
in  1818,  just  being  able  to  remember  the  journej' 
of  six  weeks  when  they  camped  out  every  night. 
It  was  a  new  and  bitter  experience,  ,as  they  had  al- 
ways been  in  comfortable  circumstances.  Our  sub- 
ject remembers  seeing  many  Indians,  of  whom 
he  w.as  afraid.  The  education  of  our  subject  was 
obtained  in  a  schoolhouse  which  his  father  .and 
two  others  had  erected  on  his  father's  land,  and 
which  two  educated  men  taught.  When  he  was 
seventeen  j-ears  old,  he  went  to  Belleville  and  be- 
gan his  business  career  as  a  clerk  in  the  dry-goods 
store  of  James  Mitchell.  Here  he  remained  for  some 
years,  and  then  bought  Mr.  Mitchell  out  and  ce- 
mented their  relations  by  manning  his  eldest  daugh- 
ter. He  continued  here  until  1885,  having  been  con- 
tinuousl}'  in  this  business  for  fifty  years.  His  lo- 
cation was  on  the  corner  of  the  Public  Square  and 
Main  Street,  but  at  first  adjoining  the  place  where 
the  Thomas  House  now  stands.  He  w.as  a  success- 
ful merchant  and  also  carried  on  a  large  farm, 
giving  especial  attention  to  fruits,  but  now  he  is 
living  retired,  spending  his  summers  and  falls  in 
Minnesota,  where  he  finds  tlie  climate  agrees  with 
him. 

The  marriage  of   Mr.    West    occurred    in    .Tune, 


'^z:^^^, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BUKiKAlMlICAL   RECORD. 


-.03 


1836,  to  Miss  Louisa  Mitchell,  who  was  born  at 
Liberty,  Vn.,  Febniaiy  21.  1«I7.  She  wns  the 
daiigliter  of  .l.imosr  Milclii'll,  who  was  among'  tlie 
first  men  to  settle  in  Belleville.  The  two  living 
eliildren  of  Mr.  and  Afrs.  West  are  Benjamin  .1.. 
now  of  Minneapolis,  and  Robert  ('..  of  tlilseily. 
Mr.  West  h.Ts  never  been  a  iiolitieian.  Me  beeanu- 
a  meinlier  of  the  Methodist  Kpiscopal  (liureh  in 
18.32,  and  has  been  President  of  its  Board  uf 
Trustees  for  tliirty  years.  There  are  many  thriv- 
ing fiorman  farmers  of  this  county  who  obtained 
their  start  by  Mr.  West's  good  .Tihiee  and  helping 
hand. 


UILLLVM  BRANDENHlKaER.  This  prom- 
inent citizen   of  Belleville  is  a  native  of 

*J^^  I'russia,  born  at  Kreulznach  -  ^JLindel 
April  17th,  1828.  His  parents,  Andrew  and  Kath- 
rina  Biandenburger,  were  upright  and  substan- 
tial residents  of  their  native  land.  In  1849, 
Wdliam  Hrandenburger,  with  his  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Christina  JIavzi,  and  their  two 
children,  came  to  America  in  search  of  a  home  and 
at  once  located  at  Belleville,  at  which  time  they 
had  only  enough  money  to  commence  house-keep- 
ing witii  on  a  very  modest  scale.  Mr  Branden- 
burger,  was  without  any  knowledge  whatever  of 
the  English  language  when  he  came  to  this  country. 
There  was  at  that  time  very  little  on  which  to  base 
a  [jrojiheey  of  the  success  in  store  for  him,  but 
with  characteristic  energy  and  i)er.severance  he  at 
once  set  about  finding  work,  securing  a  position 
in  a  distillery,  where  he  was  employed  half  the 
day  and  half  the  night.  His  spare  moments  were 
spent  in  doing  various  odd  jobs,  for  which  he  re- 
ceived some  slight  remunerations. 

After  this  work  had  continued  for  two  years,  the 
attention  of  Mr  Brandenburger  was  called  to  the 
great  veins  of  coal  in  the  vicinity  of  Belleville,  and 
the  small  operations  of  a  coal  mine  there,  which 
set  him  thinking.  He  began  making  some  pri- 
vate calculations,  learned  what  it  cost  to  operate  a 
mine,  how  much  was  paid  for  mining,  and  con- 
eluded  that  there  was  monej'  in  the  business.     By 


dint  of  much  economy,  he  managed  to  purchase 
two  .acres  f)f  land,  by  making  a  small  payment,  and 
at  once  began  to  sink  a  well,  mainly  by  his  own 
exertions.  He  was  confident  IIi.mI  the  coal  vein 
was  there  and  that  his  labors  would  be  rewarded. 
The  coal  vein  was  successfully  reached  and  an  in- 
ciinie  w.as  soon  realized.  He  got  out  a  few  wagon 
loads  each  day,  and  it  being  l)efoie  .any  railroad 
had  reached  the  field,  hauled  it  ;iway  by  ox- 
te.ams  to  SI.  Louis,  Lebanon  and  such  jjlaccs  as 
as  would  atToid  a  market  for  what  little  was  mined. 
A  railroad  was  l)uilt  soon  after  this  and  a  market 
was  at  once  opened  for  all  the  coal  that  could  lie 
got  out.  Ere  the  railroad  had  been  finished,  Mr. 
Brandenburger  bought  an  additional  seven  .acres 
of  coal  land  and  had  three  shafts  in  operation  soon 
'  after  its  completion.  He  arranged  for  contracts 
with  the  Wiggins  Ferry  Company,  the  Lindclland 
other  St.  Louis  hotels,  and  for  vaiious  important 
manuf.actories  that  began  to  spring  up  when  it 
was  found  that  coal  could  be  so  aasily  obtained. 

By  giving  strict  attention  to  business,  living 
economically,  and,  more  particularly,  meeting  every 
obligation, either  with  his  miners'  wages orhis  store 
account,  Mr  Brandenburger  soon  became  known 
among  business  men  as  a  careful  manager  who  paid 
cash  for  everything,  and  his  credit  was  such  that 
he  could  have  obtained  any  favor  or  any  sum  of 
mone}'  had  he  so  desired,  friends  who  had  money, 
seeing  the  fruits  of  his  management,  preferred  to 
loan  him  their  money  rather  than  risk  their  own 
judgment  in  investing  in  coal  lands.  From  time 
to  time  he  continued  to  purchase  coal  lands  to  the 
extent  of  hundreds  of  acres,  and  prosperity  was  as- 
sured. He  made  no  shovv  or  parade,  as  do  maiiv 
whose  finances  have  been  unexpectedly  increased, 
but  kept  on   in   his  own   unostentatious  way. 

Some  live  years  since  Mr  Brandenburger  sohl 
his  coal  shafts  and  business,  including  about  two 
hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  coal  land,  tot!ie  Consol- 
idated Comiiany,  and  since  then  has  lived  a  less 
•active  life  and  is  enjoying  his  well-earned  rest. 
The  most  of  his  attention  is  given  to  the  con- 
duct of  his  farm,  which  contains  about  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres,  all  of  which  is  underlaid  with 
coal,  and  to  platting  and  selling  city  lots  in  the 
various  additions  he  has  made  to  the  cit}-  of  West 


nu 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Hellevilk,  near  where  he  resides  in  a  handsome 
and  commodious  bricii  dwelling.  Probably  no 
other  man  in  this  section  has  done  so  much  to 
develop  the  natural  resources  of  tlie  immense  coal 
fields  underlying  his  section  of  the  State,  furnished 
so  many  men  with  emijloyment  or  added  so  largely 
to  the  material  wealth  of  Belleville  as  Mr.  Branden- 
burger.  Tlie  lesson  learned  from  his  life  is  a  val- 
uable one  and  should  be  heeded  by  the  young 
men  of  to-day  who  start  out  with  no  capital  but  a 
pair  of  willing  hands. 

Mr.  Brandenburger  was  so  unfortunate  as  to  lose 
his  wife  soon  after  getting  started  in  the  coal 
business.  He  was  left  with  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren to  look  after.  He  then  found  it  doubly  dif- 
ficult to  make  progress,  but  he  deteimincd  to  keep 
his  family  together  and  they  all  worked  in  har- 
mony and  were  accordingly  of  great  assistance  to 
each  other. 

Mr.  Brandenburger's  career  has  been  a  very  honor- 
able and  useful  one  and  he  is  a  model  citizen,  being 
persevering,  industrious,  honest  and  patriotic.  He 
IS  much  esteemed  throughout  .St.  Clair,  as  well  as  the 
surrounding  counties,  and  counts  as  his  friends 
all  with  whom  he  has  had  business  relations,  which 
speaks  in  an  eloquent  manner  as  to  his  upright 
business  methods.  He  is  a  Republican  politically; 
in  religion,  he  is  an  honored  member  of  the 
Free  Protestant  C^hurch. 


ANIEL  HENTC'IILKK, a  prominent  farmer 
residing  on  section  33,  Shiloh  Valley 
Township,  iSt.  Clair  County,  was  born  in 
.lacksonville,  Morgan  County,  111.  De- 
cember Iti,  1837,  was  the  date  of  his  birth.  His 
parents  were  .lacob  and  Elizabeth  (Baker)  IJentch- 
ler.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  native  of  the 
Keystone  State,  and  was  born  in  Union  Countj'  in 
in  the  year  1799,  being  reared  to  manhood  on  a 
farm.  He  was  a  son  of  John  Keutchler,  who  was 
also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation.    The  great-grandparents  of  our  subject 


emigrated  to  the  United  States  from  Germany  in 
the  eighteenth  century.  In  the  possession  of  our 
subject  is  an  old  chest  whicli  they  brought  to  this 
country.  At  that  early  date  the  family  name  was 
spelled  Rentschler.  The  spelling  of  the  name  has 
been  changed  by  the  descendants  and  in  some 
families  it  has  become  entirely  different. 

Jacob  Rentchler  received  a  limited  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  that  early  day,  but  by  study 
and  reading  posted  himself  on  all  of  the  leading- 
questions  and  issues  of  the  day,  and  his  experience 
in  business  also  added  to  his  knowledge  and 
widened  his  view  of  mankind.  He  was  a  mill- 
wright by  trade,  and  in  his  native  State  operated 
a  saw  and  grist  mill  and  also  carried  on  a  store. 
His  business  qualifications  may  readily  be  seen  in  a 
brief  sketch  of  his  life  career.  In  1837,  he  went  to 
Morgan  County, 111.,  and  a  few  years  later  located 
in  this  county,  where  he  purchased  eight  hundred 
acres  of  land,  giving  $12  per  acre.  Here  for  many 
years,  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  and  also 
bought,  sold  and  traded  live  stock.  In  this,  as  in 
all  business  undertakings,  he  was  very  successful 
and  showed  marked  ability. 

When  about  twenty-six  years  of  age,  Mr.  Rentch- 
ler was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth,  the  daugh- 
ter of  John  H.  and  Elizabeth  (Rickey)  Baker,  all 
of  whom  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  Ten 
children  blessed  this  union,  all  of  whom  grew  to 
maturity:  John,  deceased;  Jacob;  David  and  Will- 
iam, deceased;  Maria  is  the  wife  of  James  H. 
Richardson;  Benjamin  is  deceased;  Daniel,  our 
subject;  Henry  and  Levi  have  also  departed  this 
life;  and  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  James  Ilobbs. 
The  father  of  this  family  was  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church  and  in  that  faith  brought  up  his 
children.  Politically,  he  was  a  Whig.  His  death 
occurred  in  1853,  and  his  wife  yet  survives  him 
and  lives  with  our  subject  upon  the  old  homestead. 

Our  subject  was  reared  upon  his  father's  fnrm 
and  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools, 
which  he  completed  by  a  course  at  Union  Semin- 
ary. His  health  failed  him  before  he  had  finished 
his  studies  and  he  then  returned  home.  However, 
in  18G1,  he  entered  the  Business  College  of  Pitts- 
burgh, Pa.,  and  received  a  thorough  preparation 
for  business  life.     In  18(51,  he  ^vent  into  the  agri- 


PORTRAIT  AND  lUOCIJAl'IITfAL  KFX'ORD. 


r.<);i 


cultural  implement  and  iiKu-hinc  business  at  Bellc- 
ville,  where  he  was  ioi-ated  until  1878.  In  tiiat 
occupation,  lie  was  I'ewarded  by  great  success,  but 
was  obliged  to  return  to  the  farm,  where  his  and 
his  mother's  intcrest-s  demanded  his  sole  attention, 
In  addition  to  his  farm,  which  he  has  greatly  im- 
proved and  which  on  every  hand  shows  the  care 
and  attention  of  the  owner,  he  for  several  years 
ran  a  store  at  a  point  known  as  Hen tehler  Station. 
About  twenty  years  ago,  he  lea.^ed  the  coal  on  his 
laud,  but  as  the  lease  was  dropped  after  a  few 
years  he  ha.s  operated  the  bank  himself  during, 
most  of  this  time.  He  owns  five  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  where  he  now  lives  and  fourteen  hundred  and 
eighty-two  acres  situated  in  various  States.  Po- 
litically, he  is  a  stanch  sup|)orter  of  the  Republican 
party  and  its  princii)les.  For  over  fifty  years,  he 
has  been  an  honored  and  respected  resident  of  this 
community,  where  he  is  widely  and  favorably 
known.  He  is  a  well-informed  man  on  all  the 
leading  questions  of  the  day  and  takes  an  active 
pari  in  all  local  and  cdufational  affairs. 


i^+^i 


'|l|OHN  SCn.'VLLER.  A  position  of  influence 
||  among  the  (ierman-American  citizens  of  .St. 
f^Jiy  Clair  County  is  held  by  the  gentleman 
Ij^/y  whose  name  introduces  this  sketch,  and 
who  is  numbered  among  the  wealthiest  residents 
of  Lenzbiirg  Townsliip.  The  large  property  of 
which  he  is  owner,  amounting  to  seven  hunilred 
acres,  ha,s  been  gained  through  his  unaided  exer- 
tions, and  shows  what  may  be  .accomplished  by  in- 
dustry and  energy,  when  coupled  with  good  bus- 
iness judgment  and  a  determination  to  succeed. 

The  parent-s  of  our  subject,  Philip  and  Elizabeth 
(Ucntzel)  Schaller.  were  born  in  (Germany,  in 
1805,  and  were  married  in  the  land  of  their  birth. 
They  became  the  patents  of  five  children,  three  of 
whom  died  when  young,  the  only  surviving  mem- 
ber of  the  family  beside  our  subject  being  Lena, 
the  wife  of  Peter  Dicliman.  During  his  youth 
Philip  Schaller  followed  farming  pursuits  and  was 
quite  successful  in  that  occupation   in   his  native 


comitry.  However,  in  his  earlj'  manhood,  he 
learned  the  trade  of  a  slioemaker.  at  which  he  was 
oceuiiied  during  the  greater  part  of  his  life,  al- 
though he  also  engaged  in  agriculture  to  some  ex- 
tent after  emigrating  to  this  country.  In  the 
Fatherland  he  received  an  excellent  education  and 
prepared  himself  for  the  profession  of  a  teacher,  but. 
not  feeling  satisfied  with  it.  abandoned  the  work 
after  teaching  for  a  short  time. 

In  1844.  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  children, 
Philip  Schaller  emigrated  to  the  United  States, and 
after  landing  at  New  York  proceeded  at  once  to  III- 
inoi>  and  settled  at  Belleville.  His  means  were  lim- 
ited, and  for  two  years  he  operated  .as  a  renter,  but 
at  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  had  .accumulated 
sutHcient  money  to  enable  him  to  i)urchase  a  small 
farm  iu  Dutch  Hill  Prairie.  Thereafter,  farming 
operations  engaged  his  attention,  and  his  time  was 
devoted  to  farming  on  his  pl.nce,  which  he  brought 
to  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  In  his  political 
views,  he  was  an  adherent  of  the  He])ublican  i)arty, 
the  principles  of  which  he  always  stanclily  up- 
held by  his  ballot  and  intluence.  His  death, 
which  occurred  in  1870,  deprived  the  community 
of  a  good  citizen  and  his  family  of  a  loving  hus- 
band and  father.  His  wife  survived  him  ten 
years,  when  she  too  closed  her  eyes  to  the  .scenes 
of  earth. 

A  native  of  (Jcrniany,  the  subjcclof  this  biogra- 
l)hical  notice  was  born  iu  1837,  and  was  therefore 
a  lad  of  about  seven  years  of  age  when  he  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  America.  His  education, 
which  was  gained  in  the  schools  of  St.  Clair 
County,  was  quite  complete  and  thorough,  and  by 
subsequent  reading  he  has  become  a  well-informed 
man.  He  remained  under  the  jjarental  roof,  aid- 
ing his  father  in  the  farm  work,  until  his  mar- 
riage, which  occurred  A|)ril  19,  18(!3.  The  lady 
who  then  became  his  wife  w.as  Alwine,  daughter  of 
August  and  Reiiidn  Kunze.  natives  of  Prussia, 
where  she  was  born. 

Seven  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  .Schaller 
and  liis  excellent  wife,  of  whom  we  record  the  fol- 
lowing: Anna  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Skeer;  Kl- 
vina  married  Charles  Schneider;  Philip,  William, 
Katie  and  Lena  remain  at  home  and  are  bright, 
intelligent  young  people,  of   whom   their  parents 


r)96 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


are  justly  proud.  The  religious  home  of  the  fam- 
il}-  is  in  the  Lutheran  Church,  of  which  they  are 
active  members,  and  their  influence  is  ever  given 
toward  those  measures  which  are  calculated  to 
promote  the  interests  of  the  community,  along 
moral,  religious  and  educational  lines.  In  his 
political  preference,  Mr.  Schaller  is  a  Republican 
of  no  uncertain  tone,  and  he  is  regarded  by  the 
people  of  Dutch  Hill  Prairie,  where  he  resides,  as 
one  of  their  most  active  and  progressive  citizens. 
He  is  a  man  of  enterprise,  zealous  in  his  advocacj' 
of  the  cause  of  justice  and  right,  and  eyer  fore- 
most in  good  works. 


^i****^!! 


y  ILL! AM  A.  McCASLAND,  a  successful 
dealer  in  real  estate,  located  in  East  St. 
*J^^  Louis  is  wide!}'  known  as  a  man  of  sterling 
integrity  of  character,  and  commands  the  confi- 
dence and  esteem  of  all  who  have  the  pleasure  of  his 
acquaintance.  Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Indiana 
and  was  born  in  Jefferson  County,  near  Hanover.  He 
came  to  Morgan  County,  111.,  with  his  parents  when 
only  six  years  of  age,  and  was  raised  upon  the  farm 
of  his  father,  James  McCasland,  and  received  his 
primary  education  in  the  little  log  sehoolhouse, 
with  slab  seats  and  desks.  Arriving  at  mature  age, 
William  McCasland  married  Anette  Pemberton, 
born  and  raised  in  Oldham  County,  K\\ 

Our  subject  began  farming  in  Morgan  County, 
111.,  but  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War  inter- 
rupted the  peaceful  labor  of  agricultural  life,  and 
in  February,  1862,  he  volunteered  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  Government,  and  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany A,  Thirty-eighth  Illinois  Infantry,  and 
after  three  years  at  the  front,  constantly  exposed 
to  the  dangers  of  the  prison  pen  and  death  upon 
the  battlefield,  he  was  mustered  out  of  the  service 
at  Huntsville,  Ala.,  in  February,  1865.  A  citizen  of 
courage  and  resolution  and  a  true  patriot,  our 
subject  bravely  engaged  in  the  siege  of  Corinth, 
was  an  active  participant  in  the  long  march  from 
Ripley,  Miss.,  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  where  the  Union 
forces  turned  liack  the  advance  of  (ien.  Bragg  and 


forced  him  to  retreat  to  Crab  Orchard,  and  was 
finally  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Remyville. 

Mr.  McCasland  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Stone 
River, Chickamauga,  Missionary'  Ridge, and,  in  fact, 
was  present  in  all  the  principal  engagements  of 
the  Georgia  Campaign.  From  Atlanta,  returning 
to  Nashville  under  Hood,  our  subject  participated 
in  the  battles  of  Spring  Hill  and  Franklin,  and,  be- 
ing upon  the  outer  line  of  skirmishers,  was  con- 
stantly exposed  to  the  rain  of  the  enemy's  bullets. 
The  officer  of  the  day  had  left  twenty  men  on 
picket  duty  until  the  forces  were  all  over  and  the 
bridge  was  burned.  It  was  fully  one  hour  before 
Gen.  Scliofield  knew  of  the  deadly  peril  of  the 
faithful  and  courageous  pickets,  who  were  at  last 
relieved  from  their  post  of  duty  by  the  officers  de- 
tailed for  that  purpose  by  the  General.  Immedi- 
ately following  the  battle  of  Nashville,  Mr.  Me 
Casland,  honorabl\'  discharged  from  the  service  of 
the  Government,  returned  to  his  home  unwounded, 
although  he  had  never  lost  a  day  from  active  duty. 
Few  of  the  brave  boys  in  blue  can  show  a  longer 
record  of  inarches,  skirmishes  and  battles,  in  which 
our  subject  fearlesslj'  eng.iged,  and  no  soldier  of 
those  troublous  times  can  furnish  a  more  honorable 
record  of  faithful  and  devoted  service  in  behalf 
of  National  existence. 

In  1869,  Mr.  McCasland  bought  a  (me  hundred 
and  sixty  acre  farm  in  Morgan  County.  111.,  near 
Waverly,  and  there  continued  the  pursuit  of  agri- 
culture until  1881.  In  the  meantime,  he  dealt  ex- 
tensively in  stock,  buying,  feeding  and  shipping 
cattle.  In  1881,  he  located  in  AVaverly  and  re- 
mained there  until  1889,  when  he  made  his  home 
in  East  St.  Louis,  handling  real  estate  exclusively. 
Our  subject  owns  property  in  the  Clearmont  Addi- 
tion, which  is  rapidly  increasing  in  value  and  has 
found  ready  sales,  the  location  being  one  of  the 
finest  sites  in  the  city.  The  convenient  office  of 
Mr.  McCasland  is  in  the  Opera  House  Building, 
Room  46,  and  all  desirous  of  investing  in  one  of 
the  finest  pieces  of  property  in  East  St.  Louis 
should  seek  the  services  of  our  subject,  who  ac 
cords  to  all  visitors  the  kindly  courtesy  and 
prompt  attention  which  their  business  demands. 

Mr.  McCasland  was,  in  1879,  deeply  stricken  by  a 
succession  of    crushing   bereavements.     He  had  a 


PORTRAIT  AND  BlOGRArHICAL   RECORD. 


599 


devoted  wife,  and  their  bearth  and  home  were 
blessed  by  the  birth  of  nine  children:  Sarah  Jane 
died  at  nineteen  j-ears  of  age;  Josepliiue  died  at 
three  years  of  age;  Rosa  M.  passed  away  when 
fourteen  years  old;  Anna  L.  died  at  six  \'ears  of 
age;  Gracie  H.and  Ida  live  in  Waverly.  111.;  Edith 
died  when  six  years  old;  Henry  passed  away  in 
November;  one  little  one  died  in  infancy.  Edith 
died  April  14,  1879;  Sarah  J.,  April  15,  1879;  the 
beloved  wife  April  19,  1879;  and  Rosa,  April  24, 
1879.  These  victims  of  the  dread  scarlet  fever  all 
passed  away  within  ten  days,  and  the  other  chil- 
dren were  also  ill,  Henry  having  been  left  deaf  by 
this  terrible  and  fatal  malady.  Our  subject  is  a 
member  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  nothing  but 
a  faith  in  another  and  better  world  sustained  him 
in  these  hours  of  bitter  anguish.  Mr.  MeCasland 
is  a  Republican  in  word  and  deed,  but  he  is  a  "free 
silver"  man,  and  mainly'  desires  the  prosperity  and 
best  good  of  the  American  nation,  to  whose  ser- 
vice he  gave  the  unswerving  devotion  of  a  true 
American   citizen. 


(-i^^HOMAS  II.  WHITE,  Aice-presideut  of  the 
'(/^\.  Micliigan  lieef  and  Provision  Company,  of 
Vsi^  Detroit.  .Mich.,  stock-dealer  at  tli.e  National 
Yards,  also  representative  of  Swift  it  Co.,  of  Chi- 
cago, and  Alderman  of  the  Sexeiith  Ward  of  East 
St.  Louis,  is  one  of  the  most  popular  and  well- 
known  residents  of  the  city.  He  is  a  native  of 
the  Empire  State,  bnrii  at  Heekmaii,  in  Dutchess 
County,  on  tlie  1st  of  •Inly,  1819,  and  is  a  son  of 
Leonard  '1'.  Wiiite,  who  was  also  a  native  of  New 
York  State,  as  was  the  grandfather,  Isiiac  White. 
A  brother  of  the  latter,  William  White,  owned  the 
Dutchess  County  Iron  Works.  The  grandfather 
served  in  the  Mexican  War.  and  was  an  extensive 
farmer  in  Dutchess  Coiint3-,  where  his  death  oc- 
curred when  ninety-two  years  of  age.  Ills  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Mary  Doty,  and  who  was 
of  English  descent,  died  when  ninety-three  years 
of  age, 


The  father  of  our  subject  became  familiar  with 
agricultural  pursuits  when  a  small  toy,  and  it  was 
but  natural  that  when  reaching  mature  3'ears  he 
should  select  farming- as  his  chosen  occupation. 
He  died  in  1857,  when  forty-seven  years  of  age. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  in  politics,  supported  the  principles 
of  the  Republican  party.  He  married  Miss  Char- 
lotte Wright,  who  was  also  born  in  Dutchess 
County,  N.  Y.,  and  who  passed  away  in  185(1. 
Eight  children  were  born  to  their  union,  seven  of 
whom  grew  to  mature  A-eais  and  are  now  living. 
The  second  in  order  of  birth  was  our  subject,  who 
was  left  without  the  counsel  of  a  father  and  the 
loving  care  of  a  mother  when  eight  years  of  age. 
At  that  age  his  school  days  were  i)ractically  ended, 
but  being  possessed  of  a  naturally  bright  mind, 
and  being  a  man  of  observation,  lie  becimie  well 
posted. 

In  1858,  Ur.  White  went  to  Dover,  N.  Y.,  to 
live  with  his  uncle,  William  A.  White,  with  whom 
he  remained  two  years,  and  then  returned  to 
Heekman  to  learn  the  carriage-making  trade  with 
his  uncle,  William  Wright.  At  the  end  of  eighteen 
months  he  went  to  Westchester  County,  and 
worked  in  a  carriage  shop  for  two  years,  after 
which  he  returned  to  his  Uncle  William  Wright, 
and  was  in  his  carriage  shop  forsonie  time.  Later, 
he  went  to  Amenia,  Dutchess  County,  and  worked 
in  a  grain-cradle  factory  for  George  Morgan,  the 
greatest  cradle  nianufactui'er  of  his  day.  Erom 
there  he  removed  to  IJeekman,  remained  there  for 
one  year,  and  in  1867  went  to  Albany  to  assist  in 
building  the  West  Albany  Yards  for  Allcrton. 
Dutcher  A-  Moore,  the  organizers  of  llic  Xalioiuil 
Yards  hero.  After  finishing  the  yards  he  went  to 
Huffalo,  N.  Y.,  reopened  the  yards  after  the  tire, 
and  became  builder  and  Superintendent.  He  was 
in  charge  of  a  set  of  men  as  foreman  during  this 
time,  and  when  the  y,ards  were  completed  he  re- 
turned to  Albany,  and  remained  thereuntil  1871, 
when  he  came  to  East  St.  Louis  to  assist  in  building 
the  National  Yards.  He  was  in  charge  of  excavat- 
ing and  the  grading  of  yards  and  of  laying  th(< 
.sewers.  He  was  actively  engaged  in  this  for  two 
years,  when  the  yards  were  opened  for  use, 

At  that  time,  Mr.  White  assumed  charge  of  the 


600 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


cattle  department  as  Yardinaster,  filled  this  posi- 
tion for  about  three  years,  and  then  resigned  it  to 
engage  in  the  cattle  business  for  iiimself.  He  em- 
barked in  buying  and  selling  for  himself,  but  later 
became  connected  with  Swift  &  Co.  as  a  representa- 
tive and  buys  all  their  calves  for  them,  amounting 
to  over  forty  thousand  last  year.  He  also  represents 
the  Michigan  Reef  and  Provision  Company,  of 
Detroit,  buys  all  their  stock,  and  still  buys  on  his 
own  .account.  He  h.as  been  the  largest  individual 
stock  buyer  in  this  city.  His  otfice  is  in  the  Exchange 
Building,  and  he  buys  largely  on  orders.  He  built 
a  fine  residence  at  No.  816  Baugh  Avenue,  and 
also  owns  three  other  residences  on  that  street  and 
one  on  Summit  Avenue.  He  is  a  stockholder  in 
the  First  Mutual  Building  and  Loan  Association, 
and  is  prominent  in  all  enterprises  of  importance. 
In  February,  1871,  Mr.  White  was  married  at 
Pawling,  N.  Y.,  to  Miss  Fannie  M.  Griffin, a  native 
of  Connecticut,  and  they  have  one  child,  Clarence. 
Mr.  White  was  Trustee  of  District  No.  9,  for  twelve 
years  and  w.as  President  of  the  Board  for  six 
years  of  that  time,  holding  the  office  until  1891, 
longer  than  any  other  man.  In  1889,  he  was 
elected  Alderman  from  the  Seventh  Ward  on  the 
Citizens'  ticket,  and  was  one  of  the  first  Aldermen 
elected  under  the  new  law,  and  one  of  the  first 
from  the  Seventh  Ward.  .He  was  re-elected  in 
1891  and  has  served  on  different  committees,  and 
he  has  been  Cliairman  of  the  Streets,  Alleys  and 
Bridge  Committees  since  1889.  He  has  always  been 
in  favor  of  the  new  reform  government,  and  is  a 
"true-blue"  Republican  in  a  Democratic  ward. 
Soci.ally.  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity 
and  tiie  Owls,  as  well  as  of  other  orders. 


^>-^^<m^-<- 


,4p^  AMUEL  B.  MALlNEE,an  enterprising  and 
^^^^  progressive  citizen  arid  valued  member  of 
l^^J)  the  City  Board  of  Education  of  East  St. 
Louis,  111.,  is  the  head  roller  at  the  well- 
known  Tudor  Iron  Works,  and  as  an  expert  and  sci- 
entific mocliaiiic,  commands  one  of  the  largest 
jjakuicb  ever  paid   in  this  line  of  work.     Mr.  31a- 


linee  is  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  was  born 
May  26,  185.5,  in  Newport.  His  father,  J.  W.  Ma- 
linee,  born  in  Ohio,  removed  in  adult  life  to  New- 
port, Ky.,  but,  being  an  iron-worker,  afterward 
settled  in  New  Albany,  Ind.,  and  there  started  the 
first  iron  works  ever  located  in  the  vicinity,  and 
which  was  known  as  the  Hoosier  Rolling  Mill. 
During  the  war  the  services  of  .1.  W.  ^lalinee 
were  required  by  the  Government,  who  engaged 
him  to  iron  the  "Tuscumbia"  .and  "Monitor."  Af- 
ter having  remained  in  business  in  New  Albany 
for  a  number  of  years,  Mr.  Malinee  retired  and 
soon  afterward  died,  passing  away,  deeply  re- 
gretted, in  the  month  of  August,  1876. 

The  Malinces  are  of  English  descent,  and  the 
mother  of  our  subject,  Elizabeth  (Simpson)  Ma- 
linee, was  born  in  England.  Grandfather  Simp- 
son was  a  man  of  leisure,  and  possessed  means 
which  enabled  him  to  travel  extensively.  He 
and  his  wife  died  and  tiieir  daughter  Elizabeth 
was  afterward  raised  and  educated  in  Indiana. 
She  became  the  mother  of  ten  children,  four  of 
whom  are  now  living:  -Samuel,  our  subject; 
Ruth  (Mrs.  Fox),  resides  in  New  Albany,  Ind.; 
Edward  lives  in  St.  Louis,  and  is  a  boss  roller  at 
the  Tudor  Mills;  William  is  foreman  at  George- 
town, Ind.  Samuel  B.  Malinee  was  raised  in  New 
Albany,  and  early  attended  the  iniblic  schools,  and 
when  at  the  tender  age  of  nine  years  he  entered 
the  iron  mills,  he  .availed  himself  of  the  night 
schools,  apd,  ambitiously  gleaning  all  the  book 
learning  within  his  reach,  made  progress  in  the 
practical  knowledge  of  his  trade,  and  swiftly 
climbed  ui)ward  to  a  higher  position  and  increased 
salary. 

After  the  death  of  his  father,  our  subject  worked 
in  the  old  rail  mill  in  New  Albany,  and  at  seven- 
teen years  of  age  became  boss  roller;  soon  after 
this  promotion  he  went  East  and  found  ready 
employment  sis  boss  roller  in  New  York,  Philadel- 
phia, Paterson,  Pittsburgh,  and  finally  settled  in 
Louisville.  Ky.  In  1870,  Mr.  .Alalinee  came  to  St. 
Louis  and  was  employed  in  the  Laclede  Iron 
Works,  remaining  for  nearly  a  half-score  of  years 
a  valued  eini)loye  of  these  mills.  In  18Sn,  lie  en- 
cased as  head  roller  in  East  SI.  Lmiis  niid  re- 
mained  in    the  Tuilur  \Vorks    about    three    years; 


PORTRAIT  AXD  WOGRAPHJCAL   RECORD. 


601 


then  accepted  the  position  of  head  roller  in  the 
steel  works  in  Ketleville.  In  1864,  our  subject  re- 
turned once  more  to  tlie  Tudor  Works,  and  has  ] 
rern.sined  here  as  head  roller  ever  since.  For 
twenty  years  lie  has  held  the  position  of  head 
roller,  and  stands  at  the  top  round  of  his  profes- 
sion, and,  c'oniiiining  with  his  native  ability  a  long 
and  |)raolicMl  experience,  is  unrivaled  in  the 
knowledge  and  expert  handling  of  his  work. 

Years  of  well-pai<l  employment  have  rewarded 
our  subject  with  a  substantial  competence,  and 
he  owns  valuable  property  on  Bond  Avenue,  on 
which  he  has  erected  two  very  handsome  houses, 
Xos.  612  and  614.  ^Ir.  Malinee  and  his  family 
reside  in  No.  612.  Samuel  B.  JIalinee  and  Miss 
Sarah  Iloupt  were  married  in  New  Albany,  lud., 
in  1871.  Mrs.  Malinee  is  a  native  of  Alleghany 
County,  Pa.,  and  is  a  daughter  of  .lolin  Houpt. 
born  in  .Somerset,  Pa.,  a  saddler  by  trade,  and 
afterward  a  foreman  in  Penn.sylvanla,  who  after 
retiring  from  .active  business  removed  to  Indiana, 
where  he  died.  His  wife,  .Sarah  (.lohnson)  Houpt. 
was  also  a  native  of  the  Quaker  State, and  was  the 
j-oungest  in  a  family  of  ten  children.  .She  also 
died  in  her  Indiana  home.  Mrs.  Malinee  was 
raised  in  her  native  State  until  she  had  reached 
the  age  of  twelve  years,  when  she  came  with  her 
parents  to  New  Albany,  and  completed  her  edu- 
cation here.  The  happy  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Malinee  has  been  blessed  with  the  presence  of 
three  children:  Flora  K.,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
seven  years;  John  C.  and  Minnie  M.  both  at  home. 

In  1890,  our  subject  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  .School  Br)ard  of  the  city,  and,  an  ardent  advo- 
cate of  educational  advancement,  has  by  his  intel- 
ligent ability  amply  demonstrated  his  special  Ill- 
ness for  the  responsible  position  which  he  now 
holds.  He  is  also  connected  by  membership  with 
the  Ancient  Order  of  I'niled  Workmen  .and  also 
attiliales  with  the  Pride  of  the  \'alley  Lodge.  Grand 
Encampment,  I.  O.  O.  F.  .Mr.  Malinee  is  an  of- 
ficial of  the  .\malgamation  of  Iron  and  Steel 
"Workers"  As.sociation,  and  is  widely  known  and 
highly  respected  in  this  extensive  membership. 
Mrs.  Malinee  is  a  member  of  the  Daughters  of  Re- 
bekah,  and  is  also  connected  with  enterprises  social 
and  benevolent.     Our  subject  is  in  polities  an  lu-  ^ 


dependent,  giving  his  vote  to  the  man  he  thinks 
l)est  adapted  to  suitably  discharge  tlie  duties  of 
public  ollice  with  energetic  efliciency.  and  as  a 
true  .\merican  citizen  is  himself  ever  foremost  in 
the  promotion  of  hx-ai  progress  and  reform. 


11^  ENRV  W.  VOEI.KKR.  a  valued  and  intlii- 
ir)|^  ential  member  of  the  Board  of  .School  Trus- 
^^)^  tees  of  East  St.  Louis  and  the  popular  and 
(^)  able  representative  of  the  widely  known 
and  reliable  .1.  S.  Merrill  Drug  Company,  of  St. 
Louis,  has  spent  his  entire  life  amtmg  the  associa- 
tions of  childhood,  having  been  born  May  1,  18.59, 
on  the  old  lioniestead  upon  the  Belleville  Turn- 
pike, now  a  part  of  East  .St.  Louis.  His  father. 
Michael  A'oelker.  was  a  German  sailor,  and  engag- 
ing as  a  cook  aboard  a  vessel  plying  between  the 
Fatherland  and  America,  finally  decided  to  make 
his  home  iii  the  I  iiited  .States  and  located  in  St. 
Louis.  He  first  went  into  business  in  French- 
town,  but  before  1844  settled  in  Popstown  and 
opened  the  DrovcrV  Retreat,  or  West  Brighton 
House. 

After  keeping  an  hotel  for  some  time.  Michael 
Voelker  engaged  in  the  drug  business,  and  in  1871 
died  much  regretted  by  .all  wlio  knew  bini.  He 
was  an  excellent  business  man  iiiid  an  upright 
and  worthy  citizen.  In  political  aftiliutions  he 
wa.--  a  Republican,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Luth- 
eran Chureh.  His  wife,  Veronika  Kaiser,  was  born 
ill  Switzerland.  Canton  .\argau,  and  came  to  St. 
Louis  with  her  i)aients  when  very  3"oung.  She 
survived  her  husband  twelve  years,  passing  peace- 
fully away  in  1883.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  -Michael  Voelker 
were  the  j)areiits  of  five  children,  four  of  whom 
are  yet  living;  Anna,  Mrs.  Benson,  resides  in 
San  Francisco;  Theodore  is  engaged  on  the  Van- 
d.alia  Railroad  and  lives  in  Terre  Haute;  Edward 
was  killed  in  an  accident  on  the  \'andalia  Rail- 
road; and  Lizzie,  Mrs.  (ialloway,  is  in  Kansas. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  |)ublie  schools 
of  East  St.  Louis,  and  at  thirteen  years  of  age 
began    clerking   in    a   grocery    store,    reuiaiuiug 


602 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAl'HICAL  RECORD. 


seven  ye<ars  with  Richard  Roe.  In  the  year  1879, 
Mr.  Voelker  started  a  gi'oeery  house  on  St.  Claii 
Avenue,  near  the  stock  yards.  He  ran  the  store 
about  one  j-ear  in  partnersliip,  the  linn  being 
Voelker  &  Poller;  the  partnership  was  then  dis- 
solved, our  subject  afterward  engaging  in  the 
same  business  with  his  brother  Theodore,  tlie  firm 
of  H.  W.  &  T.  Voelker  running  for  two  years 
at  the  corner  of  Pennsylvania  and  Collinsville 
Streets.  For  a  brief  time  Mr.  Voelker  was  in  the 
cigar  business,  but  since  188(5  has  been  with  the 
long-established  and  enterprising  drug  house,  where 
his  untiring  and  efficient  service  is  appreciated, 
the  patronage  coming  from  St.  Louis,  East  St. 
Louis  and  Belleville. 

In  1889,  Mr.  Voelker  built  a  tine  residence  on 
the  site  of  the  old  homestead,  an  attractive  location. 
No.  816  Ninth  Street.  lie  is  now  erecting  an  ele- 
gant residence  on  Tenth  Avenue,  and  .also  owns 
other  valuable  real  estate.  In  the  year  1878  our 
subject  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Dora 
Daniel,  a  native  of  Sturgeon,  IMo.,  and  a  daughter 
of  John  ri.  Daniel,  born  and  reared  in  Kentucky. 
Her  paternal  grandfather,  Willis  Daniel,  was  a 
native  of  Virginia.  John  II.  Daniel  was  a  farmer 
and  stock-raiser  of  Boone  County,  Mo.,  and  served 
bravely  in  the  Confederate  army.  In  1872,  he 
entered  into  the  stock  business  in  St.  Louis,  and 
afterward  engaged  successfully  in  the  sariie  busi- 
ness in  East  St.  Louis,  but  finally  returned  to  Stur- 
geon, and  resides  tliere  among  a  host  of  old-time 
friends  and  acquaintances.  His  wife,  Mrs.  Ollie 
(Hulett)  Daniel,  was  born  in  Boone  County  and 
was  the  daughter  of  Harrison  Hulett,  born  in  Ken- 
tuck}',  but  an  old  settler  in  Missouri.  Mrs.  Voelker 
is  the  eldest  in  a  family  of  eight  children,  six  sons 
and  two  daughters.  The  happ^-  home  of  Mr. 
"\oelkei-  and  his  estimable  wife  has  been  bright- 
ened by  the  ))resencc  of  tlieir  dauglitcr.  Eaiinio 
Fern. 

In  1892,  our  subject  was  elected  U>  the  position 
of  School  Trustee,  and  has  with  efficient  ability 
discharged  the  duties  of  the  office,  his  excellent 
judgment  and  interest  in  educational  advance- 
ment aiding  materially  in  the  wise  disposition  of 
numerous  Importaiit  matters  connected  with  the 
instrucliou  of  Iho^'Ouug.  Fiaternally, Mr.  N'oelker 


is  a  Knight  of  Pythias  and  a  Knight  of  Honor, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  ITnited 
Workmen.  He  is  a  valued  Trustee  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church  of  East  St.  Louis,  and  is  ever  ac- 
tive in  its  good  work  and  enterprises.  Our  sub- 
ject is  a  stanch  Republican  and  an  ardent  sup- 
porter of  the  party.  Known  as  a  citizen  of 
upright  character,  energetic  and  alile  in  all  the 
duties  of  life,  our  subject  is  highly  respected  and 
commands  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  all  who 
know  him. 


\]l^^  ENRY  MOESER.  The  subject  of  this  short 
[f)V  sketch  resides  in  the  village  of  Smithton, 
(IW^  St.  Clair  County,  where  he  holds  the  iin- 
(^)  portant  office  of  Constable.  He  was  the  son 
of  Henry  Moeser,  and  was  born  one  and  one-half 
miles  west  of  Smithton,  in  the  year  1845,  on  the 
old  home  place  in  that  township.  He  grew  to 
manhood  there,  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  this  county.  He  was  twenty  years  of 
age  when  his  father  died,  and  all  of  the  respon- 
sibility of  the  famil}'  devolved  ui)on  him.  He 
remained  on  the  old  place  until  he  was  married, 
which  event  took  place  March  2,  1876,  to  Miss 
Elizalieth  Becker,  who  was  the  daughter  of  Peter 
and  Elizabeth  Becker,  who  lived  west  of  Belleville, 
in  this  county. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Moe.ser  first  located  ou 
the  old  home,  where  he  continued  for  eight  years. 
His  wife  died  on  the  1st  of  .January,  1881,  and 
he  then  sold  out  and  traveled  through  the  West, 
finally  buying  a  place  three  miles  southwest  of  Belle- 
ville, in  this  township.  He  moved  to  this  place, 
and  in  1^8:^  he  was  niaiiicd  to  Miss  Lizzie  Kilian, 
on  tlie  l.'ith  of  Jlarch.  She  wa>  the  daughter  of 
Conrad  Kilian,  of  this  township.  Mr.  Moeser  con- 
tinued to  live  there  until  the  fall  of  1883,  wiieu 
he  sold  his  farm  and  moved  to  the  place  which  is 
now  his  homo,  lie  was  the  father  of  two  children 
by  his  first  wife,  but  neither  of  tlieni  js  jiow  liv- 
ing, Ho  has  had  one  child  by  this  niRvriago,  MH' 
inie  Frances,  who  is  iiow  seven  ^ears  pid, 


h-^o^       ^^l'^yJ 


Ujji^^U^^ 


3 


PORTRAIT  AjS'D  biographical  RECORD. 


605 


Mr.  Moeser  has  forty  acres  of  land  near  Smitli- 
lon,  and  does  some  farniinjj;.  lie  buys  and  sells 
liorses,  and  does  a  great  deal  of  successful  trading. 
The  faiiiil\-  are  members  of  the  Evangelical  Lu- 
theran t'lnuch,  and  to  this  denomination  Mr.  Moe- 
ser gives  of  his  means,  and  in  it  his  family  is 
highly  regarded.  lie  is  a  member  of  the  Treu- 
bund  here  in  Smithton.  and  he  has  been  the  Treas- 
urer of  his  lodge.  In  his  ijolitical  views,  Mr.  Moe- 
sfi-  is  ail  ardent  Democrat,  and  he  has  been  very 
lircimiiioiit  in  all  local  matters.  He  has  lilled  the 
office  of  Constable  so  acceptably  that  he  has  kept 
his  place  for  four  years.  Mr.  Moeser  has  a  beauti- 
ful home,  and  his  famil\-  and  self  are  among  the 
prominent  social  people  of  the  pleasant  little  vil- 
laije  of  Smithton. 


--=^#i#^ll-^i"i^ll^^ 


-^,.1 DOLPII  M.  SCHEEI.,  >[.  1).,  A.  B..  a  suc- 
''W  i  ''^^■'^f"'  •*'"'  leading  physician  of  Belleville. 
1;  was  born  in  tins  city  .lannary  l.s,  1851, 
and  is  the  son  of  .John  and  Elizabeth  (En- 
gelmann)  Sclieel,  natives  of  Rhenish  Bavaria,  of 
whom  further  mention  is  made  in  the  sketch  of 
.lohn  Scheel,  presented  clsewheie  in  this  volume. 
In  their  native  country  they  weie  highl\- respected 
as  industrious  and  energeli<-  people,  and  these 
traits  of  character  aided  them  in  their  efforts  to 
establish  a  home  in  the  I'mted  States. 

The  literary  education  of  our  subject  was  com- 
menced in  the  public  schools  of  Belleville  and  was 
completed  at  Washington  I'niversity.  at  St.  Louis, 
from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  in  the 
Class  of  '72,  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts, 
His  education  (inished,  he  went  to  Euiope  and  en- 
tered the  (ierman  Medical  I'liiversitv.  in  which 
he  received  his  degree  after  a  course  of  four  years' 
study,  graduating  in  187(i,  During  his  aksence 
abroad  he  had  the  advantage  of  being  in  the  large 
hospitals  at  Munich  .■iiid  Berlin,  where  his  profes- 
sional knowledge  was  greatly  broadened  and  his 
skill  increased  by  |)raetice  in  intricate  cases. 

Returning  to  the  L'nited  States,  Dr.  Scheel 
opened  an  office  at  Belleville  for  the  practice  of 
28 


his  profession,  and  at  once  established  a  large  pi-ac- 
tice  in  the  city  as  well  as  the  surrounding  country. 
His  ability  as  a  practitioner  is  everywhere  con- 
ceded, and  his  skill  in  the  diagnosis  of  difficult 
cases  has  won  for  him  the  c<mfidence  of  all  with 
whom  he  has  come  in  professional  contact.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  St.  Clair  County  Medical  Society; 
the  Belleville  Medical  Society,  of  which  he  is  I'res- 
ident;  Fellow  of  the  American  .\cadcmy  of  Medi- 
cine; and  a  member  of  the  Southern  Illinois 
Medical  Society,  although  he  has  been  prevented 
from  attending  the  meetings  of  this  organization 
of  late  years,  owing  to  the  pressure  of  other  duties. 
October  I  I,  1877,  Dr.  Scheel  was  united  in  mar- 
riage witli  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Theo. 
Voelker,  one  of  the  earliest  German  settlers  of  Belle- 
ville. Two  children  have  been  born  of  the  union, 
Fred  and  Minnie.  The  Doctor  now  resides  in 
the  beautiful  brick  residence,  formerly  the  property 
of  his  father.  It  is  located  at  No.  208  South  Illi- 
nois Street,  and  is  in  the  midst  of  spacious  grounds. 
Although  his  attention  is  engros.sed  by  his  profes- 
sional labors.  Dr.  Scheel  finds  time  to  be  helpful  to 
the  community  in  which  he  resides.  He  isastock- 
holder  in  various  corporations,  among  which  is 
the  Belleville  Savings  Bank.  In  the  prime  of  his 
life,  his  usefulness  is  at  its  fullest,  and  .as  a  promi- 
nent and  successful  man.  he  is  respected  wherever 
known. 


1/        irilEl;    BKOWN.      Ill    the   twilight  of  his 
lionoicd   :ind    useful   existence,  Mr.  Brown 

is    living    (piietly,   surrounded    by  .all  the 

comforts  of  life,  at  his  pleasant  home  in  Lebanon 
Townshijj.  He  has  now  almost  reached  his  foui- 
.score  years,  having  been  born  .lauuary  21,  1811. 
Ilis  father,  Luther  Brown.  Sr,,  traced  his  anccstr\ 
to  IIoIImimI  ;in(l  w:is  lioiii  in  New  Hampshire  about 
1771.  His  mother  was  of  Scotch  descent  and  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  .\nuie  Burke, 

In  l.sKi,  the  parents  of  our  suliject  removed  to 
.Monroe  County,  N,  Y„  where  the  father  f<)llowed 
hii  trade  of   carpenter  and  h<nise-ioiiur.  an<l  .'Usd 


606 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


managed  a  small  farm.  In  his  political  sym- 
pathies, he  was  a  Whig  and  religiousl}'  was  in  later 
life  identified  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  His  death  occurred  in  New  York  State 
when  he  had  attained  tlie  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
six  }'ears.  Tiie  wife  and  mother  passed  away  when 
forty-six  years  old.  Our  subject  was  reared  on  the 
iiome  farm,  and  the  education  wiiich  he  received 
in  the  common  schools  was  supplemented  by  a 
course  of  study  at  the  academy  in  (xaines,  Orleans 
County,  N.  Y.,  wliere  lie  was  a  student  for  three 
montlis. 

The  first  wife  of  our  subject,  with  whom  he  was 
united  in  marriage  in  November,  1836,  was  Miss 
Antoinette,  daughter  of  .Jacob  and  Sarah  (Cum- 
niings)  Moore.  She  died  February  18,  1856,  leav- 
ing three  children,  Sarah,  Mary  and  Alice.  Sarah 
married  Marcus  Moore,  of  Portland,  Ore.,  and  they 
have  three  sons;  Mary, who  is  unmarried,  lives  with 
her  sister  in  Portland;  Alice  married  Jacob  Hoff- 
man, a  farmer  in  Colorado,  and  they  have  two 
daughters. 

March  18,  1857,  Mr.  Brown  married  Caroline 
Baldwin,  a  lady  whose  devotion  blesses  his  declin- 
ing years.  Her  parents  were  .Jera  and  Mary  Bald- 
win, t.lie  former  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and 
the  latter  of  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.  Of  the  chil- 
dren born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown,  we  note  the 
following:  George,  who  lives  in  Arkansas  City, 
Kan.,  is  engaged  in  tlie  real-estate  and  loan  busi- 
ness at  that  place.  He  married  Ivy  V/ise,  of  Leb- 
anon, and  tliey  liave  four  children.  Carrie  is  tlie 
widow  of  Dr.  ,1.  W.  Iloyt,  formerl3-  a  successful 
physician  of  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  and  they  have  one 
child, a  daughter.  Cl)arles,a  lawyer  liy  profession, 
is  n  member  of  a  legal  firm  in  Winfleld,  Kan.,  ;nid 
i.s  in  partnership  with  liis  brother  George  at  Ar- 
kansas City. 

IMr.  Brown  arrived  in  Lebanon,  111..  .Iiiue  l(i, 
1840,  and  located  at  Trenton,  Clinton  County, 
where  he  bought  land  and  eng.aged  in  farming  for 
fourteen  years.  He  then  removed  to  liis  present 
lioine,  wliere  he  lives  retired  from  active  business. 
For  the  past  twenty  years,  he  has  rented  his  place. 
He  has  always  been  deeply  interested  in  educa- 
tional affairs  and  lias  aided  in  promoting  the  wel- 
fare of  McKendree  College    in    many   ways.     For 


thirty-five  years,  he  has  served  as  one  of  its  Trus- 
tee for  about  twelve  j^ears,  has  been  Treasurer  of 
the  college  fund,  and  Trustee  of  the  endowment 
fund  and  a  member  of  the  college  executive  com- 
mittee. Politically,  he  was  in  former  years  a  strong 
Republican,  but  now  casts  his  ballot  for  Prohibi- 
tion. While  residing  in  New  York,  he  united  witli 
the  Methodist  Church,  of  which  he  has  been  a 
member  for  fifty-seven  years,  and  he  lias  served  as 
Class-leader  and  in  other  positions  in  that  denom- 
ination. 


\^S=^- 


ANIEL  C.  IIEELY,  M.  D.,  who  is  a  native 
))/  of  Belleville  and  has  been  a  practicing  phy- 
sician since  1868.  was  born  December  29, 
1845,  the  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Rebecca  (Randle- 
man)  Heely.  His  father,  who  was  born  in  Maine 
about  1816,  followed  the  occupation  of  a  plasterer, 
also  that  of  contractor  and  builder,  and  came  to 
Belleville  before  1840.  The  lady  whom  he  mar- 
ried was  four  years  his  junior  and  was  born  seven 
miles  southwest  of  Belleville,  her  parents  being  of 
German  descent. 

The  famil}'  of  which  our  subject  is  a  member 
comprises  five  children,  four  of  whom  lived  to  ma- 
turity, namely:  Theodore  T.,  AViliiam  C,  and  Jo- 
seph A.,  who  died  respectively  in  1887,  1859  and 
1863;  and  Daniel  C,  of  this  sketch.  The  last-named 
received  a  coninion-school  education  in  the  schools 
of  tiie  neighborhood,  and  in  his  early  manhood 
enlisted  in  1864  as  a  member  of  Company  B, 
Twenty-ninth  Illinois  Infantrj-,  which  was  incor- 
porated in  the  Sixteenth  Corps,  Division  of  the 
(iulf.  Our  subject  took  an  active  part  in  the  bat- 
ik's of  Ft.  Blakely  and  Spanish  Fort,  and  was 
present  at  the  surrender  of  Mobile,  where  he  was 
wounded  by  a  shell  at  the  explosion  of  a  magazine. 
He  was  conveyed  to  the  marine  hospital  at  Mobile, 
thence  to  the  marine  hospital  at  New  Orleans,  and 
later  to  Jefferson   Barracks  and  Benton   Barracks. 

After  being  honorably  discharged  from  the  army, 
our  subject  returned  home  and  commenced  to  read 
iiu^dicine    under    Dr.  Perrvmaii,       Jvuler,  he    went 


PORTRAIT  A>"D  lilOGRAPHlCAL   RECORD. 


607 


into  the  office  of  Dr.  B.  A.  Barrett,  of  St.  Louis, 
with  whom  he  remained  for  tliree  years.  He  also 
took  two  courses  of  lectures  in  the  St.  Louis  Med- 
iciil  College,  from  which  he  was  graduatetl  in  tlie 
spring  of  1869.  He  opened  an  office  for  tlie  pr.actice 
of  ills  profession  at  (icrniantown,  111.,  where  he  re- 
mained for  five  years,  and  afterward  practiced  at 
Trenton  for  seven  years.  Returning  tiience  lo 
IJellevilie.  he  followed  his  profession  here  for  four 
years,  and  afterward  resided  in  (iermantown  for 
the  same  length  of  time.  .Since  18H1)  he  has  i)rac- 
ticed  his  profession  continuously  in  Bellex  ille. 
where  lie  is  well  and  favorably  known. 

Dr.  Heely  .served  as  Coroner  for  Clinton  County 
twelve  years,  and  now  iioldsthe  position  of  Piiysi- 
lian  for  St.  Clair  County,  uliicli  includes  the  Ireat- 
nicnl  of  the  poor  at  the  eounly  liosiiital.  tlic 
county  farm  and  tho.se  in  Hellevilie  and  vicinity. 
This,  together  with  his  regular  practice,  occupies 
liis  entire  attention  and  affords  him  little  leisure 
time.  Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat.  Among  the 
organizations  with  which  he  is  idenlilied  are  the 
St.  Clair  County  Medical  Society;  Illinois  Medical 
Society;  St.  Clair  Lodge  No.  24,  F.  A-  A.  M., 
Chapter  No.  106,  Belleville  Council;  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Kellows;  Ancient  Order  of  Initcd 
Workmen,  and  the  Knights  of  Honoi-.  in  some  of 
whitli  111'  is  Kxaminer. 

Tlie  marriage  of  Di-.  I  leely,  .January  2.  l^i7o.  uni- 
ted liim  with  Miss  Sue  L.  l^uick.  of  High  Prairie, 
and  they  are  the  parents  of  six  children,  namely: 
Oliver. I..  Minnie  .M.. Susan.  Piird.  I.ewisnnd  Ivlwin. 


|Tr^()Hi:UT  LAW.  October  .!.  IK.=)4.  is  the  day 
|1^^  on  which  this  gentleman  first  saw  the  light. 
•-!>  Y  Ili'^  I)irth  occurred  in  Washington  ('ounl\-. 
111.,  about  three  miles  from  his  present 
abode.  Ilisparent.s  were  .lolin  and  .lennie  (Craig) 
Law.  The  grandfather  of  Robert  Law  was  .Joshua 
Law.  and  his  grandmother  was  Margaret  (Barbei) 
Law.  bolli  natives  of  Scotland.  The  father  of 
Joshua    Law  w.is   the  Uev.  -John    L;iw.  of  Scotland. 


IX  man  well    remembered  in   the    Scottish  kirk   of 

which  be  was  pastor. 

.John  Law,  the  fathei-  of  oiu-  subject,  was  born 
in  Landon  Parish.  .Scotland,  in  the  year  1H24. 
His  mother  died  when  he  was  very  young, 
thus  making  his  knowledge  of  her  maternal  care 
limited.  Ills  father  gave  him  a  good  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  liis  native  coiintr\-, 
and  be  was  ble.ssed  with  the  ability  and  inclination 
to  turn  his  knowledge  to  good  account.  His  father 
thought  there  were  better  prospects  for  him  and 
his  son  in  tlie  Western  Hemisphere,  and  therefore 
emigialed  with  his  boy  to  this  country.  Poverty 
was  one  of  the  first  obstacles  they  encountered  in 
their  new  home,  and  the  only  resource  for  the  son 
was  lo  hire  out  l)y  the  month.  He  had  located  in 
Washingtcm  County,  which  at  that  time  w.as  an 
unbroken  [)rairie. 

After  working  by  the  month  for  a  few  years, 
.lohn  Law  entered  eighty  acres  of  (Jovernment 
land,  and  by  his  economy  and  industry  made  a 
good  home  for  his  family-  and  accumulated  much 
personal  i)roperty  beside.  Washington  County 
has  been  blessed  with  representative  men,  those 
who.  thrown  upon  their  own  resources  early  in 
life,  have  displayed  the  metal  that  was  in  them; 
and  to  such  sterling  characters  this  country  is  in- 
debted for  its  phenomenal  growth  and  prosperitv. 
.Vmong  this  class  of  .Vmerica's  adopted  sons  we 
rank  .John  L;iw.  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and  one 
who  during  the  whole  course  of  his  career  de- 
man  deil  the  respect  of  his  fellow-men.  He  was 
strictly  a  farmer  and  always  one  of  the  most  in- 
dustrious of  his  cl!is.s.  In  18.il  he  married,  and 
the  fruits  of  this  marriage  were  live  children,  two 
of  whom  died  when  very  young;  Joshua  and 
.I.aines  grew  lo  manhood,  but  Robert,  the  subject 
of   this  sketch,  is  the  only  one  now  living. 

.loliii  Law  w;is  a  man  of  n^cognized  ability  not 
only  in  the  accumulation  ,,(  |)ioperty,  but  in 
moil'  pulilie  cap.acities.  and  as  a  [trominent  man  in 
his  neighborhood  was  called  upon  to  serve  his 
fellow-men  in  several  ways.  He  held  many  local 
olHces  creditably  to  himself  and  satisfactorilv  to 
those  who  honored  him  with  a  public  trust.  In 
addition  to  his  business  and  social  qualities,  which 
won  the  esteem  of  his  fellow-men.  Mr.  Law  was  a 


608 


PORTRAIT  AND  WOGRArHICAL  RECORD. 


useful  and  strong  supporter  of  the  United  Pres- 
byterian Cluireli.  He  was  strong  in  iiis  political 
opinions  and  always  gave  his  hearty  support  to 
the  Republican  party,  in  whom  he  placed  the  con- 
fidence of  his  honest  convictions. 

Robert  Law,  the  subject  of  this  biographical 
sketch,  has  every  reason  to  be  proud  of  his  sturdy 
Scotch  ancestry.  Being  the  onl3"  surviving  child 
of  a  family  of  five,  he  remained  with  his  parents 
until  his  marriage,  which  event  took  place  when 
he  was  twenty-three  years  old.  His  bride  was 
Miss  Sarah  C.  Robinson,  daughter  of  John  Robin- 
son, and  the  result  of  their  union  was  seven  chil- 
dren: Minnie  E.,  John  R.,  Nettie,' Annie,  Delia, 
Beartie  and  William.  Inheriting  the  good  name 
of  an  exceptional  father,  Robert  Law  represents, 
as  a  native  of  AVashington  County,  one  of  its 
pioneer  and  ever  to  be  respected  families,  and  he 
has  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  his  family 
has  performed  no  unimportant  part  in  the  growth 
and  development  of  this  section  of  the  State.  He 
is  possessed  of  an  abundance  of  this  world's 
goods,  and  as  the  result  of  his  patrimony  and  his 
native  ability  to  .accumulate,  has  sufficient  to  de- 
fend himself  and  his  family  against  want  in  his 
declining  years. 


e^+^i 


APT.  >HKE  WALSIL  the  energetic  and  pop- 
ular Chief  of  Police  and  Fire  Department, 
in  East  St.  Louis,  has  been  a  citizen  of  the 
United  States  for  more  than  two-score  years,  but 
was  born  in  Ireland  in  1840.  His  father,  Edward 
Walsh,  was  an  Irish  farmer,  who'  in  1845  emi- 
grated with  his  family  to  America,  at  first  making 
his  home  in  New  Orleans,  where  he  remained  a 
few  years,  and  afterward  removed  to  St.  Louis,  in 
winch  city  his  excellent  wife,  Ellen  (Holden) 
Walsli  died.  This  estimable  lady,  a  native  of  Ire- 
l.ind,  was  the  mother  of  three  sons  and  three 
daughters,  two  of  whom,  Mrs.  Murphy  and  IMrs. 
Riciiardson,  reside  in  East  St.  Louis.  Our  subject 
came  with  iiis  parents  to  America  when  but  five 
\cnrs  old.  and  was  educated  in  St.  Louis. 


Upon  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  Wai- he  bravely 
enlisted  in  Company  C,  Sixteenth  Indiana  Infantry, 
and  participated  in  many  of  the  i)roniinent  battles 
and  skirmishes  and  was  constantly  on  duty  until 
he  was,  after  faithful  service,  mustered  out  with 
the  rank  of  Sergeant.  Returning  to  St.  Louis, 
Capt.  Walsh  entered  into  various  employments, 
and  held  the  offices  of  Constable  and  Marshal.  In 
1887,  our  subject  received  his  appointment  as 
Chief  of  Police  of  East  St.  Louis,  and  immediately 
re-organized  the  Police  Department,  and  has 
brought  it  u|)  to  the  high  standard  of  excellent- 
service  which  enables  it  to  rank  with  the  force  of 
any  city.  Capt.  Walsh  also  organized  the  effective 
Fire  Department,  and  alter  two  years  of  hard 
work  had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  in  two 
of  the  important  branches  of  the  city's  administra- 
tion he  had  wrought  a  much  needed  reform.  Un- 
der his  wise  management,  a  number  of  fine  engine 
houses  have  been  erected  and  the  Holly  system 
put  into  general  use,  and  through  his  intelligent 
energy  the  danger  of  a  general  conHagration  has 
been  materially  lessened. 

In  18(!5,  Capt.  Walsh  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Eliza  Homey,  a  native  of  Ireland,  but  an 
early  settler  of  St.  Louis.  The  following  children 
have  blessed  the  pleasant  home  with  their  presence: 
Thomas  E.,  the  eldest  child,  was  educated  in  the 
excellent  home  schools,  but  completed  a  course  of 
instruction  in  the  Commercial  College  of  St.  Louis. 
He  was  Assistant  Cashier  for  the  Ohio  &  Missis- 
sippi Railroad  Compan}',  but  is  now  in  business  in 
East  St.  Louis.  Jessie,  who  isnow]\Irs.  McCready, 
resides  in  East  St.  Louis;  Celia  is  at  home;  Rhoda, 
who  is  now  Mrs.  Daniels,  lives  in  East  St.  Louis; 
Stella  and  Mike,  Jr.,  complete  the  list  of  the  sons 
and  daughters,  who  are  all  occupying  positions  of 
respect  and  influence.  The  commodious  and  at- 
tractive home  of  our  subject  and  his  family  is  lo- 
cated upon  Second  Street,  in  one  of  the  most  de- 
sirable portions  of  the  city.  Capt.  Walsh  has  made 
excellent  investments  in  real  estate,  and  owns  some 
fine  property  here  and  in  St.  Louis.  He  and  his 
family  are  well  known  and  enjoy  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  a  large  circle  of  friends.  Our  sub- 
ject is  a  strong  Democrat,  and  is  always  deeply 
interested  in   both   local    ;um1    n:iti<-iiiul   affairs.     A 


Of  THE 

iNivfRSiTY  Of  " 


^. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RKCORD. 


genial  man  of  superior  executive  abilitj',  he  has 
won  his  way  upward  and  is  now  one  of  the  lead- 
ing men  and  prominent  factors  in  tlie  enterprises  of 
East  St.  Louis. 


"ifiOIIX  R.BERTELSMANN.  The  hospitable 
owner  of  tlie  finely-inii)roved  farm  on  sec- 
tion 2,  Smithton  Township,  has  made  his 
home  in  this  place  since  1882.  He  is  a  son 
of  Casper  Bertelsmann,  who  was  born  in  the  pro- 
vince of  Bavaria,  Germany,  and  came  to  this 
country  when  a  young  man.  Having  resolved  to 
settle  in  St.  Clair  County,  he  bougiit  land  here 
and  engaged  in  farming.  He  married  Clara  Beul- 
raan,  wiiose.  father,  a  farmer  b}'  occupation,  emi- 
grated hither  from  Germany,  but  died  after  being 
here  but  a  sliort  time.  Mrs.  Casper  Bertelsmann  had 
one  brother.  Henry,  and  one  sister.  Mary  Catherina. 
The  former  made  his  home  with  her  until  his  de- 
cease at  an  advanced  age.  and  the  latter  still  lives 
with  her. 

Casper  Bertelsmann  lived  in  this  county  until 
the  time  of  liis  death.  He  had  a  family  of  five 
children,  all  of  whom  grew  to  maturit}':  our  sub- 
ject; Mary,  who  married  Nicholas  Boul;  Gertrude; 
Annie,  the  wife  of  Frank  A.  I^ouis;  and  Henry. 
Mr.  Bertelsmann,  .Sr.,  owned  several  well-improved 
farms  in  this  country  and  was  well-to-do  at  the 
time  of  his  decease.  In  liis  religious  connections. 
lie  belonged  to  the  Catholic  Ciiurch. 

Born  March  18,  1845,  in  St.  Clair  County,  oiu 
subject  was  here  reared,  and  received  a  common- 
school  education.  Beneath  the  ])arental  roof,  lie 
grew  to  a  sturdy  manhood,  and  his  home  remained 
with  his  father  until  his  marriage.  That  important 
event  took  place  January  31,  1882,  and  united 
him  with  Miss  Louisa  Lewis,  who  w.-u;  born  at  the 
old  Karlskind  homestead  .January  27,  1854.  Her 
father,  Henry  Lewis,  a  native  of  France,  came  to 
this  country  when  a  young  man,  and  here  married 
Miss  Marj'  Ann  Karlskind,  youngest  daughter 
of  Sebastian  Karlskind.  Both  are  now  deceased. 
Unto    Mr.    and    Mrs.    Bertelsmann     have     been 


born  three  children,  all  of  whom  are  living, 
and  are  particularly  intelligent  and  attractive. 
Cecelia  Mary  is  nine  years  old;  Irene  Rosabelle  is 
six,  and  the  pride  of  the  house,  the  sturdy  little 
heir,  Edward  L.  J.,  is  four  years  old. 

After  his  marriage,  Sir.  Bertelsmann  located  on 
this  place,  and  has  resided  here  ever  since.  His 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  is  finely  im- 
proved, and  ranks  among  the  best  in  the  county. 
In  the  raising  of  the  cereals,  he  has  been  especially 
successful,  and  each  year  he  harvests  large  crops  of 
wheat,  corn  and  oats.  His  farm  has  the  advantage 
of  natural  drainage,  which  renders  it  valuable  for 
general  farming  and  stock-raising  pui poses. 

Mr.  Bertelsmann  and  his  excellent  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  St.  Peter's  Catholic  Church  at  Belleville. 
He  holds  political  views  in  accordance  witii  those 
of  the  Democratic  party,  and  is  regarded  in  the 
neighborhood  as  a  man  of  the  finest  business 
ahilitv  and  inlegritv. 


SILAS  P.  CHAPIN.  proprietor  and  editor  of 
the  daily  and  weekly  Signal,  was  born  at 
Somerville,  Butler  County,  Ohio,  on  the 
Gth  of  June,  1855,  and  is  a  son  of  Daniel 
0.  and  Hannah  (Blossom)  Chapin,  both  natives  of 
Ohio,  the  father  being  born  in  Sidney.  Shelby 
County,  and  the  mother  in  Butler  County.  The 
paternal  grandfather,  Rosweil  Chapin,  w.as  born  in 
New  England  and  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade. 
When  seventeen  years  of  age,  he  came  to  the 
Kuckeye  State,  making  the  trip  overland,  and  lo- 
cated at  Sidney,  where  he  followed  his  trade  at 
first  but  later  became  a  dancing  master  and  boxing 
teacher.  During  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  he  set- 
tled on  a  farm  in  W.ayne  County,  Ind.,  and  died 
tlierc  when  lacking  six  months  of  being  one  hun- 
dred years  old. 

Daniel  O.  Chapin  was  reared  in  Sidney,  Ohio, 
and  after  re.aching  mature  years  he  went  to  But- 
ler County,  where  he  met  and  married  Miss  Blos- 
som.    Later,  he  located  on  a  farm  there   and   was 


B12 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


one  of  the  pioneers  of  Milford  Township,  tilling 
the  soil  until  he  retired.  The  father  of  Mrs. 
Chapin,  Perry  Blossom,  was  a  native  of  the  Old 
North  State,  and  was  one  of  the  first  pioneers  of 
Ohio.  He  came  to  that  State  with  his  parents, 
who  brought  with  them  the  first  four-wheeled 
wagon  in  the  county.  There  he  resided,  engaged 
in  the  active  pursuit  of  farming,  until  his  death. 
Mrs.  Chapin  passed  away  in  1882.  She  was  the 
mother  of  fifteen  children,  ten  of  whom  grew  to 
mature  3'ears. 

The  original  of  this  notice,  the  seventh  child  in 
order  of  birth,  passed  his  boyhood  and  youth  on 
the  farm  in  Milford  Township,  and,  unfortunately, 
received  but  a  limited  education.  When  sixteen 
years  of  age,  he  was  thrown  on  his  own  resources, 
his  father  having  lost  considerable  of  his  means, 
and  he  worked  on  farms  until  he  had  obtained 
sufficient  money  to  enable  him  to  attend  school. 
He  entered  West  Elkton  Academy  and  completed 
the  course  there,  after  which  he  attended  the  Nor- 
mal, at  Lebanon,  Ohio,  for  two  years.  Later,  he 
took  up  the  study  of  theology,  and  in  1876  came 
to  Salem,  111.,  to  join  the  South  Illinois  Methodist 
P]piscopal  Conference.  He  preached  at  Salem  for 
three  years,  Xcnia  two  years,  St.  Elmo  one  year, 
Altamont  two  years,  Farina  one  year,  and  in  the 
fall  of  1886  he  came  to  East  St.  Louis,  111.,  and  was 
pastor  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  three 
years.  During  this  time,  the  old  church  was  torn 
down,  and,  with  120  in  the  treasury,  Mr.  Chapin 
began  building  a  new  church.  This  structure  is 
now  one  of  the  finest  churches  in  the  (tity. 

In  1889,  Mr.  Chapin  retired  from  the  ministry 
to  enter  the  journalistic  field,  and  was  engaged  on 
reportorial  work  for  the  St.  Louis  Post-DispaHi. 
His  spare  moments  were  closel}-  devoted  to  a  study 
of  law,  and  he  was  graduated  as  a  student  of  law  at 
McKendree  College,  after  which  he  engaged  in 
its  practice,  and  in  a  short  time  his  ability  was 
made  known  and  he  now  controls  a  fine  practice. 
As  a  public  speaker,  he  is  well  known,  is  earnest, 
and  his  words  carry  conviction  to  his  hearers. 
He  is,  of  course,  well  read,  and  is  the  possessor  of 
one  of  the  most  complete  and  best-selected  libra- 
ries in  the  count}'.  As  an  orator,  he  has  no  su- 
perior in  the  county.     lie  is  a  Royal  Arch  JIason, 


a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, the  Knights  of  Honor,  Knights  of  Pythias, 
Modern  Woodmen,  and  other  secret  societies. 
In  politics,  he  is  a  Republican  and  his  services  are 
much  sought  for.  His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Fannie  Johnson,  and  is  the  daughter  of  IMaj.  L. 
M.  Johnson,  Supervisor  of  the  city  of  East  St. 
Louis. 


-^>^^-<m= 


fl|_,  ON.  ALONZO  S.  WILDERMAN.  Through- 
W}i'  t>ut  this  portion  of  Illinois  there  is  perhaps 
/^^  no  resident  of  St.  Claii-  County  better  or 
fj^  more  favorably  known  than  the  gentleman 
witli  whose  name  we  introduce  this  sketch.  He  is 
at  present  serving  as  Judge  of  the  Third  Judicial 
Circuit  of  Illinois,  which  consists  of  the  following 
nine  counties:  Bond,  Clinton,  Madison,  Marion, 
Monroe,  Perry,  Randf)lph,  St.  Clair  and  Washing- 
ton. To  this  responsible  position  he  brings  talents 
of  an  unusuall^y  high  order,  and  the  judicial  bent 
of  his  mind  renders  his  labors  highly  successful, 
his  decisions  impartial  and  just. 

Judge  VVilderman  is  a  descendant  of  one  of  the 
oldest  families  of  St.  Clair  County,  and  tr.ices  his 
ancestry  to  German^'.  (ieorge  W.,  the  great- 
grandfather of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Wash- 
ington County,  Md.,  and  in  1805  settled  in  the 
Territory  of  Indiana  (now  Illinois),  the  place  of 
settlement  being  now  known  asFreeburg,  St.  Clair 
County.  Here  he  remained  until  his  death,  which 
took  place  a  few  years  later.  His  son,  Dorsey, 
was  born  in  Washington  County,  Md.,  in  1793, 
and  was  twelve  years  old  wlien  he  accompanied 
the  other  members  of  the  family  to  the  West.  In 
1812,  he  married  Miss  Plio?be  Cair.  who  w.as  born 
in  Virginia  in  17!tO.  Her  father,  Josepii  Carr.  was 
likewise  Ixun  in  the  Old  Dominion,  his  birth 
occurring  March  21,  1752.  He  served  as  a  soldier 
in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  after  the  close  of 
the  struggle  came  West  and  settled  in  Illinois. 
He  died  in  this  county  March  6,  1817. 

Dorsey  Wilderman,  the  grandfatiier  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  was 
connected  with   the    military    department    on    the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


fil.S 


frontiers  during  the  Indian  Wars.      He    died   in 

thi.«i  county  in  1857.  Micliael  .T.  Wilderman,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  was  liorn  in  tliis  county 
October  10,  1814,  and  was  one  of  five  children 
who  survived  their  parents.  His  marriage,  April 
•24,  1838,  united  him  witii  Miss  Theresa  Patterson, 
who  was  born  in  Guilford  County,  Is.  C,  March 
21,  1818.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Greene  R.  and 
Rebecca  Patterson,  wlio  were  of  Scotch  descent, 
members  of  tlieir  families  being  among  the  early 
settlers  of  North  Carolina.  Mr.  Patterson  came 
to  Illinois  in  1818,  and  settled  at  High  Prairie. 
Mr.  and  Mrs  Wilderman  became  the  parent*  of 
seven  children.  The  wife  and  motlier  depailed 
this  life  April  27,  1868. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  the  eldest  son,  was 
born  at  the  parental  home  near  Freeburg,  Decem- 
ber 1,  1839.  His  boyhood  days  were  passed  upon 
the  home  farm,  and  he  acquired  a  good  common- 
.school  education  in  the  schools  of  tlie  neighbor- 
hood. However,  liis  advantages  were  meagre  in 
comparison  with  those  enjoyed  by  the  children  of 
the.se  days.  Possessing  an  inquiring  mind  and  a 
love  for  reading,  he  made  the  most  of  every  op- 
portunity whicli  presented  itself,  and  at  maturity 
his  mind  was  well  stored  witli  valuable  informa- 
tion. 

In  18t)4,  having  resolved  toenterupou  the  study 
of  law,  he  entered  tlie  office  of  Hon.  S.  M.  Kase,  of 
Belleville,  and  two  years  later  was  admitted  by 
examination  at  Mt.  Vernon  to  practice  in  the 
courts  of  the  State.  In  18()8,  he  formed  a  part- 
nership with  his  prece])tor,  which  continued  for 
four  years,  when  it  was  dissolved.  He  then  en- 
tered into  partnership  with  James  M.  Ilamill,  a 
connection  which  continued  until  June  15,  1891, 
a  period  of  nineteen  years  lacking  twenty  days. 
In  1876,  our  subject  was  nominated  and  elected 
to  represent  St.  Clair  ('ounty  in  the  Thirtieth 
General  Assembly  of  the  State.  While  a  member 
of  that  body,  he  sustained  his  reputation  .as  a  care- 
ful and  prudent  conservator  of  public  interests, 
and  his  service  as  a  member  of  the  JudiciHr3-  Com- 
mittee was  ethcient  and  satisfactory. 

September  15,  1871,  Judge  Wilderman  mar- 
ried Miss  Amanda,  daughter  of  James  Affleck  (of 
wliom  see  sketch  on  another  page  of  this  volume).- 


Four  children  have  been  born  of  the  union:  Hes- 
ter, Augusta  A.,  Emma  E.  and  Blanche.  Socially, 
the  Judge  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  and  a 
Knight  Templar.  His  career  as  jurist  and  citizen 
has  developed  those  noble  traits  of  character  alike 
commendable  in  private  and  public  life.  His  ser- 
vice as  Master  of  Chancery,  extending  from  .Sep- 
tember, 1883,  over  a  period  of  four  years,  was  emi- 
nently satisfactory,  as  indeed  have  been  his  labors 
in  every  position  he  has  been  called  upon  to  fill. 


\f^ETER  J.  ROSS.  An  excellent  farm  located  on 
Jl)  section  27,  in  Freeburg  Township,  is  owned 
1  ?^  by  the  gentleman  who.se  name  opens  this 
1  i  article.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  John 
Ross,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Brandan,  Hesse- 
Darmstadt,Germany,and  was  there  married  to  Katli- 
erine  Dasher.  He  came  to  this  county  in  1835,  and 
located  for  a  while  on  Turkey  Hill,  and  then  at 
the  place  where  our  subject  now  resides,  dying 
at  the  age  of  forty-five  He  left  a  family  of 
seven  children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living: 
Katherine  Schneider,  who  lives  in  New  Athens 
Township;  Jlary  Erbe,  and  our  subject,  who  was 
born  January  5,  1830,  in  Germany,  and  was  about 
five  years  old  when  he  came  to  this  country.  He 
was  reared  on  the  place  where  he  now  lives,  and 
was  sent  to  the  best  schools  of  those  early  days. 
His  father  died  when  he  was  fifteen  3'ears  old,  and 
he  became  the  support  of  the  family. 

Our  subject  was  married  May  13,  1856.  to  Lou- 
ise Wilhelmine  Loescher,  who  was  the  daughter  of 
Benjamin  and  Johanna  Loescher,  who  were  born 
in  Schleitz.  in  Vogtland,  Germany,  and  came  to 
this  country  in  1849,  dying  soon  after  of  the 
cholera.  After  his  marriage  our  subject  brought 
his  wife  to  the  old  place,  and  here  he  h.as  lived 
ever  since.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ro.ss  have  eight  children, 
as  follows:  Emma  Frances,  who  is  the  widow  of 
Samuel  Shook;  Edmund,  wiio  married  Sophia  Din- 
telman,  and  lives  in  St.  Clair  County:  Philip  lives 
at  Turkej-  Hill,  and  after  the  death  of  his  wife, 
Catherine   Mueller,   married    Clara  Barthel;  John 


(!l 


PORTKAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIOCAL  RECORD. 


Gottlieb  Louis,  wlio  is  at  home;  Laura  Elizabeth 
is  the  wife  of  Charles  Goetz,  and  lives  in  Belle- 
ville; Caroline  Catherine  Georgina,  Carl, and  Louise 
Emma  Ross,  are  all  at  home. 

Mr.  Ross  has  a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  and 
twenty-nine  acres  of  land,  of  which  there  are 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  improved  and  in 
a  good  state  of  cultivation.  He  is  a  good  farmer, 
and  Ills  land  shows  it.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Church,  and  has  been  elected  to 
the  office  of  School  Director  in  this  district.  In 
his  political  convictions,  he  is  an  Independent, 
voting  for  the  best  man.  He  saw  some  service  in 
the  army,  and  belonged  to  Company  C,  Fortj'-thiid 
Illinois  Regiment,  and  was  mustered  out  of  the 
service  in  July,  186.5.  The  familj'  and  its  con- 
nections are  much  respected  in   this  neighborhood. 


y 


OMINICK  DEKUMjOne  of  the  mostproni- 
'■  inent  general  farmers  of  St.  Clair  Town- 
ship, is  a  native  of  this  county,  where  lie 
has  spent  his  worthy  life,  helping  to  make 
the  community  what  it  now  is  by  his  industry  and 
thrift,  and  setting  an  example  of  what  persever- 
ance and  honesty  can  accomplish.  His  father, 
Michael  Dekum,  was  a  native  of  Bavaria,  who 
married  Mary  Ann  Klock,  of  Lorraine.  In  1840, 
he  emigrated  to  America  and  located  nearBirkner 
Station,  where  he  followed  farming  until  his  death 
in  185,i,  when  he  was  only  thirty-seven  years  of 
age,  of  the  dreaded  cholera. 

Five  children  were  born  unto  Michael  and  Mary 
Ann  Dekum:  Rosa  is  the  wife  of  John  J.  Schmis- 
seur,  a  retired  mechanic,  residing  in  Belleville; 
Catherine  was  taken  away  by  death  in  infancy; 
Frank,  a  carpenter  in  Belleville,  married  Joseph- 
ine Louis,  and  they  have  four  children;  Jacob 
died  when  only  six  years  of  age;  Dominick,  our 
subject,  was  the  third  child  in  order  of  birth. 
Michael  Dekum  was  a  good  man,  and  his  death 
was  deeply  mourned  by  his  family  and  friends. 
Mrs.    Dekum    was  married  a  second  time,  her  hus- 


liaiid  being  Nicholas  Sontag,  by  whom  she  had 
four  children,  as  follows:  Louis,  who  died  wiien 
a  child  of  lliree  years;  Emily,  who  resides  on  the 
old  farm;  Edward,  a  carpenter,  residing  in  Belle- 
ville; and  Nicholas,  who  resides  on  the  old  home- 
stead, and  is  married  to  Rosa  Davenroy.  Mrs. 
Sontag,  the  loved  and  revered  mother,  died  Oc- 
tober 28,  1882,  when  in  her  sixtieth  year,  and  her 
loss  was  deei)lv  felt  throuuhout  the  entire  commu- 
nity. 

Dominick  Dekum  was  born  February  7,  18.')1. 
near  Centcrville  Station,  St.  Clair  County.  III. 
lie  was  reared  at  Birkner  Station,  and  was 
twenty-si.K  years  of  .age  when  he  left  the  home 
that  sheltered  him  for  so  many  years  to  found  a 
household  of  his  own.  At  Belleville,  April  17, 
1877,  he  married  Miss  Louis  Schmisseur,  the  sister 
of  Frank  Schmisseur  (see  his  sketch),  and  the 
l)leasant  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dekum  adjoins  the 
farm  of  Mr.  Schmisseur  on  the  east.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Dekum  have  no  children.  They  are  well-known 
throughout  St.  Clair  Township,  and  their  hospita- 
ble dispositions  render  a  visit  to  their  home  an 
event  alw.ays  to  be  remembered  with  pleasure. 

Mr.  Dekum  carries  on  general  farming  and  has 
l>een  very  successful  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
has  never  desired  office,  but  li.as  been  content  to 
use  his  inlluence  in  a  quiet  way,  upholding  the 
principles  of  the  Democratic  party  in  a  loyal  man- 
ner. In  religious  matters,  ho  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Catholic  Church  and  they  carry 
the  teachings  of  the  Divine  Master  into  their  daily 
walks  of  life,  making  all  who  know  them  respect 
the  faith  they  so  earnestly  uphold.  If  the  citizens 
of  Illinois  were  of  this  type,  our  State,  that  we  all 
love  so  dearly,  would  soon  increase  in  prosperity 
tenfold. 


^^^^^i#^il-^"i^if^i#i^ 


REDRICK  VOGEL,  Sk.    The  Gernian-Amer- 

>  ican   citizens  form  a   veiT   impoilant  ele- 
_  ment  in  the  population  of  St.  Clair  County, 

Avliere  they  are  known  as  law-abiding  and  progres- 
sive men,  devoted  to  the  interests  of  their  adopted 


RcJlDLMCrOF    DOMINICK  DL  KUM  ,  SECT.,  ST.  CLAI  R  TP,  ST.  CLAI  R   CO., ILL. 


~liiiS/SiiS%SClli.-3SSz,»%:.. 


REaiDLNCE  or  FRIEDRICH     VO  GEL,  SEC.  3A.^  5T00KEY   TR,  57.  CLAIR  CO.,  ILL. 


'?:t^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BKXiRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


fir 


home.  One  of  the  mimber  is  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  wlio  is  :i  siicc-essfiil  farmer,  owning  and 
operating  a  well-improved  tract  of  land  on  section 
34,  Stookey  Township.  The  farm  is  one  of  the 
best  in  the  county,  the  improvements  first  class, 
and  the  soil  under  good  cultivation. 

The  parent-s  of  our  subject  were,  like  liiiuself. 
natives  of  Germany,  and  were  by  name  Conrad 
and  Christina  A' ogel,  the  father  horn  in  179fi.  and 
the  mother  in  ITOo.  The  former  was  reared  in 
a  German  village,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  a 
tinner,  and  was  thus  occupied  until  he  came  In 
.\merica  in  1833,  accompanied  by  his  family.  \v- 
riving  in  St.  Louis  on  the  4th  of  July,  that  year, 
he  remained  there  only  a  few  weeks,  but  during 
his  short  stay  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  one  of 
his  children  by  cholera,  which  was  raging  in  the 
citj'  at  that  time. 

Coming  to  St.  Clair  County,  Conrad  Vogel  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Stookey  Town- 
ship, and  then  went  to  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  where  he 
sojourned  a  few  months.  Returning  to  this  county, 
he  bought  two  hundred  acres  where  our  subject 
now  lives.  He  survived  his  wife  many  years,  his 
death  occurring  in  1879.  at  an  advanced  age.  He 
was  identified  with  the  Lutheran  Church,  of  which 
his  wife  was  also  a  faithful  member.  They  wei"e 
the  parents  of  three  children,  but  the  only  sur- 
vivor is  Fredrick,  wlui  was  born  in  Germany  in 
1827. 

At  the  age  of  six  years,  nur  subject  accompanied 
his  parents  to  the  United  States,  and  grew  to  man- 
hood in  this  county,  the  progress  of  which  he  has 
witnessed,  and  .assisted  in  for  many  vears.  When 
ready  to  establish  a  home  of  his  own,  he  was  mar- 
ried in  1849.  to  Miss  .lolianna,  daughter  of  .John 
Philip  and  Mary  Wirth.  and  unto  tliem  have  been 
born  nine  children,  four  of  whom  died  in  infanc\. 
The  following  is  noted  of  the  surviving  members 
of  the  family:  Louis  married  Catherine  Miller,  and 
they  have  four  children,  viz:  Louisa,  Carrie,  Louis, 
•Ir.,  and  Edward;  Conrad  is  at  home;  Louisa  is  the 
wife  of  Henjamin  Zintg,  and  the  mother  of  two 
children,  Nettie  and  Conrad;  Fredrick  married 
Mary  Wirth,  and  they  have  three  children:  Freda. 
Matilda  and  Meda:  .and  Emil  is  at  home. 

After  his  raai-riage,  Mr.  Vogel  rented  his  father's 


farm,  where  he  has  since  resided,  and  which  be- 
came his  iM'operty  upon  the  death  of  his  father. 
Here  he  has  since  labored  in  tilling  the  soil  and 
harvesting  the  grain,  and  through  economy  and 
industry  has  become  well-to-do  and  prosperous. 
He  is  not  |)articularly  interested  in  political  mat- 
ters, i)referring  the  quiet  enjoyment  of  domestic 
life  to  public  affairs.  He  nevertheless  votes  the 
Hei)Mblican  ticket,  and  upholds  its  principles  with 
fidelity.  In  his  religious  views,  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  Church,  and  the  cause  of  morality 
and  progress  finds  in  him  a  stanch  adherent. 


•?#" 


^jS^rSTAV  ,].  SCHEVE.  Among  the  promi- 
'II  ^— -  uent  and  well-established  business  men  of 
Xsi^'  Mascoutah,  stands  the  name  of  (iustav  J. 
Seheve.  who  has  been  eng.aged  in  the  real-estate 
business  in  this  city  since  1879.  This  business  im- 
mediately took  a  very  important  hold  upon  the 
oommunity.  for  in  the  very  nature  of  things  it  was 
impossible  that  a  man  of  such  caliber, as  Mr.  .Seheve 
could  engage  in  any  business  without  making  an 
indelible  impress  upon  the  favorable  opinion  of 
the  residents  and  business  men  of  the  locality.  His 
business  is  far-reaching  in  nature,  and  he  has  on 
his  list  many  choice  lots  for  investment.  In  insur- 
ance matters  he  is  also  well  to  the  front,  for 
he  has  special  agencies  for  some  of  the  leading 
companies  of  the  Lnited  States,  and  can  always 
(piote  premiums  at  lowest  rates. 

In  1878,  our  subject  was  commissioned  Notary 
Public,  which  office  he  is  still  filling.  .Vbout  live 
years  .ago  he  branched  out  into  the  banking  business, 
which  line  of  his  business  has  been  steadily  increas- 
ing, and  he  is  now  havingan  office  and  bank  vault 
constructed,  which,  if  completed,  will  be  an  orna- 
ment to  the  city,  and  one  of  the  safest  and  best 
arranged,  etiuipped  with  all  modern  improvements, 
including  safe  deposit  boxes,  etc.,  and,  judging 
from  the  well-merited  confidence  placed  in  him  l)v 
the  people  of  Mascoutah,  he  will  soon  enjoy  one 
of  the  best  patronages  of  a  country  bank. 

Mr.  .Seheve  was  liorn  in  Mascoutah  on   the    18th 


(!18 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  Seplenibei-,  184(i,  and  is  a  son  of  Julius  and 
Amelia  (Lang)  Scheve,  natives  of  Germany,  tlie 
father  born  in  Heidelberg,  and  the  mother  in 
Soulhern  Prussia.  In  1833,  the  former  braved 
>.'eptune's  tender  mercies  and  crossed  to  America, 
landing  in  New  Orleans.  Me  came  with  a  com- 
pany of  j'oung  men,  and  settled  in  Shiloh  Valley, 
St.  Clair  County,  111.,  being  one  of  the  founders 
of  Lateiner  Settlement,  so  named  on  account  of 
the  number  of  students  located  there.  Mr.  .Scheve 
remained  there  until  1836,  when  he  returned  to 
his  native  country  to  settle  up  his  affairs  there. 
While  there,  in  1839,  he  was  married  to  Jliss  Lang, 
and  in  1840  he  returned  to  his  adopted  country. 
He  and  his  wife  settled  near  Edwardsville,  where 
he  bought  land  and  w.as  actively  engaged  in  tilling 
the  soil.  In  1844,  he  came  to  INLiscoutah,  St.  Clair 
County,  111.,  and  was  engaged  in  merchandising, 
being  one  of  the  earliest  merchants.  This  business 
he  continued  until  1863,  wlien  he  sold  out  and  re- 
tired from  the  active  duties  of  life.  His  death  oc- 
curred on  the  6th  of  .luly,  1884,  at  the  age  of 
about  sixty-nine  years.  The  mother  passed  awaj' 
on  the  IGtli  of  October,  1873,  when  about  sixty- 
four  years  of  age.  Both  died  in  Mascoutah.  The 
father  was  Postmaster  under  l^incolu,  and  held 
that  position  until  about  1868.  He  was  Township 
School  Treasurer  from  18.56  until  1875,  and  also 
held  the  position  of  Notary  Public.  Formerly  a 
Whig  in  politics,  he  later  joined  the  Republican 
ranks,  and  was  a  stanch  advocate  of  that  party. 
The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Fred 
Scheve,  passed  his  entire  life  in  Germany,  as  did 
also  the  maternal  grandfather,  Jacob  Lang. 

The  original  of  this  notice  was  one  of  four  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Alvina,  Charles,  Fred  J.  and 
(iustav  J.  Alvina  was  born  in  Germany,  married 
Mr.  J.  P.  Postel,  and  is  the  mother  of  five  children. 
She  is  now  a  resident  of  M.ascoutah.  111.  Cliarles 
was  born  in  Jfadison  County,  111.,  and  is  now  a 
widower.  He  has  two  sons,  and  was  the  first  vol- 
unteer to  offer  his  service  in  defense  of  his  coun- 
try, April  5,  1861,  from  M.ascoutah.  During  the 
Civil  War,  he  enlisted  in  the  Ninth  Illinois  Infan- 
try, and  was  Second  Lieutenant  of  Company  C. 
He  was  wounded  at  Corinth  and  this  crippled  him 
for  life.     Fred   J.,  born    in    Madison   County,  HI., 


married  Miss  Sophia  .Scheurer,  and  for  man}'  yeart. 
was  engaged  in  merchandising.  He  is  now  re- 
tired. During  the  war  he  enlisted  in  Company  C, 
Ninth  Illinois  Regiment,  and  was  in  active  service 
for  three  years.  He  was  quite  severely  wounded 
at  Shiloh. 

Our  subject  received  the  advantages  of  a  good 
common-school  education,  and  subsequently  at- 
tended the  German  Institute  in  St.  Louis  for  two 
and  one-half  years.  He  was  educated  in  the  German 
language,  and  also  became  quite  proficient  in  the 
French  and  English  languages.  Our  subject  was 
but  fourteen  years  of  age  when  the  war  broke  out, 
and  this,  interrupted  his  schooling  to  some  extent, 
for,  his  elder  brothers  having  enlisted,  he  came 
home  to  assist  his  father.  His  brother  Fred  came 
home  from  the  army  in  1864,  and  he  and  our  sub- 
ject conducted  the  store  until  1875,  and  in  1877 
embarked  in  the  lumber  business.  In  1879.  the 
latter  embarked  in  his  present  business,  real  estate 
and  insurance,  in  which  he  h.as  met  with  flattering 
success.  From  1879  to  1886,  he  was  Justice  of  the 
Peace.  In  polities,  he  is  a  firm  Republican.  Mr. 
Scheve  was  married  on  the  10th  of  September, 
1877,  to  Mi.ss  Emma  Dauber,  daughter  of  Louis 
D.  and  Elizabeth  (Merck)  Dauber,  and  a  native  of 
Ma.scoutah.  Her  parents  were  born  in  Germany, 
and  are  still  living.  Two  children  have  been  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scheve,  Louis  and  Elmer.  Mr. 
Scheve  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and 
has  been  .Secretarv  of  his  lodoe  for  ten  vears. 


l@^:s:i^i*..^s^ 


OHN  KNOBELOCH,of  Shiloh  Valley  Town- 
ship, where  he  resides  on  a  farm  situated 
on  section  "26,  was  born  in  1839,  on  the 
^JI^/  same  farm  where  he  now  lives.  He  is  a 
son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Hardy)  Knobeloch. 
The  father  was  born  in  Darmstadt,  (ierraany,  in 
1809,  and  his  wife  in  Switzerland  in  l.SIl.  Mr. 
Knobeloch  grew  to  manhood  in  \\\f<  native  coun- 
try, and  after  reaching  m.anhood,  learned  the  trade 
of  a  glazier.  Believing  that  better  opportunities 
were  afforded  to  vouni;  men  of  onerov  and  Indus- 


PORTRAIT  ASD  BIOGRAl'IUCAL  RECORD. 


GI9 


try  in  the  New  \\'oil(l,  he  accordingl}'  set  snil  for 
the  United  States  in  1832.  He  loc.ited  in  St.  Clair 
County.  III.,  and  then  sent  for  his  parents.  Me 
returned  to  Baltimore,  wiiere  he  met  them  on 
their  arrival,  and  brought  them  to  Illinois,  where 
they  n)ade  a  settlement  on  the  farm  adjoininsj  the 
one  which  he  had  purchased.  For  about  one  year 
he  carried  on  farming  under  the  supervision  of  his 
father,  and  then  bought  land  of  his  own,  a  tract 
of  three  hundred  .icres  in  St.  Clair  County,  and 
later,  two  hundred  acres  in   Washington    County. 

A  few  years  after  lauding  in  America,  .Tohn 
Knobeloch.  .Jr.,  married  Elizabeth  Hardy,  and  to 
them  were  born  four  children:  .lohn,  our  subject: 
Mary,  the  wife  of  Louis  Parrottet:  Harmon,  now  de- 
ceased; and  Elizabeth,  who  died  in  her  eighteenth 
3ear.  The  father  was  reared  a  Protestant  and  was 
a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Politically, 
he  was  a  Republican. 

Our  subject  passed  his  boyhood  on  his  father's 
farm,  engaged  in  the  usual  pursuits  of  a  farmer  lad. 
and  received  such  limited  education  as  could  l>e  ob- 
tained in  the  early  district  schools.  In  186!t,  he 
married  Mary  Preiser,  daughter  of  Christopher 
and  Mary  Preiser,  who  were  both  born  in  Ger- 
many. Mrs.  Knobeioch  was  a  native  of  St.  Clair 
County,  and  by  her  marriage  became  the  mother 
of  seven  children,  only  three  of  whom  are  living: 
Edith.  Caroline  and  Louisa.  After  his  wife's 
death,  our  subject  was  again  married,  this  lime  to 
Mary  Vollmer,  a  daughter  of  .Jacob  and  Mary 
A'ollmer.  and  by  this  union  has  liecn  born  <nie 
child,  John  L. 

After  his  marriage,  our  subject  carried  on  a  farm 
for  two  yeai-s  in  com))auy  with  his  brt>ther-in-law. 
He  then  settled  on  his  present  farm,  which  he  re- 
ceived from  his  father  and  which  now  comprises 
one  hundred  and  seventy-eight  acres.  He  has  a 
comfortable  home  and  commodious  farm  buildings 
and  his  property  bespeaks  the  care  and  attention 
which  the  owner  bestows  upon  it.  He  is  a  most 
>uccessful  farmer,  and  has  all  the  latest  improve- 
ments and  machinery  necessary  to  the  tilling  of  a 
model  farm.  He  is  a  respected  and  highly  es- 
teemed citizen  of  this  county,  where  he  has  lived 
for  over  half  a  century  and  where  he  was  among 
the  early  residents.     He  h.is  taken  an   active  part 


in  ever3-thing  which  has  developed  and  iraprove«l 
this  section  of  the  State,  and  in  consequence  is 
widely  and  favorably  known.  Like  his  father,  he 
c.ast<!  his  vote  for  the  nominees  of  the  Kepiiblicau 
party.  His  comfortable  and  hospitable  home  is 
ever  open  to  his  many  friends,  among  whom  he  is 
very  popular  as  a  man  of  wide  reading  and  general 
research. 


RED  IIEL.MS.  Among  the  prosperous  far- 
■  mei-s  on  the  lands  which  are  called  coal 
lands  in  St.  Clair  County,  in.iy  be  named 
the  subject  of  our  sketch,  who  lives  on  survey  382, 
claim  3oU,  Smithton  Township.  He  was  the  son 
of  Henry  Helms,  who  w.is  a  native  of  fiermany, 
where  he  was  married  to  Dorothea  Bruns,  the 
daughter  of  Conrad  Bruns,  a  farmer  and  distiller 
of  (Germany.  Henry  Helms,  the  father  of  our  sul>- 
ject,  came  to  this  country  with  considerable  money 
and  settled  at  Turkey  Hill  in  this  county,  where 
he  bought  land  in  March.  18,53.  He  died  five 
years  later  and  left  a  family  of  five  children,  four 
of  whom  are  living  now.  They  are  Mary,  Au- 
gusta, our  subject  and  Nanc}'.  The  mother  of  our 
subject  is  still  living  at  the  old  homestead  in  this 
county,  at  the  .ige  of  eighty-three  years. 

Mr.  Helms  of  this  notice  was  born  in  1843,  in 
Hanover,  (ierm.any,  and  he  was  ten  years  old  when 
he  came  to  this  countrv.  He  attended  both  the 
public  and  private  schools  in  Illinois  and  made 
his  home  with  his  mother  until  he  desired  to  make 
a  home  for  himself.  The  Lady  of  his  choice  was 
Miss  !Melis.sa  .Shook  and  she  w.as  th<'  daughter  of 
Samuel  Shook,  a  farmer  of  this  county.  .After  his 
marriage,  he  took  his  wife  to  the  old  home,  remain- 
ing there  until  186U,  when  he  moved  to  the  farm, 
where  he  now  lives.  He  has  grown  to  be  quite  a  land- 
owner, having  about  four  hundred  and  forty  acres 
of  land  here  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  in  Free- 
burg  Township.  He  li.as  a  beautiful  home  on  his 
place,  which  he  built  in  1877,  and  the  large  and 
commodious  barn  was  built  in  187G.  He  engages  in 


r>2n 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


general  fanning  and  stock-i-aising.  Mr.  Helms  has 
had  eight  children,  of  whom  seven  are  now  living, 
and  they  are  George  H.,  who  is  on  his  father's 
farm;  Edward  S.,  Herman  L.,  Mary  Ann,  Maggie, 
Walter  and  .Tnlius  are  at  tlie  home  with  their  fa- 
ther. 

Our  subject  is  a  ver^'  active  member  of  the 
(4range  and  has  held  several  prominent  offices  in 
it.  He  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of 
Turkey  Hill  Grange  Xo.  i;57(i.  He  lost  his  be- 
loved wife  October  16,  1888,  and  her  memory  is 
very  precious  to  the  family.  Politically,  Mr.  Helms 
is  a  Democrat  and  upholds  the  principles  of  his 
party  on  every  necessary  occasion.  He  has  been 
School  Director  of  his  district  and  takes  great  in- 
terest in  school  matters,  and  enjojs  the  confidence 
and  regard  not  only  of  his  own  large  family,  but 
of  the  whole  neighborhood.  Much  of  the  land  of 
his  farm  is  valuable  coal  land,  but  he  has  never 
operated  it  himself,  preferring  to  lease  it. 


i^-f^e 


RS.  AMANDA  M.  FARLANl).  One  of 
the  best-known  residents  of  St.  Clair 
Township  is  the  ladj'  whose  name  opens 
this  sketch.  She  was  born  September  14, 
1820,  and  has  long  been  an  honored  resident  here, 
and  there  are  sorrowful  events  in  her  life  which 
have  made  her  more  prominent  in  the  neighbor- 
hood than  are  man}'  of  her  age  and  acquaintance. 
It  is  a  pleasure  to  the  biographer  to  be  permitted 
to  give  an  outline  of  her  life,  as  in  time  of  afflic- 
tion it  may  be  an  incentive  to  others  to  bravely 
bear  and  suffer  with  Christian  resignation. 

The  Rev.  David  McFarland,  husband  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  a  native  of  Knox  County,  Ohio,  and  came 
to  Illinois  and  settled  in  St.  Clair  Count}'  before  the 
Civil  War.  Mrs.  McFarland  is  the  daughter  of  Sarah 
and  Samuel  Beedle,  who  were  natives  of  Ohio. 
She  was  born  in  Ridge  Prairie,  St.  Clair  County, 
where  her  marriage  was  solemnized  at  her  father's 
residence  in  1836, and  about  five  years  later  her  hus- 
band felt  the  call  to  declare  the  Gospel  and  began 
preaching.      His    woik    w.as    principally    in    those 


days  and  in  that  section  a  labor  of  love,  and  he 
continued  farming  as  an  occupation. 

When  the  call  came  for  troops  after  the  fall  of 
Ft.  Sumter,  Capt.  McFarland.  for  such  he  became, 
left  his  church,  and  as  he  considered  it  a  patriot's 
dut}',  went  into  the  army  for  the  defense  of  his 
counti-}'.  He  enlisted  in  Company  I,  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Seventeentli  Illinois  Infantry,  and 
left  his  home  May  4,  1862.  Ill  health  compelled 
him  to  return  home  on  a  furlough,  and  perhaps  if 
he  could  have  been  less  patriotic,  the  following 
sad  memoir  might  not  have  been  written.  He  re- 
turned to  his  regiment  only  to  succumb,  and  his 
valued  life  ended  in  Alexandria,  La.,  at  the  age  of 
fifty-two  years.  He  was  lamented  by  all,  and 
many  were  the  expressions  of  condolence  which 
his  widow  received  to  assuage  her  grief.  After 
the  first  shock,  she  rallied  and  set  an  example  of 
patriotic  self-sacrifice,  which  we  can  only  regard  as 
heroic.  With  the  death  of  her  husband,  our  sub- 
ject's cup  of  sorrow  had  not  yet  been  filled  to  the 
brim.  Her  bright,  brave,  first-born,  Albert,  who 
was  born  February  16,  1844,  left  his  mother,  and, 
too  young  for  a  soldier,  went  into  his  father's 
company  as  a  drummer.  His  young  life  was 
sacrificed  also,  as  he  died  from  disease  contracted 
in  the  hard  life  and  exposure,  in  April,  1864. 

Mrs.  McFarland's  second  son,  James,  was  born 
in  1846,  and  married  Miss  Caroline  Hauser.  He 
lives  in  Kansas  City,  where  he  is  a  merchant,  and 
has  a  family  of  six  children.  Charles  was  born 
in  1855,  and  married  Lucy  Bigole.  He  is  an 
electrician  and  resides  in  Warrensburg,  Mo.,  and 
has  an  interesting  family  of  four  children.  Sam- 
uel was  born  in  1857,  and  lives  at  LaCynge,  Kan., 
where  he  is  a  farmer.  He  married  Sarah  Bouler, 
and  is  the  father  of  two  children.  Mary  Flor- 
ence, who  was  born  October  9,  1853,  is  the  widow 
of  Edwin  Moore,  and  resides  in  Warrensburg. 
Carrie  was  born  December  12,  1860.  She  became 
the  wife  of  John  Adams,  who  is  employed  on  the 
railroad,  and  is  the  mother  of  oneoliild;  their  home 
is  in  Pueblo,  Colo.  David  and  Wallace,  twins, 
were  born  April  10,  1862. 

Mr.  McFarland  politically  was  a  Repultlican, 
and  his  loyalty  was  so  intense  that  he  could  not 
restrain    himself   from  trying  to  defend   his  couu- 


tlHKA«y 


"'"f^S'ly  W  ,u,N0J& 


PORTRAIT  AMD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


623 


try.  His  sorrowing  widow  sympathized  with  him 
nnd  even  now  feels  that  the  saeriflees  that  she  has 
made  were  riglit.  and  that  only  by  sacrifices  was 
the  Union  |)reserved.  She  is  one  of  the  large 
land-owners  of  this  section,  having  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  on  section  1,  and  one  of  the  largest 
and  most  conifort.able  residences  in  the  county. 
She  moved  into  lliis  home  in  1860,  and  here  dis- 
penses hospitality  to  her  family  and  friends;  in 
the  latter  she  can  count  tlie  whole  neighbor- 
hood. 


^^^  HARLKS  K.  DAKK,  M.  1).  The  city  of 
fl(  ^  Belleville  is  not  behind  other  places  of 
\^  similar  size  in  the  number  of  skillful  phy- 
sicians who  there  reside,  and  among  those  who 
have  become  well  and  favorably  known  may 
be  mentioned  tiie  gentleman  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  sketch.  He  is  a  representative  of  the 
homeopathic  school  and  has  a  large  and  lucrative 
practice  in  the  community.  It  may  be  said  of 
him  as  something  worthy  of  note,  that  his  pa- 
ternal ancestors  for  four  generations  have  been 
members  of  the  medical  profession,  and  in  every 
generation  since  all  the  male  members  of  the  family 
in  direct  line  have  been  physicians.  By  inheritance, 
therefore,  as  well  as  by  natural  ability,  he  is 
adapted  to  his  chosen  profession. 

The  father  of  our  subject.  Dr.  I).  M.  Dake,  was 
born  at  .Saratoga  Springs,  N.  Y.,  in  1814.  He  was 
graduated  from  C.'istleton  University,  in  Vermont, 
then  the  leading  medical  .school  of  the  East,  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  New 
York  .State,  where  lie  continued  for  ten  years. 
In  1845,  he  hecanic  a  c<iii\ert  to  homeopathy, 
which  lie  afterward  practiced  with  great  skill  and 
success.  In  1847,  he  removed  to  Pittsburgh,  Pa., 
and  there  continued  until  he  retired  from  active 
practice.  He  was  widely  known  as  a  man  of  ver- 
satility of  talents  and  professional  knowledge,  and 
was  offered  a  professofthi))  in  a  I'liiladelphia  col- 
lege, but  was  unable  to  .accept.  Religiously,  he 
was  a  member  of  tlie  Baptist  Church.     For  many 


years  he  was  identified    with   the  Masonic  frater- 
nity, of  which  he  was  an  influential  member. 

In  1835  occurred  the  marriage  of  Dr.  D.  M. 
Dake  and  Miss  iMary  Manuel,  who  was  l)()rn  in 
England.  They  became  the  parents  of  li\c  cliil- 
dren,  as  follows:  Theresa  .\.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Dr. 
F.  W.  Skiles,  a  retired  physician,  formerly  of  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y.,  Init  now  of  Suffolk,  \'a.:  .lulia  E.. 
the  wife  of  E.  P.  Castorline,  wiio  is  a  resident  of 
San  Franciscoand  an  extensive  miner  of  California; 
Mary  E.,  who  married  Frank  Eaton,  a  merchant 
of  De  Funiak  Springs,  Fla.;  Grace,  who  died  in  .San 
Francisco  in  1887;  our  subject,  who  is  the  only  son 
in  the  family.  The  father  passed  from  earth  Feb 
niary  17.  ISill.  His  wife  still  survives  him  and 
finds  a  congenial  home  with  her  daughter  in  Flor- 
ida. All  of  Dr.  D.  M.  Dake's  brothers,  three  in 
number,  were  physicians;  but  only  one  now  sur- 
vives, Dr.  .J.  P.  Dake,  of  Nashville.  Tcnn.,  who  is 
at  the  head  of  the  hoineopathic  school  in  the 
United  States. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  in  Pitts- 
burgh, Pa..  December  22,  1849.  His  education 
was  commenced  under  a  private  tutor  at  home 
and  was  afterward  carried  on  at  the  Western  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania.  After  his  return  from 
college,  in  1868,  he  began  the  study  of  medicine 
under  the  direction  of  his  father  and  Dr.  Skiles, 
his  brother-in-law.  Latei-,  he  entered  the  (College 
of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  at  New  York  City, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  187.'i.  .\fter 
spending  some  months  in  visiting  hospitals,  etc., 
he  came  to  lielleville  in  December.  187.3,  and 
opened  ;ui  ollice  for  the  practice  of  his  profession. 
He  was  honored  1)\  a  call  to  fill  the  Chair  of 
Cheinislry  in  the  Homeopathic  College  at  St.  Louis, 
but  his  practice  had  already  assumed  dimensions 
that  seemed  to  him  to  preclude  accepfjince. 

In  his  medical  views.  Dr.  Dake  is  very  lilieral 
:ui(I  docs  not  feel  bound  down  to  Mn\-  school, 
citlici-  in  theory  or  practice,  although  he  is  con- 
sidcic(l  ;i  homeopatliist.  From  the  nature  of  the 
clini.'itc  and  the  prevalence  of  diseases  of  the  lungs 
and  throat,  as  well  as  of  the  ear,  and  catarrhal 
diseases  in  general,  he  has  devoted  considerable 
attention  to  their  study  and  has  established  a  very 
large  practice  along  those  lines.    Twice  he  studied 


624 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


in  the  hospitals  of  Now  York  under  specialists  in 
these  branches,  and  he  has  all  the  latest  appliances 
for  the  treatment  of  these  dangerous  maladies. 
His  services  are  often  called  into  requisition  as  a 
writer  foi  current  medical  publications,  and  lie 
takes  a  deep  interest  in  literary  matters  in  gen- 
eral. His  office  is  in  his  residence  on  the  corner 
of  High  and  Fifth  Streets. 

The  home  life  of  Dr.  Dake  affords  a  pleasant 
relaxation  from  his  professional  duties.  The  lady 
whom  he  married  September  12,  1872,  was  Miss 
Kugcnia  Swyer,  born  in  Belleville  October  2,  18.55. 
Her  father,  David  Swj'er,  was  one  of  the  older 
residents  of  this  city,  where  he  died  in  1884.  The 
Doctor  and  his  wife  have  two  children.  May  T. 
and  Eugenia  Grace.  In  national  affairs.  Dr.  Dake 
li.as  been  a  Republican,  but  is  not  a  strict  partisan 
and  has  never  sought  an  office.  At  all  times  and 
on  all  occasi  ns  it  is  his  aim  to  do  what  he  con- 
siders ills  dutv  as  a  citizen. 


w 


AC'OB  EKIES,  who  is  engaged  in  general 
farming  and  stock-raising  on  section  ,31 
Engelman  Township,  was  born  on  the  22d 
of  September,  1853,  about  three  miles  west 
of  Mascoutah.  His  father,  John  Fries,  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  the  county,  is  now  a  resident  of  Mas- 
coutah. Of  the  family  three  sous  are  living:  our  suli- 
ject;  Dr.  William  A.,  a  practicing  physician  of  St. 
Louis;  and  Dr.  .lohn  A.,  a  dentist  of  the  same  city. 
When  our  subject  was  about  ten  years  of  age  his 
parents  removed  to  the  farm  where  he  now  resides. 
Theie  he  was  reared  to  manhood,  spending  his 
boyhood  days  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer 
lads.  He  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  of 
the  neighborhood,  which  he  attended  during  the 
winter  season,  while  in  tlie  summer  months  he 
worked  in  the  fields.  He  remained  at  home  until 
his  marriage,  which  wiis  celebrated  on  the  21st  of 
February,  1879,  Miss  Elizabeth  Freivogel  becfun- 
ing  his  wife.  Her  father,  Christian  Frievogel,  was 
vuti  of  llif   pioneer  seltlers  .>f   St.    Clair    County, 


and  now  resides  in  Engelman  Township.  Unto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fries  have  been  born  six  children, 
two  of  whom  are  yet  living,  but  the  sons  are  all 
deceased,  Julius,  Walter, O.scar  and  Edmund;  Hilda 
and  Emma  are  still  with  their  parents. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Fries  located  upon  his 
farm  in  Freeburg  Township,  where  he  resided 
for  a  period  of  eight  years,  lie  then  removed 
to  the  farm  which  is  now  his  home,  and  lias 
resided  thereon  continuously  since.  He  owns 
one  hundred  and  forty-six  acres  of  valuable  land 
in  Freeburg  and  Fugleman  Townships  all  well  im- 
proved and  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
He  raises  wheat,  corn  and  potatoes  and  is  also  en- 
gaged in  stock-raising.  He  is  an  enterprising  and 
industrious  farmer,  who  has  steadily  worked  his 
way  upward  by  his  own  efforts  and  won  a  well- 
deserved  success  as  the  result  of  his  industrious 
labors. 

Mr.  Fries  holds  membership  with  the  Indepen- 
dent Order  of  Mutual  Aid  of  Mascoutah.  In  jiol- 
itics  he  is  a  Republican  but  is  not  strictly  partisan, 
holding  himself  free  to  support  the  man  whom  he 
thinks  best  qualified  to  fill  the  offices.  He  has 
been  .School  Trustee  of  the  township  and  also 
School  Director.  He  faithfully  discharges  every 
duty  devolving  upon  him  and  is  a  public-spirited 
and  progressive  citizen,  who  manifests  a  commen- 
dable interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  welfare 
and  upbuilding  of  the  community.  His  life  has 
been  well  and  worthily  passed  and  the  community 
in  which  he  h,as  long  made  his  home  holds  him  in 
hiffii  esteem. 


— «- 


^>-^^<l 


llp^ERDlNAND  WILDGRUBE,  a  prosperous 
:1r^l  "■"'^  energetic  agriculturist  of  St.  Clair 
1  ~  County.  III.,  for  the  past  twenty-four  years 
;iii(l  widch  known  .as  an  excellent  citizen,  indus- 
trious and  upright  in  clunacter,  now  resides  upon 
a  valuable  farm  located  upon  section  !),  Marissa 
Townsliip.  Our  subject  w.as  liorn  in  Frussia,  in 
1837.  His  p:iieiits,  (it)dfrey  and  P^lizabeth  (Keaii) 
Wildyrulif,   wei(!  also  natives   of   Pnissia,  ;iiid  al- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   Rp:CORD. 


625 


though  in  moderate  circumstances,  gave  to  their 
children  all  the  advantages  they  could  afford,  and 
wisely  trained  them  in  the. habits  of  industry, 
which  later  became  tlieir  capital  in  life. 

Beginning  the  strugsjle  of  existence  in  boyhood, 
Mr,  AVildgrube  grew  up  self  leliant,  manly  and 
enci'getic,  and  was  well  littcd  to  make  his  own 
way  in  the  world.  In  18(>(S,  he  finally  deter- 
mined to  emigrate  to  America,  where  he  firmly  be- 
lieved there  were  greater  oi)portunities  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  a  young  and  resolute  man.  Cross- 
ing the  broad  ocean,  he  w.a.s  safely  landed  upon 
our  shores,  and  journeying  to  Illinois,  was  soon  at 
home  in  .St.  Clair  County,  arriving  in  this  portion 
of  the  countr}'  .lul^-  26,  1868,  Separated  from  his 
parents  and  the  associations  of  his  youthful  d.iys, 
lie  entered  into  tlie  marriage  relation,  founding 
for  himself  a  home  and  family  in  his  adopted  land. 
His  highly-esteemed  wife  w.as  Miss  Wilhelmina 
H.ashman,  a  native  of  Prussia,  Oermany.  who  came 
to  the  I'nited  States  many  years  ago. 

Possessing  no  capital  to  invest  in  property  or 
business,  the  first  few  years  of  (uir  subject's  resi- 
dence in  America,  he  wa>  oliliucd  to  work  out  b\" 
the  day,  week,  month  or  year,  (living  ever  faith- 
ful and  conscientious  service  to  his  employers,  he 
was  never  idle,  and  frugally  laid  aside  a  small 
amount,  which  in  time  gave  him  a  start  in  life. 
His  excellent  wife  has  proved  a  iielpmate  indeed, 
and  together  they  have  :iccuiiiulated  some  good 
property,  and  now  own  a  line  t'uiiii  of  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres,  all  under  a  high  state  of 
improvement.  Patiently  cnllivaling  the  soil  of 
the  homestead  year  after  year,  Mr.  Wildgrube 
annually  reaps  a  harvest,  whose  abundant  returns 
is  the  reward  of  inti'lli^cnl  aiul  persistent  effort. 
The  pleasant  Iiomic  of  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Wildgrube 
has  been  bles.-icd  by  tlir  inc.-fiice  of  five  luiglit 
and  intelligent  children,  who  aic  enjoying  the  ex- 
cellent educational  advantages  of  their  neigh- 
borhood, and  who  will  receive  from  their  parents* 
the  training  which  will  m;ike  of  them  useful  and 
law-abiding  citizens,  woilliy  of  all  respect  and 
honor. 

Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Wildgrube  are  meiiibers  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  and  are  ever  leady  to  assist  in 
the  support  and  good  work  of  this  religious  organ- 


ization. Our  subject  is  in  political  affiliation,  a 
strong  Democrat,  and  firmly  believes  in  the  princi- 
ples of  the  party  which  receives  his  vote.  Never 
a  politician  in  the  usual  acceptation  of  the  term. 
Mv.  Wildi.M'ul)e  takes  an  active  interest  in  the 
local  and  National  management  of  affairs,  and  al- 
ways may  be  found  upon  the  side  of  right  and 
justice.  Honorable  and  upright  in  all  his  business 
dealings,  a  true  friend  and  kind  neighbor,  our  sub- 
ject has  a  large  circle  of  warm   friends. 


AVID  C.  MARSH,  a  prominent  and  success- 
\]j  ful  business  man  and  enterprising  Alder- 
^J^  man  from  the  Second  Ward  of  the  city 
of  Last  St.  Louis,  is  one  of  the  most  ener- 
getic and  progressive  citizens  of  .St,  Clair  County, 
111.,  and  is  widely  known  and  highly  esteemed  for 
his  excellent  (lualities  of  head  and  heart.  Our 
subject  was  born  in  Fallston,  Beaver  County,  Pa., 
May  2.  1828.  His  father,  David  C.  Marsh,  was 
born  in  Cattaraugus  Country,  N.  Y,,  in  171*7,  and, 
as  a  mechanic,  followed  in  the  footsteps  of  his 
father,  who  was  a  manufacturer  of  scythes  and 
other  farming  implements.  The  paternal  grand- 
father, a  brave  and  resolute  man,  served  with 
courage  and  fidelity  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution. 

David  F.  Marsh  variously  engaged  in  diflferenl 
enter|)rise>.  •.iiid  at  one  time  owned  a  ^rist  and 
s:iw  mill.  He  was  a  man  of  :ibility,  and  early  in 
life  started  for  the  Far  West  with  his  family  and 
a  two-horse  wagon,  lint  circumstances  induced  him 
to  return  to  Pittsburgh.  The  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject was  Calispa  Carpenter,  who  w.as  born  in  Mass- 
Mcbusetls  in  1797,  and  was  of  (Jerman  descent, 
llcr  father  also  served  in  the  Revolutionary  War, 
and  was  honored  by  all  who  knew  him.  Mrs. 
Calispa  (Carpenter)  Marsh  was  a  well-educated 
lady  and  taught  school  when  young.  She  died  in 
McKeesporl,  near  Pittsburgh,  in  .Vjjril,  1883,  hav- 
ing survived  her  husband,  who  died  in  1866,  sev- 
enteen years.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  a  lady  of  culture  and  refinement. 

Davni  C,  Marsh  was  one  of  a  famil}'  of  seven 


626 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


children,  four  sons  and  three  daughters,  six  of 
whom  lived  to  adult  age.  John  died  in  McKees- 
jiort,  and  had  served  in  the  army  as  Drum  Major, 
remaining  in  the  First  Artillery  of  Pennsylvania 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  Laura  J.  is  Mrs.  Mil- 
ler, of  McKeesport,  Pa.;  Mary  A.  Haas  is  a  wealths- 
widow  and  extensive  ranch-owner,  living  in  Tu- 
lare County,  Cal.;  (ieorge  died  when  young;  Eliza, 
Mrs.  Maj.  Barclay,  resides  in  .lohnstown;  Theo- 
dore is  located  upon  a  ranch  in  Tulare  County, 
Cal.  The  latter  served  in  the  late  Civil  War,  en- 
listing in  the  Sixty-jccond  Pennsylvania  Infantr}', 
and  ;vas  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Black.  Con- 
stantlj-  exposed  to  danger,  he  was  Hnally  wounded 
in  tiie  right  thigh,  in  a  close  engagement  with  the 
enemy,  and  was  afterward  captured  and  held  a 
prisoner  in  Andersonville. 

Our  subject  was  reared  mostly  in  Pittsburgh, and 
attended  the  public  schools,  having  the  advantage 
of  six  years  of  study  in  this  city  and  in  Peters' 
Creek,  where  his  parents  resided  for  a  time.  Be- 
ginning the  active  labor  of  life,  Mr.  Marsh  worked 
in  the  Kingston  Iron  Works,  and  remained  in  this 
business  for  some  years,  afterward  engaging  in 
flat-boating  on  the  Ohio,  floating  coal  down  to 
New  Orleans  and  returning  by  a  steamer.  He 
made  Ave  or  six  trips  in  the  spring,  working  in 
the  mills  at  other  times.  In  1853,  he  came  to  St. 
Louis  and  worked  in  the  Schoate,  Homson  &  Vajley 
Rolling  Mills,  and  was  there  occupying  the  posi- 
tion of  foreman  until  1878,  when  he  started  in 
the  business  of  manufacturing  patent  albums.  In 
1880,  he  was  engaged  by  Mr.  Meyseirberg,  who 
came  after  him,  to  work  in  the  Tudor  Iron  Works, 
in  East  St.  Louis, and  he  has  been  steadily  employed 
here  ever  since,  having  full  charge  of  a  set  of 
rolls.  jMr.  Marsh  is  the  oldest  iron  worker  in  the 
mills,  and  is  a  highly-valued  employe.  Our  sub- 
ject was  married  in  Crawford  County,  Mo.,  in 
1867,  to  Miss  Fannie  Cavenah,  who  was  born  in 
Hermann,  Mo.  Her  parents  were  early  settlers  of 
that  State  and  highly  respected.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Marsh  are  the  parents  of  three  living  children: 
David  S.  is  the  City  Oil  Inspector;  James  T.  died 
at  the  age  of  twenty-four  ^-ears;  John  is  a  book- 
kcei)er  at  the  stock  yards,  and  William  A,  is  em- 
ployed in  the  Tudor  Mills, 


While  in  St.  Louis,  Mr.  Marsh  served  six  years 
on  the  Mulanphy  Board  of  Philanthrophy.  In 
1887,  our  subject  was  elected  Alderman  from  the 
First  Ward,  now  the  Second.  Twice  re-elected, 
Mr.  Marsh  is  serving  with  intelligent  ability  his 
third  term  of  office,  and,  being  upon  various  im- 
portant committees,  has  signally  distinguished  him- 
self by  the  efficient  manner  in  which  he  has  han- 
dled numerous  ditiiculties  .and  disposed  of  matters 
of  interest  to  the  general  public.  Earnest,  ener- 
getic and  public-spirited,  he  has  been  a  leading- 
factor  in  the  upbuilding  and  local  improvements 
of  East  St.  Louis,  and  has  won  the  esteem  and 
confidence  of  all  his  constituents  and  co-workers. 
Our  subject  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Second  Loan 
Association,  and  is  one  of  the  Appraising  Commit- 
tee. He  is,  fraternally,  a  member  of  Mt.  Mona 
Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  St.  Louis,  Past  Master  of  Belle- 
fontaine  Chapter.  R.  A.  M.,  St.  Louis;  ex-Excellent 
King  of  Tanered  Commandery  No.  50,  K.  T.,  Belle- 
ville; and  is  also  a  member  of  Olive  Branch  Lodge, 
K.  of  H.,  St.  Louis.  In  political  affiliations,  Mr. 
Marsh  is  an  active  Democrat,  deeply  interested  in 
both  National  and  local  affairs,  and,  as  a  true 
American  citizen,  gives  hi-'  liest  efforts  in  behalf 
of  progress  and  reform. 


lOBERT  H.  HAMILTON.  In  all  the  broad 
expanse  of  the  Prairie  State  there  is  no 
county  which  affords  sustenance  to  a 
greater  number  of  agriculturists  than  this, 
whose  productive  soil,  commercial  facilities  and 
advanced  development  m.ake  it  pre-eminentls"  the 
farmer's  home.  One  of  its  comfortable  and  attrac- 
tive abodes  is  that  of  the  subject  t)f  this  notice, 
who  occupies  a  good  estate,  comprising  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty-three  acres  pleasantly  located  on 
section  28,  Marissa  Township. 

John  and  Sai-ah  (Elder)  Ilauiilton,  the  [larents 
of  our  subject,  were  natives  of  South  Carolina, 
where  also  the  grandparents.  Robert  and  Margaret 
(Ross)  Hamilton,  were  born,  ami    were  of  Scotch- 


IIBRARY 
i)f  THE 

>n   ILUNOIS. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


629 


Irish  descent.  As  the  means  for  obtaining  an  edu- 
cation were  very  limited  in  an  early  day  in  North 
Carolina,  the  father  of  our  suhjoot  attended  such 
schools  as  the  locality  affurd('(l.  which  were  very 
pool.  He  was  reared  to  farni  i)ursuils,  and  when 
starting  out  in  life  for  himself  vv.as  married  in  his 
native  State,  and  in  1831  came  to  Sparta,  Randolpli 
County,  this  Slate,  where  he  made  his  home  for 
two  3ears  and  then  became  idenlitied  with  the  in- 
terests of  St.  Clair  County.  He  came  to  this  State 
with  just  enough  money  to  make  the  journey,  and 
entering  two  hundred  acres  of  land  from  the  (lov- 
ernment  added  to  it  from  time  to  time  until  at  his 
death  he  owned  nearly  four  hundi'ed  broad  and 
valuable  acres,  which  he  devel()i)ed  and  supplied 
with  substantial  improvements,  making  it  one  of 
the  most  desirable  estates  in  the  county.  To  the 
occupation  of  a  farmer  he  added  that  of  a  stock- 
raiser  and  had  on  liis  place  many  head  of  fine 
animals.  He  departed  this  life  in  ISTli.  having 
been  preceded  to  the  better  land  by  his  wife,  who 
died  in  1K7(I.  In  politics,  he  was  a  stanch  Demo- 
crat for  many  years  hut  attaciied  himself  to  the 
Hei)ulilican  party  some  years  prior  to  his  death. 
His  i)i-inciples  were  above  reproach,  and  in  him  the 
United  Presbyterian  Church  found  one  of  its  most 
sincere  and  upright  membei-s. 

Robert  H.  Hamilton  wasl)orn  in  Chester  Counts . 
S.  C.,  in  182t>,  and  liis  successful  and  useful  life 
reflects  credit  upon  his  early  training.  He  gained 
his  education  in  the  .schools  of  his  neighborhood, 
and  in  1851  was  married  to  Miss  Lucy  .\.,  daugh- 
ter of  Moses  and  Lucy  (Henderson)  Thompson,  who 
were  early  i)ioneers  of  this  county  l)ut  were  liorn 
in  South  Carolina.  Moses  Thompson  followed  the 
occupations  of  a  blaeksniith  and  faiiiiei'  and  suc- 
ceeded fairly  well  in  worldly  affairs,  lie  was  ji  son 
of  .\rehibald  and  Mary  (Meliride)  Thom|)son,  who. 
like  him,  were  born  in  South  Carolina. of  Irish  pai-- 
cnts,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  the  eai-ly  part  of  the 
nineteenth  century. 

Immediately  after  his  marriage,  our  subject  lo- 
cated upon  his  ])ie.sent  farm  and  now  occupies  the 
front  rank  among  the  progressive  and  prosperous 
agriculturists  of  Maris.sa  Township.  By  his  union 
with  Miss  Thomiison  have  l)een  born  seven  chil- 
dren, viz.:  .Saiah  .).,  the  wife  of  Kolieit   .McCriglit: 

29 


Lucy  E.,  the  wife  of  James  White;  John  T.;  Mary 
II..  ^Irs.  John  Church;  Robert  S.,  Martin  M.  and 
.Viina  Myrtle.  .Mr.  Hamilton  is  deeply  interested 
in  the  welfare  of  his  children  and  is  therefore 
ready  to  bear  a  part  in  all  those  movements  which 
will  enhance  the  material,  educational  and  the 
moral  prosjjcrity  of  the  nation.  They  have  all 
been  given  the  best  advantages  for  obtaining  an 
education,  several  of  them  being  graduates  of  some 
of  the  best  colleges  in  the  State.  His  political 
alfiliation  is  with  the  Prohibition  party  and  in  re- 
ligious affairs  he  is  an  active  member  of  the  I'nited 
Presbvterian  Church. 


ilt-^  ENHV  t.  WII.I.1.\.MS.  The  leading  liv- 
lljii  er3-manof  Belleville  is  the  gentleman  whose 
^4W^  name  heads  this  sketch.  He  was  born  hero 
^  March  25,  1814,  his  father,  \<>lney  L.  Will- 
iams, having  come  to  Belleville  in  18.'i7.  The  lat- 
ter was  born  in  Smyrna,  Del.,  in  1811,  and  was 
engaged  there  as  a  carriage  manufacturer.  He  es- 
tablished a  manufactory  at  the  corner  of  Race  and 
Main  Streets,  Belleville,  and  continued  there  for 
thirty-five  years,  or  until  his  death,  at  which  time 
the  liusiness  had  grown  to  very  extensive  propor- 
tions. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  .Martlia  Penn,  and  is  a  sister  of  Joseph  I'enn.of 
whom  M'c  biography.  She  resides  at  Lincoln. 
l.ouMU  County.  111.  Of  her  eight  children,  only 
two. •Ill'  now  livitia.  our  subject  ami  Lewis  5Iar- 
shall.  of  this  eily. 

Henry  C.  was  educated  in  Belleville,  and  there 
learned  the  trade  of  a  carriage-maker  with  hisfathei-, 
and  followed  that  occupation  for  some  time.  When 
twenty-one  years  old,  he  started  out  for  himself, 
;ind  soon  afterward  built  a  block  two  stories  high, 
sitxKin  feel.  One-half  of  the  building  is  used  as 
■•1  eMiriai;:e  man  iifMctoi  y.  while  the  other  is  utilized 
as  a  livery,  the  latter  having  been  added  m  1870. 
lie  continued  in  the  carriage  business  until  189(1 
when  he  sold  to  the  Belleville  Carriage  Works, 
and  now  iri\es  his  whole  attention    lo    the    liverv. 


630 


POUTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD, 


He  has  fine  accommodations  for  feeding  a  great 
many  horses,  and  keeps  a  hack  line  and  man_y  horses 
and  carriages  for  hire.  January  19,  1892,  a  stock 
company  was  formed  with  a  capital  stock  of  $5,000, 
of  which  our  subject  is  President  and  general 
manager. 

February  14.  1865,  Henry  C.  Williams  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Mrs.  Fannie  Stookey,  who 
was  born  August  14,  1847.  Their  five  living  chil- 
dren are:  Nellie,  born  February  14,  1866;  Lillie 
Gladys.  September  24,  1869;  Laura  M.,  November 
10,  1871;  Henry  James,  August  9,  1874;  and  Elsie 
Moore,  January  25,  1881.  The  one  deceased  was 
born  October  29,  1878,  and  died  in  childhood.  The 
home  of  the  family  is  one  of  the  finest  residences 
of  Belleville,  and  is  located  on  East  A  Street.  The 
residence  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Williams  in  1890, 
and  has  been  finely  furnished  and  equipped 
throughout.  Surrounding  it  is  a  beautiful  lawn, 
consisting  of  seven  lots,  .ill  neatly  laid  out. 

Mr.  Williams  may  justly  be  proud  of  the  suc- 
cess which  has  rewarded  his  efforts,  for  it  is  the  re- 
sult of  his  unaided  exertions  and  has  been  brought 
about  by  keen  business  discrimination  and  un- 
Haggiug  energy.  In  addition  to  the  business 
above  mentioned,  he  has  a  second  livery  stable 
which  he  rents,  and  also  has  a  branch  livery  stable 
at  Lebanon,  111.,  where  a  hack  line  is  kept  and  a 
full  equipment  of  carriages  and  horses.  Socially, 
Mr.  Williams  is  identified  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  as  one  of  its  most  prominent  members. 


\1[^^  ENKY  B.  &  JOHN  B.  STEINERT.  The  rich- 
[[jV  est  heritage  of  American  youth  is  the  exam- 
1^1^  pie  of  their  country's  brain  and  brawn 
'v(^  wiought  into  lives  of  perfect  harmony, 
splendid  fealty  and  tireless  industry.  The  annals  of 
such  lives  are  briefly  told  in  the  history  of  Henry  B. 
and  John  B.  Sleinert.  They  are  classed  among  the 
prominent  newspaper  men  of  St.  Clair  County,  and 
are  editors  and  proprietors  of  the  East  St.  Louis  Ga- 
xcltp  and  the  Inland  Farmer,  bright,  newsy  and 
instructive  papers  with  ti  wide  circulaliuii  and  ex- 


tended influence.  Their  crisp  and  trenchant  edi- 
torials are  alwa3's  read  with  interest  and  are  influ- 
ential in  moulding  the  pulilic  opinion  on  subjects 
of  importance. 

John  Steinert,  the  father  of  our  subjects,  was 
born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  and  there  learned  the 
trade  of  a  baker.  In  his  early  manhood,  he  crossed 
the  ocean  to  America,  locating  first  at  St.  An- 
thony's Falls,  Minn.,  where  he  was  shortly  afterward 
married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Bowman,  a  native  of 
Nordheim,  Germanj'.  After  their  marriage,  he 
and  his  wife  removed  to  Belleville,  111.,  where  he  fol- 
lowed his  trade  and  also  engaged  in  the  real-estate 
business  in  connection  with  his  hrother-in-law, 
John  B.Bowman,  at  one  time  Mayor  of  the  city. 
He  continued  in  the  real-estate  business  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1870.  Religiously,  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  a  kind 
!iiid  iK'iicvolent  man,  highly  esteemed  wherever 
known.  His  wife  died  in  1871,  leaving  five  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Mrs.  Amelia  Maurer,  a  resident 
of  Belleville;  Mrs.  Addie  Hallows,  of  East  St.  Louis; 
Henry  B.  and  John  B.,  our  subjects;  and  Ed  F., 
whose  home  is  in  Kansas  City. 

Henry  B.  Steinert  was  born  in  East  St.  Louis  on 
the  12th  of  July,  1864,  and  remained  in  this  city 
until  six  years  of  age,  when  his  father  died  and  he 
went  to  New  Athens,  where  his  uncle,  Nicholas 
Steinert,  a  prominent  f.armer,  was  residing.  He  re- 
mained on  this  farm  until  fifteen  years  of  age,  and 
then  entered  Warrenton  College,  Missouri,  where 
he  remained  three  years.  After  this,  he  studied 
telegraphy  at  St.  Louis  and  became  an  operator 
with  the  Western  Union  Company.  He  located  in 
that  city,  but  later  went  to  Minnesota,  and  after  a 
short  residence  there  returned  to  East  St.  Louis. 
He  subsequently  ce.ased  operating  and  went  to  Kan- 
sas, but  returned  to  St.  Clair  County  and  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  until  1886,  when  he  went  to  Ar- 
kansas and  was  in  the  employ  of  a  seed  and  agri- 
cultural house. 

In  the  fall  of  1«H(;,  Mr.  Steinert  embarked  in 
the  real-estate  business  with  Frank  B.  Bowman,  and 
continued  in  this  until  1869,  when  he  became  man- 
ager of  the  East  St.  Louis  Oazette  for  one  year.  After 
this  he  was  in  the  real-estate  business  again  and 
was  thus  engaged   until  Ji^imary,   1892,  when   he 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RIX'ORD. 


fi3I 


formed  a  partnership  and  purchased  the  Gaxettp. 
Tlie  Gazcttfi  was  edited  in  186')  by  John  H.  Bowman, 
is  the  oldest  paper  now  in  existence  in  the  county, 
and  the  official  organ  of  the  county.  It  is  a  six- 
column  quarto.  Democratic  in  its  tone  and  devoted 
to  the  hest  interests  of  the  county.  In  5Iay,  1H92, 
Mr.  Steinert  purchased  the  Inland  Farmpr  from 
A.  H.  Ogle  and  edits  it.  This  paijcr  was  started  in 
1876  and  is  devoted  to  the  interests  of  the  farm- 
ing cominunily.  U  receives  contributions  from 
the  ablest  men  an<l  is  a  five-column  (juarto,  pub- 
lished semi-monthly.  The  press  is  supplied  with 
all  the  newest  and  latest  improvement*  and  he  has 
!i  large  job  patronage.  Mr.  Steinert  owns  consid- 
erable real  estate  and  is  one  of  the  foremost  men 
of  St.  Clair  County.  He  evinced  his  iJieferencc  for 
secret  organizations  by  becoming  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  I  ndciHiident  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  (Golden  Rule. 

.John  H.  .Steinert  was  born  in  Iv.isl  St.  Louis,  on 
the  10th  of  October,  18(56,  and  was  reared  by  his 
uncle,  Jonathan  Leo,  from  the  .age  of  four  until 
twelve,  after  which  he  attended  the  Central  Wes- 
leyan  College,  at  Warren  ton  for  two  years.  Later 
he  attended  the  Manual  Training  School  in  .St. 
Louis  for  two  years  and  after  graduating  there  was 
employed  in  the  Missouri  iV  Pacific  Railroad  ma- 
chine shop  for  one  year.  In  1887,  he  went  to 
Omaha,  Neb.,  as  insiiucUir  of  mechanics  in  the 
deaf  and  dumb  schools  for  two  years.  In  the 
year  1885),  he  went  to  Elgin,  111.,  and  taught 
manual  training, drawing,  etc,  in  Klgin  Academy, 
and  in  1890  went  to  New  York  City,  where  he  at- 
tended a  college  for  the  training  of  teachers  for 
nearly  two  years.  In  .lanuarv,  18!)2,  the  partner- 
ship was  formed  on  the  (irtzeW-. 


^5^E()HGK  W.  (ilTllHlK.  ;.  history  of  whose 
fl[  ,_-,  life  is  herewith  presented  to  our  readers,  has 
\>^^j  passed  frf>in  the  scenes  of  earthly  joys  and 
sorrows  to  his  tlnal  resting  place.  He  was  a  pro- 
gressive fariiiec  ip  iiarissa  Township  and  rose  to  a 


position  in  agricultural  affairs  which  many  might 
envv.  He  was  respected  by  all  who  knew  him  and 
such  was  his  integrity  th.at  his  pnmiisc  was  as  good 
as  his  bond.  His  valuable  estate  of  two  hundred 
and  fifty-Hve  acres,  which  is  located  on  section 
'^•2,  is  carried  on  by  his  widow,  who  manages  atTairs 
on  a  paying  Ijasis. 

Our  subject  was  born  January  1.").  lf<ll.  in  this 
county,  and  was  the  son  of  Jose|)li  and  i:iizabelli 
(Boyd)  Guthrie,  of  Irish  and  German  descent.  His 
father,  also  a  native  of  Illinois,  was  born  in  Ran- 
dolph County  and  made  his  advent  into  this  section 
in  188.").  His  wife,  who  was  born  in  Ireland,  was 
brought  to  America  in  1828  by  her  parents,  who 
located  in  South  Carolina,  where  they  remained 
for  a  time  and  then  came  to  Randolph  County, 
this  State.  Joseph  (iuthrie  followed  the  combined 
occupations  of  shoe-maker,  school-teacher  and  f.ar- 
mer  and  departed  this  life  in  1848,  while  his  good 
wife,  who  survived  him  a  numlier  f>f  years,  died  in 
1866. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  was  one  of  a  family 
of  five  children,  only  two  of  whom  arc  living.  He 
was  the  recipient  of  a  common-school  education, 
and  when  turning  his  attention  to  farming,  mani- 
fested such  a  lively  interest  iu  agricultural  affairs 
and  so  much  industry  and  integrity  of  purpose 
that  he  could  not  help  meet  with  success.  He  was 
married,  March  2,  1864,  to  Miss  .\delia  Johnson,  and 
to  them  was  born  a  son..Ioliii.  who  is  a  resident  of 
St.  Louis.  Mo. 

The  lady  whom  our  subject  chose  as  his-second 
wife  was  Miss  Rebecca  McClintock,  who  was  bom 
ill  County  Antrim.  Ireland,  in  1840.  She  w.as  the 
(hmglitiM  of  David  and  Anna  ((irear)  .McClintock, 
also  nativo  of  the  aliove  county  in  Ireland,  where 
they  were  mairied.  The  mother  of  Mrs.  Guthrie 
was  the  daughter  of  James  and  Mary  (Wil.son) 
Grear.  Hy  her  marriage  with  Mr.  AlcClintock 
she  leaied  a  family  of  two  children:  Robert  and 
Mrs.  (iuthrie.  When  but  four  yeais  of  age,  the  Lat- 
ter was  brought  to  America  by  her  parents,  who 
located  in  Handolpli  County,  this  State,  where  they 
spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  They  were 
members  in  good  standing  tif  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  were  respected  thiouyhoiil  the  sur» 
rounding  couwlrv. 


632 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Mr.  Guthrie  of  this  sketch  was  always  greatlj^ 
interested  in  school  affairs,  and  liis  children  one 
and  all  received  excellent  instruction,  David  being 
an  attendant  of  the  State  Normal  of  Illinois.  Tiie 
otiier  members  of  the  faniil}-  bore  the  respective 
names  of  Josepli,  who  died  when  two  j'ears  of  age; 
Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  John  K.  White,  and  George 
'W.  David  was  married,  November  27,  1890,  to 
Miss  Katie,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Jane  McCurdy, 
and  to  them  has  been  born  one  son,  Daniel  M. 
Mr.  (Tuthrie  in  social  matters  was  a  member  in 
liigh  standing  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  at  all  times  and  in  all  places  showed 
himself  to  be  a  loyal  citizen  and  was  well  regarded 
l)y  l\is  fellow-townsmen,  and  in  his  death,  which 
occurred  February  12, 1888,  the  county  lost  one  of 
its  most  honored  residents. 


'■      r      f^tl 


DATRICK  FLANNP:RY,  a  valued  member  of 
)  the  Board  of  Election  Commissioners,  and 
f  -  since  1865  one  of  the  able,  energetic  and 
r\  leading  citizens  of  East  St.  Louis,  has  be(!n 
prominently  connected  witli  various  important 
enterprises  of  this  portion  of  tiie  Slate,  and  is 
widely  known  as  a  public-spirited  and  very 
lirogressive  man.  Om-  subject  was  born  in  County 
Mayo,  on  the  17th  of  March,  1849.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  Hazell  Flannery,  was  a  man  of  sub- 
stance and  was  a  native  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  where 
James  Flannery,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born.  James  Flannerj'  was  the  agent  and  collector 
for  a  large  land-owner  in  Ireland,  and  was  a  suc- 
cessful real-estate  man,  dying  in  the  home  that  had 
been  his  through  life  when  our  subject  was  a  little 
Imbe. 

The  mother  of  our  sulijcct  was  Margaret  (Roach) 
Flaiineiy,  born  in  Ireland,  and  there  died  in  the 
year  1889,  leaving  five  children  to  mouin  her  loss: 
:\Iary,  Mrs.  Nebol,  died  in  East  St.  Louis  in  1891; 
Martin  resides  in  E:ist  St.  Louis;  John  is  a  farmer 
in  Ireland;  Patrick.our  subject;  and  James  cultivates 
the  soil  of  "Old  Erin."  Mr.  Patrick  Flannery  was 
raised  u|)ou  .-i  faiin,  niiil  rcceivei)   the   benelil   of  a 


good  common-school  education.  In  June,  1865, 
when  about  seventeen  years  of  age,  our  subject 
left  Liverpool  on  the  steamer  "Arion,"  and  after 
an  eight  days'  voyage,  landed  in  New  York. 
Tarrying  but  a  brief  time  in  the  Empire  City,  Mr. 
Flannery  came  to  East  St.  Louis,  and  immediately 
received  emplo\^ment  in  the  rolling  mills  of  Allen 
&  Filley.  working  as  a  puddler,  manufacturing 
iron  rails,  and  continuing  there  for  ten  years. 

In  time  he  was  ))romoted  to  be  foreman  of  a  fur- 
nace. In  1871  and  1872,  he  worked  in  St.  Louis 
and  South  St.  Louis,  where  he  assisted  in  the 
manufacture  of  steel  rails,  and  in  1875  engaged 
in  the  management  of  a  sample  room  in  old  Illinois 
Town,  and  continued  in  this  occupation  until  1890. 
For  several  years  past,  Mr.  Flannery  has  been  en- 
gaged in  the  real-estate  business,  and  owns  one  of 
the  handsomest  residences  in  the  city,  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Market  and  Sixth  Streets,  opposite  the  City 
Park.  He  has  erected  houses  in  different  parts  of 
the  city,  and  has  completed  a  row  of  twelve  houses 
in  Illinois  City,  Seventh  Ward. 

Mr.  Flannery  was  married  in  East  St.  Louis,  in 
1876,  to  Miss  Mary  Wright,  a  native  of  Tennessee. 
The  happj'  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Flannery  has 
been  blessed  with  the  birth  of  five  promising  sons 
and  daughters:  James  is  the  eldest  born,  then  fol- 
low William,  Abby,  Vincent  and  Maiy.  In  1886, 
our  subject  was  appointed  bj'  Judge  Hay  as  a 
member  of  the  first  Board  of  Election  Commis- 
sioners, an  evidence  of  the  appreciation  of  his 
public  course  and  confidence  in  his  integrit}-,  and 
has  iieen  twice  re-appointed  since,  now  serving  his 
third  term.  Under  the  administration  of  liie 
Board,  of  which  he  has  been  a  continuous  member, 
the  election  law  lias  been  faithfully  and  impar- 
tially enforced,  and  the  public  .satisfaction  has 
been  unbounded,  much  credit  having  been  justly 
awarded  Mr.  Flannery,  whose  excellent  judgHient 
and  executive  abilitj'  are  well  known. 

Our  subject  is  a  valued  member  of  St.  Mary's 
Catholic  Church,  and  is  ever  ready  to  assist  in  all 
worthy  social  and  benevolent  enterprises,  without 
regard  to  sect  or  nationality-.  Politically,  Mr. 
Flannery  is  a  consistent  Democrat,  and  being  an 
untiring  worker,  has  a  large  following  and  influ- 
ence,     lie  has  been  a  delegate   |o    numerous   Stale 


LIBRARY 


-■,v-^  ^'j'-w*;**  4-S!^»'KTi,sS««'<^>; 


AX 


PORTRAIT  AND  BlUCiRAl'lUL AL  RFX'ORD. 


(i;?:. 


and  county  conventions, and  is  a  member  of  the 
County  Democratic  Committee.  Financially  .suc- 
cessful in  lii.'s  business,  our  subject  lias  been  an 
important  factor  in  tlie  upbuilding  and  regenera- 
tion of  East  St.  Louis,  and  has  won  honorable 
rank  in  the  community  where  he  makes  his  home, 
and  is  esteemed  by  all  who  know  him  as  a  true 
representative  .Vmcrican  citizen. 


,F_^^UGH  L.  PL(^H,  agent  for  the  East  St.  Louis 
Jji]  A'  Caron'delet  Railroad  at  E.tst  Caroudelet, 
S^y'  is  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  St.  Clair 
^^  County.  His  years  of  service  with  one 
corporation  testify  as  to  his  ability  and  the  esteem 
in  which  he  is  held  by  his  emplo^-ers,  while  the 
record  of  liis  life  proves  better  than  any  words  of 
the  biographer  can  do  the  probity  and  upright- 
ness which  have  characterized  his  every  action. 

.Some  mention,  although  brief,  is  due  the  father 
of  our  subject,  Peter  I'ugh.  He  was  born  in  Fair- 
view.  Hancock  County,  Va..  in  September,  1828, 
and  traced  his  ancestry  to  (Jermany  and  .Scotland, 
where  his  forefathers  were  people  of  influence  and 
high  standing.  He  married  Miss  Susanna  Scott,  who 
was  born  in  Hancock  County,  \'a.,  July  4,  1828. 
I'nto  them  were  born  six  children,  five  of  whom 
are  still  living:  l>ouisa,  Mrs.  Albert  Nance,  resides 
in  Denver,  Colo.,  and  during  the  late  campaign 
(1892)  was  the  candidate  of  tlic  People's  party  of 
Colorado  for  the  otlice  of  State  Treasurer;  Lulu  is 
the  wife  of  Louis  Perrin,  and  makes  her  home  in 
East  St.  Louis;  Seely  Edsall  and  Ermon  reside  in 
East  Carondelet,  and  are  both  engaged  as  en- 
gineers. 

In  1859,  Peter  Piigh  came  to  lllinoi>  and  located 
in  Bardolph,  McDonough  County,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  tlie  milling  business  fora  few  years.  Thence 
he  removed  to  Fulton  County,  III.,  in  I8(i3,  and 
followed  the  same  occupation  in  thai  county  for 
seven  3'ears.  He  came  to  E.ast  Carondeletin  IbiTf), 
with  the  intention  of  taking  charge  of  a  mill;  but 
circumstances  compelled  him  to  change  his  plans, 
and  he  became  watchman  of  an  iron  furnace,  which 


position  he  held  until  the  time  of  his  death,  a 
period  of  about  eight  years.  He  passed  from  eartli 
in  Seiitcmber,  1891;  his  wife  survives  him  and  oc- 
cupies a  comfortable  home  in  East  Carondelet. 
Peter  Pugh  was  one  of  those  men  who  live  in  the 
memory  of  others  long  after  they  have  been  called 
from  the  scenes  of  lime,  and  his  connection  with 
the  Presbyterian  Church  was  of  such  a  helpful  na- 
ture that  his  name  will  be  preserved  in  its  annals. 

Morn  in  Fairview,  Hancock  County.  \'a.,  .Jan- 
uary 24,  1804,  our  subject  was  a  child  of  about 
five  years  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Illi- 
nois. He  received  his  education  in  the  common 
schools,  principally  those  of  Bardolph,  and  after 
his  school  days  were  ended  he  spent  four  years  in 
learning  the  trade  of  a  machinist  and  engineer  at 
15ardolph.  Later,  he  entered  a-  railroad  oflice  at 
Table  Grove,  111.,  where  he  was  taught  the  details 
of  the  business.  Since  1872  he  has  followed  this 
occupation  exclusivelj',  with  the  exception  of  the 
vears  included  between  1878  and  1882,  when  he 
was  engineer  of  the  furnace  at  East  Carondelet. 

.Vpril  16,  1882,  Mr.  Pugh  married  Miss  Anna, 
daughter  of  George  Walsh,  a  resident  of  East  St. 
Louis,  who  came  to  this  county  from  England  in 
18.")7.  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pugh  are  the  parents  of  three 
children  living:  Pearl,  who  is  nine  j-ears  old;  Edna, 
.aged  eight;  and  Irene  F.,  who  is  five  months  .old. 
Hazel  died  at  the  age  of  thirteen  months.  .Socially, 
Jlr.  Pugh  is  identilied  with  the  N.  D.  Morse  Lodge 
No.  346,  F.  k  A.  M.,  at  Concord,  III.  In  politics, 
he  gives  his  ballot  and  influence  to  the  support  of 
the  Democratic  parly,  and  has  been  called  upon  to 
occupy  several  important  positions.  He  is  now 
serving  as  Justice  of  the  Peace,  School  Director, 
member  of  the  Board  of  Education,  and  Drainage 
and  Levee  Commissioner  for  Prairie  du  Point  Dis- 
trict, and  as  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of 
tlie  village  of  E.ost  Carondelet. 


«^^HE()l)()RE  lllM.MERT,  a  prosperous  and 
y«^!^  energetic  agriculturist,  and  well-known 
V^^  and  highly  respected  citizen,  cultivates  a 
fine  farm  of  two  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  near 
Fayetleville,  St.  Clair  County,   III.,    where  he  has 


fi36 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD, 


been  located  for  more  than  two-score  years.  Our 
subject  was  born  in  the  year  1827,  in  Hanover, 
Germany,  and  is  the  son  of  Benjamin  and  Eliza- 
beth (Lamppe)  llummert.  This  worthy  father 
and  mother  led  a  peaceful  and  uneventful  life  in 
the  home  of  their  childhood,  where  they  were  born, 
raised,  educated  and  married.  Primitive  in  their 
manners  and  methods,  they  were  sincere  Christian 
people,  and  trained  up  their  children  to  habits  of 
thrift  and  daily  industry,  and  thus  well  litted 
them  to  make  their  own  way  in  life. 

The  fatlier  of  our  subject  was  a  carpenter  by 
trade,  but  rented  land  and  profitably  engaged  in 
the  pursuit  of  general  agriculture.  In  1854,  the 
father  and  mother  emigrated  to  the  United  States, 
and  a  few  years  later  died  in  their  new  home,  far 
from  the  friends  .and  associations  of  early  years. 
They  were  the  parents  of  three  children,  all  now 
surviving.  Theodore  Hummert  had  preceded  his 
family  to  America,  crossing  the  broad  Atlantic  in 
1818.  He  landed  on  our  hospitable  shore  poor  in 
pocket  but  rich  in  youth,  hope  and  energy,  and 
from  very  small  beginnings  has  built  up  a  substan- 
tial success,  and  gained  a  comfortable  competence. 
When  our  subject  first  reached  America,  he  jour- 
neyed at  once  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  located  and 
was  obliged  to  work  by  tiie  day  for  several 
months. 

After  a  time  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  111., 
and  in  Fayetteville  found  an  excellent  farm  which 
he  could  rent  upon  reasonable  terms,  and,  locating 
thereon,  devoted  himself  for  the  succeeding  four 
years  steadily  to  the  duties  of  agriculture.  At 
length,  able  to  buy  land,  Mr.  Hummert  purchased 
quite  a  large  acreage  near  the  farm  which  he  had 
previously  rented.  To  his  new  position  he  gave 
the  benefit  of  his  years  of  practical  experience  in 
planting,  sowing  and  reaping,  and  as  the  months 
have  passed  in  the  patient  cultivation  of  the  soil, 
he  has  been  annually  rewarded  by  a  bounteous  har- 
vest. Our  subject  has  been  twice  married.  He  first 
married  Miss  Mary  Gudiwin,  in  Fayetteville,  wlio 
died  early  in  life.  Some  time  after  the  death  of  this 
estimable  lady,  Mr.  Hummert  again  married,  in 
April,  1888,  his  present  wife  being  Miss  Ger- 
trude Wennemann,  daughter  of  Ignatz  and  Eliza- 
beth (Peterswerth)Wenneman. 


The  pleasant  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hummert 
has  been  brightened  by  the  birth  and  presence  of 
three  bright  and  promising  little  ones,  a  son  and 
two  daughters,  Elizabetli,  Mary  and  Antoine. 
Our  subject  and  his  good  wife  are  active  members 
of  the  Catholic  Church,  of  St.  Libory,  and  are  ever 
ready  to  aid  oiliers  less  fortunate  than  themselves. 
INIr.  Hummert  is  a  Democrat,  and  while  never  an 
office-seeker  is  interested  in  the  outcome  of  local 
and  National  issues.  An  honest,  hard-working  and 
upright  citizen,  our  subject  is  highly  respected  by 
the  entire  community  among  wlumi  he  has  so  long 
resided. 


sETP:R  GODIN,  Si;.,  of  Prairie  du  Point,  Sugar 
I)   Loaf  Townstiip,  St.  Clair  County,  111.,   was 


born  in  the  village  wliere  he  now  lives,  and 
\  is  the  son  of  Peter  Godin,  born  in  the  same 
village  in  about  tlie  year  1791,  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject  having  been  one  of  the  very  first  resi- 
dents of  that  count\'.  The  latter  was  probably 
born  also  in  Prairie  du  Point.  Peter  (iodin,  the 
father  of  oursubject,  married  Jeanette  S.  Chartrany, 
of  French  extraction,  and  removed  soon  after  his 
marriage  to  Cahokia,  where  he  conducted  a  farm 
until  his  death  in  1845.  Six  children  were  born 
to  this  latter  couple,  three  of  whom  are  still  liv- 
ing, namely:  Teresa,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Perch,  of 
Cahokia;  Mary,  the  wife  of  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Cahokia,  and  our  subject. 

Our  subject  was  born  November  13,  18.'15,  at 
Prairie  du  Point,  was  five  years  old  when  his  par- 
ents removed  to  Cahokia,  and  lived  there  until  1867, 
following  the  occupation  of  a  farmer,  lie  was 
married  there  to  Philesta  Palmier,  daugliter  of  E. 
Palmier,  of  the  same  place.  Returning  to  Prairie  du 
Point,  where  his  wife  died,  he  was  again  married, 
this  time  to  Virginia  AUary,  daughter  of  ,1.  B. 
Allary,  an  old  settler  of  the  village.  Tliis  has 
been  the  home  of  our  subject  ever  since  the  date 
named,  and  to  him  have  come  eight  children,  five 
of  whom  are  still  living,  namely:  Mary,  the  wife 
of  Constant   Chatilan,  of  Prairie  du  Point;  Veta, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


fi37 


living  at  Falling  Springs;  Edmund,  employed  in 
a  grocery  at  St.  Louis;  Isaac,  living  at  home,  and 
.Icnny,  who  is  also  at  home.  Tlie  three  wlio  are 
dead  passed  away  in  infancy. 

The  business  in  which  our  subject  is  at  present 
engaged  is  the  retail  liquor  business,  in  addition 
to  which  lie  has  a  farm  of  one  hundred  acres  on 
the  bottoms  of  Sugar  Loaf  Township,  which  is  con- 
ducted by  his  son-in-law.  He  has  two  saloons,  one 
located  at  Prairie  du  Point  j<ud  the  other  at  Ful- 
ler's Springs,  and  owns  likewise  a  beautiful 
place  loc.ited  on  the  side  of  the  bluffs  in  Sugar 
Loaf  Township.  The  place  of  business  at  Prairie 
du  Point  he  conducts  himself,  while  his  son 
has  charge  of  the  one  at  Fuller's  Springs.  The 
religious  training  of  Mr.  (iodin  was  received  in 
the  Roman  Catholic  Churdi,  with  which  body  he 
retsiins  his  membership.  t)ur  subject  manifests 
much  interest  in  politics,  taking  an  active  ))art  in 
all  elections,  his  influence  being  directed  to  the 
success  of  the  Democratic  ticket.  His  fellow-citi- 
zens have  elected  him  Highway  Commissioner  of 
the  township,  a  position  he  yet  retains,  and  he 
holds  the  ortice  of  Treasurer  of  the  Village  Board, 
and  has  also  been  Constable  of  the  county.  While 
residing  in  Cahokia,  he  was  made  a  Trustee  of  the 
Catholic  Church  of  that  village,  his  interest  in 
which  causes  him  still  to  retain  it. 


■■^S^'^S- 


eHARLES  FDl'LKS.  a  very  early  pit)iieer  of 
St.  Clair  County,  but  now  residing  with  a 
daughter  in  St.  Louis,  was  born  in  Mon- 
mouth County.  X.  .1.,  in  1808.  He  is  a  son  of 
Christopher  and  Margaret  Foulks,  and  it  is  worthy 
of  note  that  one  of  his  i)aients  w.as  born  in  (ier- 
manj-  three  weeks  before  the  grandparents  left 
that  country  and  the  other  was  born  in  the  United 
.States  three  weeks  after  the  grandparents  arrived 
m  this  country.  In  Pennsylvania  the  parents  of 
our  subject  were  reared  to  maturity,  but  soon  after 
their  marriage  they  removed  to  Monmouth  County, 
>'.  J.,  where  the  father  was   engaged  in  a  tobacco 


factor}-  and  wool-carding  machine  business.  .After 
selling  out,  he  commenced  to  ship  wool  to  New- 
York  City  and  also  owned  and  managed  a  store 
for  several  years,  lieing  in  partnership  with  a 
brother. 

.Vbout  that  time  the  attention  of  Christopher 
Foulks  was  turiied  Westward.  His  brother  came 
to  Illinois  to  enter  land  two  years  before  there 
was  a  land  office  for  that  portion  of  the 
State  which  is  now  St.  Clair  County.  After 
a  land  ottlce  was  opened,  he  came  the  second 
time  and  entered  three  hundred  acres  where  Rent- 
chler  Station  is  now  situated.  Christopher  Foulks 
with  his  family  followed  in  1817,  and  for  a  few 
weeks  stopped  with  the  family  of  William  ^Moore 
until  they  could  get  a  house  erected.  They  built 
a  log  cabin,  17x19  feet  in  dimensions,  in  which 
twenty-one  people  made  their  home  during  the 
entire  winter. 

.Vfter  living  on  that  farm  for  many  years,  Mr. 
Foulks,  .Sr.,  sold  the  place  and  went  to  St.  Louis, 
where  he  again  engaged  in  the  tobacco  business. 
He  met  with  success  in  his  enterprise  and  the  fac- 
tory is  still  in  possession  of  the  family,  having 
been  enlarged  until  it  is  now  tlie  largest  tob.acco- 
factory  in  the  Inited  States.  The  father  of  our 
subject  was  one  of  eight  brothers,  three  of  whom 
came  to  Illinois,  two  being  ministei-s  in  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church.  He  was  also  a  member 
of  that  church.  In  politics,  he  was  a  Whig  and 
served  as  Captain  in  the  War  of  1812. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  one  in  a  family 
of  nine  children.  He  w.as  married  first  to  Emily, 
daughter  of  James  Adams,  and  unto  them  were 
born  seven  children.  His  second  marriage  united 
him  with  .Mrs.  Mary  E.  (Fythian)  Smith,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  eight  children,  .\fter  his 
liist  marriage  he  engaged  in  farming  a  portion  of 
his  father's  place,  and  in  1828  he  located  on  one 
hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  near  Helleville. 
Soon  selling  that  place,  he  entered  eighty  acres 
near  Freeburg.  and  in  the  home  there  established 
he  resided  fifty-two  years.  At  one  time  his  landed 
possessions  amounted  to  thiee  hundred  acres  near 
Freeburg. 

Retiring  from  farm  life,  Mr.  Foulk?  erected  an 
hotel  at    Freeburg,    which    he    managed   for  three 


(;3« 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


years,  but  which,  however,  did  not  prove  a  fi- 
nancinl  success.  He  then  i-emoved  to  BellcYiile 
and  purchased  property  amounting  to  $8,000.  In 
1887  he  went  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  malies  his 
home  with  his  children  and  spends  liis  closing 
years  in  retirement.  In  his  political  affiliations  he 
is  a  Democrat  and  in  former  years  was  prominent 
in  public  affairs.  He  has  witnessed  tiie  progress  of 
St.  Clair  County  from  the  time  when  it  was  the 
home  principally  of  Indians,  until  now  it  ranlis 
among  the  best  counties  of  Illinois,  and  much  of 
its  prosperity  may  justly  Iw  attriliuted  to  his 
efforts. 


*^^ 


^^ 


Clair  County,  111.,  was  born  in  Ilolstein, 
Germany,  in  the  year  1854.  He  is  a  son  of 
^,  C.  L.  and  Helena  (Peters)  Jargstorff,  also 
natives  of  Holstein,  the  father  having  been  born 
March  22,  1822.  The  latter  was  a  scholar  of  super- 
ior attainments,  having  graduated  from  one  of 
the  leading  universities  of  Germany.  Early  deter- 
mining upon  the  vocation  of  a  teacher,  he  was  ed- 
ucated with  that  object  in  view,  and  after  leaving 
Ills  Alma  Mater  was  tor  many  years  a  professor  in 
prominent  universities  of  his  native  country'. 
Eminently  patriotic,  his  love  for  the  Fatherland 
is  supreme,  he  having  taken  an  active  part  in  the 
War  of  1848,  serving  as  First  Lieutenant  and  re- 
ceiving thirteen  wounds,  chiefly  gunshot  injuries. 
Now,  in  retired  life,  he  receives  a  pension  from  the 
German  Government  for  his  services  as  an  educator. 
Our  subject's  mother  died  wlien  he  was  but  three 
years  old,  and  of  tlie  two  children  born  to  her,  lie 
alone  survives.  After  her  death  his  father  married 
again,  his  second  wife's  maiden  name  having  been 
Christina  With.  Russia  is  the  native  country  of 
tlie  grandfather  of  our  subject,  lie  having  been  a 
General  in  the  army  of  that  empire.  In  the  3'ear 
1813,  he  went  to  Holstein,  married  and  settled 
there  upon  a  large  tract  of  land. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  a  very  care- 
ful  and   thorough   education    in    private  schools. 


and  Kiel  University,  and  for  several  years  attended 
a  college  near  liis  home  in  German}',  fitting  him- 
self  for   tlic    profession    of    a    teaclier.      Turning 
'    his  face    A\^estward,  he  emigrated   to   tlie   I'nited 
States    in    tlie    year    1881,  locating  at  Cape   (Gir- 
ardeau, wlicre  lie    prepared  himself    for  the  min- 
istry   of  tlie    Lutheran    Church.       He    then  went 
to  Belleville,  III.,  in  June,  1882,  and  was  ordained 
a  minister  in  St.   I'aul's  Church,  taking  work  im- 
mediately   afterward     111     St.    Jacob's.    Madison 
j    County,  111.,  where  he  remained  five  years.     Then 
i    he  went  to  his  present  place  of  residence  and  has 
remained  there  ever  since.     Sophia  Pahmeyer  be- 
came his  wife,  March  4,  1885.  and  has   borne  him 
two    children:  Olga,   aged  six    years,  and   Julius, 
aged    eighteen    months.     She   is   the   daughter  of 
Ernest  and  Mary    (Schiem)   Pahmeyer,  the  latter 
dying  when  she  was  very  young.     Onr  subject  is 
a  member  of    Marissa  Lodge  No.  654,  I.  O.  O.  F. 
Politics  is  a  pleasing  study  to  him,  his  faith  in  the 
Democratic  party  being  so  strong  that  he  has  ad- 
vocated   its    measures  from    the  stump,  and  it  is 
i   stated    that    at  one  time  he  thought  seriously  of 
i    stepping    out  i>f    the    ministry   into   the  arena  of 
j    jiolitics. 


Vf?  (.)ITS  RIIEIN,  living  on  section  I,  Smithton 
ll  (@,  Township,  St.  Clair  County,  III.,  is  the 
J^^  son  of  Fred  Rhein,  who  was  born  in  Ba- 
varia, (Germany,  where  he  was  reared  and  married 
to  Katharine  Lipbert,  coming  to  this  country  in 
18.S9.  He  first  located  in  St.  Louis,  from  which 
city  he  removed  to  Belleville,  and  afterward  to 
Smithton  Township,  where  he  bought  prairie  land 
at  $4  an  acre  and  improved  it  himself.  At  the 
time  of  his  death,  in  1884,  he  was  tlie  owner  of 
seventy-one  acres.  There  were  but  two  children 
by  the  marriage  of  the  parents  of  our  subject, 
namely,  our  subject  and  Fred.  The  mother,  as 
well  as  the  father,  was  a  member  of  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Church  at  the  time  of  her  death,  in  1870. 
Our  subject  was  born  October  22,  1848,  on  the 
old  homestead  in  this  county,  where  he  was  reared 


LIBRARY 
Of  THE 
iTV  Of   (LIINOIS. 


1 


'•if*!- 


(^^ylKA  UZe^c/m^:^^'^>'>'^>^ 


Portrait  and  bk.okai'hkaj.  rkcord. 


(Ml 


to  nianhuod,  received  liis  schooling  and  was  mar- 
ried ill  187.'),  to  Miss  Louisa  (iouch,  daughter  of 
Mary  Gouch.  After  two  years  of  married  life, 
Mrs.  Rhein  died.  .luly  28,  1877,  leaving  one  child. 
Otto,  now  decea?e<l.  Miss  Klizabetli  Scliwinn  1h>- 
came  his  second  wife,  February  I,  1879;  she  is 
the  daughter  of  I'eter  .Sclnvinn,  an  early  settler  of 
St.  Clair  Township,  this  county,  where  he  still 
lives  and  where  Mr*.  Rhein  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated. The  latter  has  borne  her  husband  nine  chil- 
dren, seven  of  whom  are  living,  namely:  Margaret 
C,  Stella  L.,  Adolph  V..  Hilda  M..  Adcll  ( )..  Kdna 
C.  and  Theoliiida  K. 

The  farm  of  our  subject  contains  four  hundred 
acres  of  good  land,  well  improved  and  carefully 
cultivated.  While  raising  much  grain,  he  devotes 
a  large  portion  of  his  time  to  the  improvement  of 
stock,  breeding  a  number  of  Kentucky  mules  and 
blooded  Clydesdale  horses,  it  being  his  constant 
aim  to  maintain  a  variety  of  first-class  stock.  He 
has  a  verv  comfortable  home  and  is  one  of  the 
largest  farmers  in  the  township.  His  religious 
convictions  have  led  him  to  accept  the  doc- 
trines of  the  'Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  in 
which  body  he  holds  membership.  Educational 
matters  always  interest  lii'in  and  he  is  a  Director 
of  .Schools  in  his  district. 


ETER  REIM.VNN,  of  the  firm  of  Xiemesit 
Reimann,  contractors  and  builders,  is  one 
^  of  the  successful  business  men  of  East  .St. 
Louis,  and  is  a  very  pleasant  gentleman 
in  all  the  relations  of  life.  He  is  of  German  birth 
and  lineage,  an<l  possesses  the  thrifty-  traits  of 
character  noticeable  among  people  of  that  nation. 
His  grandfather,  I'eter  Reimann,  was  a  native  of 
German^-,  and  in  that  country  engaged  as  a  farmer 
and  wine-grower.  He  was  one  of  the  soldiers  who 
returned  from  Napoleon "s  disastrous  campaign  in 
Russia.  The  father  of  our  subject,  Adam  Rei- 
mann, also  followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer 
and  wine-grower,  and  was  a  soldier  in  the  German 
army  in  the  campaign  of  1848.  Religiously,  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  a 


man  of  sincere  Christian  character.  His  last  years 
were  spent  among  his  own  vine-clad  hills.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  was  Elizabeth  I"ry.  the 
daughter  of  a  (ierman  farmer  who  was  frozen  to 
death  in  the  French  army.  She  resides  in  (Ter- 
maiiy. 

Our  suliject  is  the  eldest  of  nine  children  born 
to  his  iiaieiits,  four  of  whom  are  yet  living.  The 
|ilaie  of  his  nativity  was  Mandel,  by  Greutznaugh. 
and  he  remained  there  until  he  had  reached  his 
eighteenth  year.  He  attended  the  common  schools 
of  his  |)rovince  until  he  was  fourteen,  and  then 
was  apprenticed  to  a  stone-mason  for  three  years. 
He  worked  in  different  places  until  1866,  when  he 
concluded  to  emigrate  to  America.  Accordingly 
he  left  Hamburg  on  the  steamer  "Prussia."  and  af- 
ter a  stormy  passage  of  eighteen  da3-s,  reached 
New  York.  In  the  fall  of  1867,  he  came  to  East 
St.  Louis.  He  followed  his  trade  at  various  i)laces, 
in  St.  Louis.  Mattoon.  111.,  Venice.  III.,  and  Moberly, 
Mo.,  and  in  1872  he  took  the  contract  from  H. 
Watson  to  build  the  Ronnd  House  in  De.Soto,  Mo. 

In  188.3,  ;\Ir.  Reimann  formed  a  partnership  with 
.lohn  Niemes.  and  at  the  same  time  0|)ened  the 
Falling  Sjirings  stone  quarry,  of  thirty-five  acres, 
located  on  a  branch  of  the  East  St.  ]x)uis  it  Car- 
ondelet  Railroad.  This  is  by  far  the  largest  quarry 
in  Southern  Illinois,  and  the  firm  takes  contracts 
for  great  quantities  of  line  stone.  They  have  done 
.some  very  fine  work,  the  Webster,  Franklin  and 
Lincoln  .Schools  being  samples,  and  others  being  the 
Ileinis  Brewery,  the  water- works,  the  principal 
business  blocks  of  the  city,  the  I'nion  Depot  and 
railroad  work  as  far  as  the  Indiana  line.  Our 
subject  personally  superintends  all  the  work,  as 
he  is  a  practical  stone  and  brick  mason.  He  owns 
considerable  property  liesides  his  residence  at  No. 
:V27  Ninth  .Street. 

Mr.  Reimann  was  married  in  1871.  to  .Aliss  Katie 
Hermann,  who  was  born  in  Belleville,  aiul  three 
children  are  the  result  of  the  union.  They  are:  .Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Dohl.  residing  in  East  St.  Louis;  Cath- 
erine and  Albert,  who  are  at  home.  In  1882,  .Mi-. 
Reimann  w.as  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary 
Salmoh.  who  was  born  at  Hermann,  Mo.  His  pres- 
ent wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Katie  .Schrader, 
and  was  born  in   Brem-.Schwer,  Germany. 


U2 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Our  s\ib.iect  belongs  to  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  the  oldest  member  of  that 
order  in  East  St.  Louis,  having  joined  in  Belleville 
in  1869,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the  Helvetia  lodge 
here.  He  is  also  a  Royal  Arch  jNIason,  a  Knightof 
Honor,  Knight  of  Pythias  (Uniform  Rank),  and 
one  of  the  Sons  of  Herman.  He  is  a  Republican, 
in  his  political  faith,  and  has  very  fixed  opinions 
upon  the  questions  of  the  day.  In  their  religious 
connections,  he  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Evangelical  Church. 


EDWARD  C.  SCHUETZ.  Both  in  his  busi- 
ness success  and  the  position  he  occupies  in 
)  the  community,  Mr.  Schuetz  is  an  example 

of  what  a  man  can  accomplish,  providing  he  pos- 
sesses energy,  pluck,  good  judgment  and  lionesty 
of  purpose,  coupled  with  a  respect  for  the  confi- 
dence of  the  people  among  whom  he  may  live.  He 
is  City  Clerk  of  East  St.  Louis,  to  which  posi- 
tion he  was  elected  in  1888.  He  possesses  excellent 
judgment  and  good  business  qualifications,  both 
of  which  are  necessary  for  a  successful  and  pros- 
perous career. 

Born  in  East  St.  Louis,  111.,  on  the  9th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1862,  our  subject  is  the  son  of  Charles  C. 
and  Charlotte  C.  (Spellerberg)  Schuetz,  natives  of 
Germany,  the  father  born  in  Dresden  and  the 
mother  in  Hanover.  The  paternal  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  E.  C.  Schuetz,  was  a  Government 
officer  and  Government  Surveyor.  He  was  a  prac- 
tical civil  engineer,  in  which  capacity  he  served  in 
the  war  with  Napoleon  Bonaparte.  In  his  religious 
belief  he  was  a  Lutheran.  His  death  occurred  in 
Dresden.  Germany,  when  he  was  eighty-three  years 
old. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  Charles  C.  Schuetz, 
was  only  eighteen  years  of  age  when  he  crossed 
the  Atlantic,  and  after  landing  in  America  he 
traveled  quite  extensively  in  various  States.  Later, 
he  entered  the  regular  army  and  was  in  the  expedi- 
tion to  the  West  during  the  Indian  troubles  there 
under   Gen.    Kearney-     Five  years  afterward   he 


returned  and  was  discharged  in  St.  Louis;  he 
then  located  in  East  St.  Louis  and  was  there 
employed  in  the  Ohio  &  Mississippi  Railroad  shops 
as  painter  and  decorator  of  passenger  coaches. 
During  the  Civil  War  he  enlisted  in  the  Second 
Missouri  Infantry  and  for  some  time  saw  active 
service  in  the  field,  but  was  afterward  taken  into 
the  headquarters.  Department  of  the  Army  of  the 

j    Missouri,  and  made  the  final  report.     At  the  close 

1    of  the  war  he  was  under  Gen.  Pope. 

{        For  some    time    after    the  close  of  the  war  Mr. 

i  Schuetz  was  engaged  as  book-keeper  in  a  large 
lumber  business  at  F^ast  St.  Louis;  subsequently,  he 
was  with  a  sawmill  company  in  the  same  place  and 
still  later  was  Deputy  County  Assessor  under 
George  W.  Sierber.  Afterward  he  served  as  Dep- 
uty Sheriff  for  some  time  and  then  entered 
the  employ  of  the  F'ourth  National  Bank  of 
St.  Louis  as  head  book-keeper,  which  position 
he  is  still  occupying.  Fie  is  a  resident  of  East  St. 
Louis,  where  he  is  prominently  identified  with 
many  important  public  movements.  In  politics, 
he  is  a  Republican,  and  socially  he  is  identified 
with  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  as  a  mem- 
ber of  Frank  P.  Blair  Post.  Mrs.  Schuetz  is  de- 
ceased. 

Our  subject  attended  the  public  schools  of  this 
cit3'  until  1879.  Since  early  boyhood  he  has  been 
familiar  with  office  work,  having  been  emploj'ed 
in  various  railroad  offices  in  the  city.  In  his  so- 
cial connections  he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  National  Union.  In  political  affiliations 
he  is  a  stanch  Republican  and  has  served  !»s  dele- 
egate    to  county  and  State  conventions. 


\|^)ATHEK     PATRICK  J.    O'HALLORAN, 
IL^N  Pastor  of  St.  Patrick's  Catholic  Church  at 
'/ll  East  St.  Louis,  is  a  native  of  Ireland,  and 

came  to  .\mcrica  with  his  parents  when  a  small 
boy.  The  family  located  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
and  there  and  in  Kentucky  he  received  his  edu- 
cation. He  was  ordained  at  Alton,  111.,  in  1862, 
and  received  his  first  charge  at  .lacksonville.     He 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPtnCAL   RECORD. 


(H3 


was  at  various  places,  some  of  them  being  Win- 
chester, Bunker  Hill,  and  Cairo,  where  he  remained 
five  years,  and  in  1873,  on  December  1,  he  came  to 
East  St.  Louis  and  since  then  lias  been  the  Father 
of  St.  Patriclv's  Church.  It  was  the  first  Catholic 
Church  built  iri  the  city  and  was  completed  in 
1862.  having  been  founded  by  Father  ,1.  .1.  Bremen. 
Our  suliject  has  been  very  active  in  church  work 
liere  and  established  the  LorcUa  Convent,  and  the 
St.  Patrick's  Paroelii.Tl  School,  which  is  the  largest 
in  the  city.  Tin'  church  is  centrally  located  on 
the  most  desirable  ground  in  the  city  The  paro- 
chial residence  was  completed  in  1889  at  a  cost  of 
over  *10,0()0.  It  is  finely  furnished  and  has  ,sll 
modern  improvements.  In  1890,  his  congregatidii 
was  so  large  that  part  of  it  started  the  .St.  Mar.\  's 
Church,  butyet  his  congregation  is  the  largest  one 
here,  and  he  is  one  of  the  oldests  priests  in  Alton 
and  Belleville.  .Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Ancient  Order  of  Hilicrnians;  the  Catliohe  Knights 
of  America  and  the  Knights  of  Illinois;  Father 
Mathews'  Total  Abstinence  Society;  the  Society 
of  the  Sacred  Heart  and  the  Hosary.  He  is  loved 
and  looked  up  to  by  all  his  families  and  is  a 
devout  worker  in  the  (luiicli  of  Rome,  con- 
scieiUiou>ly  living  up  to  wliat  lie  believes  to  be 
riffht. 


m>^^<^ 


"^  OHN  C.  HAMILTON.  That  our  subject  was 
one  of  the  shrewdest  and  most  intelligent 
agriculturists  of  St.  Clair  County  is  shown 
liy  the  success  which  has  crowned  his  efforts, 
for  he  is  now  living  retired  from  active  work  of 
any  kind  in  the  beautiful  village  of  Marissa,  where 
he  is  prominent  in  both  business  and  social  circles. 
He  is  a  man  of  much  practical  business  talent  and 
financial  ability,  and  by  the  judicious  investment 
of  his  money  has  ac(iuired  a  valuable  property, 
which  is  a  standing  monument  to  the  energy  which 
he  has  put  forth  in  the  labors  of  life,  and  the  good 
judgment  which  h.as  characterized  his  efforts.  His 
Iiigh  standing  among  his  fellow-men  is  equally 
satisfactory  i)roof  of  his  wf)rth  as  a  neighbor  and 
citizen. 


A  native  of  South  Carolina,  our  subject  was 
Iiorn  in  Chester  County,  January  26,  1829.  and  is 
:i  >on  of  .lohn  and  Sarah  (Elder)  Hamilton,  the 
former  of  whom  was  born  in  the  above-named 
county  in  179  1.  The  paternal  grandparents  of 
our  subject,  Robert  and  Martha  (Ro.ss)  Hamilton, 
were  natives  of  Ireland,  emigrating  to  America 
from  County  Antrim  in  1792.  soon  after  their 
niarriagc. 

I'he  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  in  his  nativ(> 
county,  where  he  was  engaged  as  a  cotton  planter 
until  coming  to  Illinois  in  1831.  Locating  in  Ran- 
clol|)li  County,  he  remained  there  for  three  years, 
wlii-n  lie  took  up  his  abode  in  St.  Clair  County, 
nc:ir  where  our  subject  makes  his  home.  His  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Elder  was  solemnized  May  1.  1S17, 
and  of  their  union  were  born  three  .sons  and  four 
daughters,  all  of  whom  are  living,  with  one  exce))- 
tion.  They  were  members  of  the  I'nited  Presby- 
terian CInireh.  and  departed  this  life  in  1876  and 
1!S7I.  respectixely.  On  the  outbreak  of  tlic  War  of 
1812,  the  father  of  our  subject  enlisted  in  his  fa- 
ther's stead,  and  returned  home  from  the  conlliet 
unharmed.  In  politics,  his  early  years  wercsjient  in 
support  of  the  Democratic  party,  but  during  the 
latter  part  of  his  life  he  voted  the  Republican 
ticket. 

.lohn  C.  Hamilton,  of  this  .sketch,  remained  with 
his  [larents  until  their  death,  and  since  attaining 
his  majority  has  managed  the  farm  with  uiHpialified 
success.  He  brings  to  the  consideration  of  all  sub- 
jects presented  to  his  mind  the  shrewd  and  cautiou.s 
judgment  that  characterized  his  agricultural  career, 
and  though  having  been  engaged  all  liis  life  as  i\ 
tiller  of  the  soil,  he  has  been  connected  with  various 
other  branches  of  business,  and  is  now  one  of  the 
prominent  men  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the 
cfiunty. 

In  18;")7,  our  subject  and  Miss  Margaret,  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Mary  (Borden)  Meek,  were 
united  in  marriage,  and  to  them  has  been  granted 
a  family  of  four  children.  They  have  been  given 
the  best  advantages  in  an  educational  way,  and 
three  are  graduates  of  different  colleges.  Relig- 
iously, Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hamilton  are  devoted  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church,  and  num- 
ber   their    friends   among    the  best    residents   of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  fouiity.  A  (luiet,  unassuming  man,  he  is  an  in- 
fluence for  nuicli  good  in  tiie  community  where 
the  greater  part  of  his  Hfe  has  been  passed,  and  his 
every  deed  and  act  are  guided  by  tlie  highest  prin- 
ciples of  trutli,  integrity  and  morality.  He  is  a 
firm  lieliever  in  the  political  doctrines  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  tlierefore  casts  his  vole  witli 
that  element. 


(|]_^  ENRY  (lUENTZ.  This  gentleman  holds 
\l))fj  the  important  position  of  Justice  of  the 
'^j^  Peace,  was  City  Register  of  Belleville  for 
(^)  eiglit  successive  years,  and  i,s  also  insur- 
ance agent  at  the  .same  place. 

Our  subject  first  saw  the  light  of  day  in  Dres- 
den, Saxony,  Germany,  July  5,  1835.  Here  he 
laid  the  foundation  of  a  good  education  in  the  ex- 
cellent private  schools  of  liis  native  land.  Coming 
to  America  with  his  mother  August  1,  1847,  he 
finished  his  course  of  study  in  Sliiloh  Valley  in 
the  vicinity  of  Belleville,  for  a  time  under  the  in- 
structions of  Milton  .Scott,  who  later  became  Su- 
preme Judge.  After  that  he  entered  tiie  mercan- 
tile establishment  of  Edward  Tittmann,  the  largest 
business  at  that  time  in  Belleville,  and  remained 
with  him  until  his  failure  in  1857,  when  he  was 
retained  as  chief  clerk  by  the  assignee  until  the 
business  was  entirely  finished.  He  then  purchased 
the  Tittmann  vine^'ard  and  farm  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  Belleville,  which  he  operated  for  ten 
years,  until  1868,  when  he  removed  to  the  city  of 
Belleville,  and  was  appointed  to  the  office  of  City 
Kegister  in  1861),  filling  that  office  for  eight  suc- 
cessive years.  He  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace 
in  1873,  and  still  continues  to  fill  tiiat  oflflcetothe 
satisfaction  of  all  parties.  He  is  the  oldest  Justice 
continuing  in  office,  lie  having  held  his  position 
for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century.  In  addition  to 
his  public  office  he  is  the  agent  for  a  number  of 
the  oldest  and  largest  insurance  companies  of  the 
country. 

Our    subject    continued     ii.   single    blessedness 


until  August  12,  1862,  when  he  took  a  wife  unto 
himself  in  the  person  of  Mary  Eimer,  the  accom- 
plished daughter  of  Simon  Eimer,  a  prominent  and 
leading  citizen  of  Belleville.  This  happy  union 
has  been  blessed  with  ninechildren,  namely:  Louisa; 
Mary,  wife  of  Otto  A.  Krebs;  Emma,  Henry,  Jo- 
hanna, Eugenia,  Helena,  Josie  and  Camilla,  all  of 
wliom  are  a  credit  to  their  parents.  Henry  now 
has  a  position  with  the  Simmons  Hardware  Co.,  in 
St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Mr.  Guentz  is  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  Ancient  Order  of  United  Work- 
men, and  Knights  of  Honor.  He  and  his  interest- 
ing farail}' reside  in  a  pleasant  home  at  No.  215 
South  Charles  Street,  and  no  family  in  Belleville 
is  more  highly  esteemed  than  is  that  of  Mr.  Henry 
Guentz. 


='+'{"{"i-'S^^  •{••H"!'F 


IIARLES  O.  McCASLAND.  Among  the 
young  and  active  business  men  of  East  St. 
Louis  is  this  gentleman,  who  is  a  native  of 
the  Prairie  IState  and  one  of  the  most  prosperous 
real-estate  dealers  in  the  city  where  he  makes  his 
home.  He  is  connected  in  business  with  his  brother, 
J.  T.  McCasland,  of  whom  a  sketch  will  be  found 
elsewhere  in  this  work. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  born  near  Murrayville, 
in  Morgan  County,  this  State,  April  6,  1866,  and 
received  his  education  in  the  common  schools, 
supplemented  by  a  course  at  the  High  School  at 
Jacksonville.  Remaining  at  home  until  reaching 
the  age  of  eighteen  3'ears,  or  in  1884,  he  came  to 
this  count}'  and  joined  his  brother  J.  T.  in  the  in- 
surance business,  in  the  interests  of  which  he  trav- 
eled in  Nebraska,  Colorado,  Nevada,  Montana. 
Wyoming  and  other  States.  In  June,  1889,  Mr. 
McCasland  returned  to  the  city  and  became  inter 
ested  with  his  brother  in  various  real-estate 
plats,  he  himself  attending  to  the  laying  out  of 
North  Clearmont,  and  .also  handled  and  platted 
the  Beacon  Heights  Addition. 

Mr.  McCasland  w.as  married  in  St.  Louis,  in  Oc- 
tober, 1891,10   Miss   Nettie,  a  daughter  of  David 


PORTRAIT  A>'D  BIOGRAPHICAL  KPXORD 


645 


Lusk,  now  of  East  St.  Louis.  Mrs.  McCaslaad  was 
Itoru  in  Ced.->r  Rapids,  lowa.and  by  her  uniou  with 
our  subject  has  become  the  inothci-  of  one  child, 
wlio  bears  the  name  of  Julia  K.  Our  subject  stands 
among  the  worthy  and  eulerprisinu;  men  of  the 
community,  in  wliich  ho  is  respected  by  all  wlio 
know  iiim.  In  his  politics,  he  is  an  adherent  of  the 
Democracv. 


'^T  OHN  P.  .UKN(iKR  is  the  grandson  of  Jacob 
l|]  and  Dorcas  Juenger.  both  natives  of  Oer- 
^-j|l  many.  His  father  was  John  Mitchell  Juen- 
(^//  gcr,  and  his  mother  Anna  M.  (Kahler)  Juen- 
ger. John  JI.  Juenger  served  eleven  years  in  the 
German  army,  and  after  obtaining  his  disciiarge, 
lie  occupied  iiimself  at  the  shoemaker's  bench,  which 
trade  he  had  most  tiuiroughly  learned.  At  the 
age  of  twenty-nine  years  he  emigrated  with  his 
family  to  the  United  Stales.  There  were  four 
children  in  the  Juenger  family,  namely:  George; 
John  P..  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Julius  (iairliart:  :ii\d  Catlu'rine,  wife  of 
Michael  Keifhier. 

.lohn  M.  Juenger  located  in  Darmstadt,  !St.  Clair 
County,  HI.,  in  the  year  18.'^8.  Here  he  purchased 
land  and  made  a  pleasant  home  and  he  and 
each  member  of  the  family  soon  made  themselves 
respected  in  the  neiglilH)rhood  in  which  they  re- 
sided. Patience  and  perseverance  bring  their  re- 
ward in  due  time,  and  Mr.  .lucnger  by  industry 
and  thrift  was  able  to  accumulate  sufficient  of  this 
Avorld's  riches  to  e.ase  his  mind  with  regard  to  the 
necessities  of  old  age.  He,  however,  did  not  enj(>_\ 
the  allotted  three-score  years  and  ten,  as  his  death 
occurred  in  the  year  187'2,  while  he  was  surrounded 
by  a  loving  family  and  the  friends  who  had  learned 
to  honor  and  respect  him  for  the  sterling  man- 
hood they  knew  him  to  be  the  |)ossessor  of.  His 
intelligent  and  capable  wife,  who  had  bravely 
stood  by  his  side  in  storm  and  sunshine,  and  in 
every  respect  had  done  her  share  to  accumulate  and 
make  the  most  of  his  resources  and  maintain  the 
reputation  of  the  family,  diecl  in  1891, 


In  Germany,  the  land  of  his  parents  and  grand- 
parents, John  P.  Juenger  was  born.  He  w.as  ten 
years  old  when  his  parents  brought  him  to  the 
Tnited  States.  He  received  the  ordinary  schooling 
given  to  boys  of  his  station  and  [josition  In  life, 
and  he  remained  under  the  paternal  roof  until  his 
marriage  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Laudenschger,  which 
occurred  in  the  year  18.56.  his  bride  being  aLso 
a  native  of  (Germany.  This  union  was  blessed 
by  sis  children:  Conrad,  who  married  Miss  Anna 
Sinister;  Dorcas;  Catherine,  wife  of  John  Steinha- 
mer:  .\ugnsta.  Margaret,  wife  of  (ieorge  Eckert: 
and  Sophia. 

With  genuine  (ierinau  thrift  and  prudence,  Mr. 
Juenger  began  to  save,  and  he  furnished  a  fair  ex- 
ample of  what  a  man  may  become  by  adhering 
lo  the  rules  of  economy  and  industry.  Com- 
mencing life  as  a  poor  man,  he  has  by  his  own 
will  and  determination  to  accumulate  amassed  a 
goodly  share  of  property,  made  a  good  home  at 
all  times  for  the  family  who  was  dependent  upon 
him,  and  is  to-day  the  possessor  of  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  of  choice  St.  Clair  County  land,  as 
well  as  other  i>ossessioni,  all  of  which  are  the 
achieTcment  of  his  own  personal  efforts. 

Politically.  Jlr.  Juenger  is  a  Democrat,  and  up- 
holds his  party  .as  a  stanch,  faithful  and  loyal  ad- 
herent. Both  he  and  his  estimable  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Lutheran  Church,  to  which  organization 
he  has  always  contributed  liberally.  He  is  a  i)ub- 
lic-spirited  man  and  in  favor  of  everything  that 
will  improve  the  county  and  elevate  society.  His 
lidelity  to  the  stanch  principles  of  his  (ierman 
ancestors,  and  his  well-spent  life  as  a  citizen  have 
contributed  to  the  high  regard  in  which  he  is  held 
in  his  communitv. 


P.WTI)  >HUPI1V  is  a  progressive,  wide-awake 
)  and  intelligent  tiller  of  the  soil  of  Lebanon 
Township,  St.  Clair  County.  111.,  where  he 
owns  a  magnificent  farm  of  three  hundred  and 
ttn  acres,  of  which  he  has  been   the  owner   since 


646 


f*ORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1868.  What  he  has  accumulated  is  the  result  of 
hard  work,  untiring  industry  and  good  manage-  i 
ment,  and  he  deserves  much  credit  for  the  admir-  ! 
able  wa\'  in  which  he  has  surmounted  the  many 
difliculties  that  have  strewn  his  pathway  through 
life.  He  began  the  battle  of  life  for  himself  as  a 
renter,  but  in  1861  bought  one  hundred  and  fiftj-- 
two  .acres  north  of  his  present  farm,  exchanging  it 
for  the  latter  seven  years  later  and  paying  a  differ- 
ence of  #10,(100  in  casii.  He  was  born  in  County 
Cork,  Ireland,  March  22,  1833,  a  son  of  Thomas 
and  Abbie  (Leahy)  Murphy,  witli  whom  he  came 
to  America  in  1849,  landing  at  New  Orleans.  B^-om 
that  place  they  came  to  St.  Louis,  and  there  the 
mother  died  the  following  June  of  cholera,  her 
husliand's  death  of  the  same  dread  disease 
occurring  in  September  following.  Their  family 
consisted  of  live  children:  Ann,  who  died  in  1860, 
became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Foley,  who  is  also  de- 
ceased; David,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Dennis 
became  a  soldier  in  the  Union  army,  and  is  sup- 
posed to  have  been  killed  at  Pittsburgh  Landing, 
although  no  autiientic  news  of  his  death  was  ever 
received;  Ellen  is  a  resident  of  St.  Louis;  and 
Mar}'  died  in  girlhood  in  St.  Louis. 

David  Murphy  w.as  a  resident  of  Shiloli  N' alley 
Township  of  this  county  prior  to  the  Civil  War, 
and,  although  his  finances  were  at  avery  low  ebb,  he 
set  energetically  to  work  to  better  his  condition, 
but  found  it  uphill  work  for  a  number  of  years. 
lie  removed  to  Lebanon  Township  in  1861  and 
bought  the  land  adjoining  his  present  farm,  but,  as 
above  stated,  became  the  owner  of  his  present  farm 
in  1868.  He  has  a  beautiful,  commodious  and 
substantial  residence,  and  every  nook  and  crannj' 
of  his  farm  is  exceptionally  neat  and  well  kept, 
showing  that  a  man  of  intelligent  and  enlight- 
ened views  is  at  the  helm.  On  tlie  20th  of  March, 
18.t9,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Martiia  \'erlinda 
Moore,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  William  and  Margaret 
(Alexander)  Moore,  and  in  due  course  of  time  the 
following  children  gatliered  about  their  hearth- 
stone; Margaret,  who  liecame  the  wife  of  .loliii 
Midgley,  who  is  an  employe  of  the  St.  i>ouis 
liridge  Company,  is  the  mother  of  one  child,  Ethel, 
an  infant;  Kdith  is  at  home  with  her  parents;  Al- 
bert died   in   infimcy;  Ellen    t.nd  William  are  at 


home.  Mr.  Murphy  has  always  been  interested  in 
school  and  educational  matters,  and  his  children 
have  received  the  advantages  of  the  common 
schools  in  the  vicinity  of  their  liome. 

Mr.  Murphy  is  a  well-informed  gentleman  on  all 
topics  of  general  interest,  and  believes  in  keeping 
in  constant  touch  with  the  current  issues  of  the 
day.  He  is  a  genial,  whole-souled  gentleman,  and 
is  very  popular  both  in  his  immediate  neighbor- 
hood and  wherever  he  is  known.  He  has  served  in 
the  capacity  of  Highway  Commissioner  and  School 
Director,  and  politically  is  in  sympathy  with  the 
Democratic  party.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Church,  as  is  also  his  wife,  but  is  liberal  in  his 
support  of  other  denominations  also.  His  wife  is 
a  sister  of  Risdon  A.  Jloore,  of  Shiloh  Valley  Town- 
ship, and  her  parents  were  among  the  very  early 
settlers  of  St.  Clair  County,  having  become  resi- 
dents of  Shiloh  Valley  Township  in  1810.  A 
genealogy  of  lier  family  has  recently  been  prepared, 
which  covers  nearly  one  hundred  pages. 


I^Sil^-i^il^^i 


<^  S;ILLL\M  L.  JONES,  editor  and  proprietor 
\rJr  *^'^  ^^^  Lebanon  Journal,  belongs  to  one  of 
^1^  the  representative  and  honored  pioneer 
families  of  St.  Clair  County,  where  his  entire  life 
has  been  passed.  He  was  here  born  .lune  7.  18.59, 
and  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools 
of  Lebanon  and  at  McKendree  College,  from  which 
institution  he  was  graduated  in  1879.  Two  years 
later  his  father,  Oliver  V.  Jones.  i)iu'chased  the 
plant  of  the  Lebanon  Journal,  at.whicli  time  our 
subject  embarked  in  the  printing  biisiness,  and 
soon  became  a  practical  printer  ,as  well  as  success- 
ful manager  of  a  country  newspaper. 

in  1882,  Mv.  .lones  became  a  niemlier  of  the 
Southern  Illinois  Press  Association,  in  which  he 
soon  attained  such  prominence  as  would  be  ex- 
pected from  a  man  of  his  unquestioned  ability-  and 
talent.  In  1KS7.  be  joined  the  Illinois  j'ress  As- 
sociation, and  has  since  attended  all  the  meetings 
of  that  organization,  serving  .-is  delegate  to  the 
couveutiou  uf  the  National  EditujisJ  AssociatioH 


PORTRAIT  AND  I!I()OUAIMIICAT>  RECORD. 


fi4; 


at  Detroit  in  1889;  Boston,  1890;  St.  Paul,  1891; 
and  San  Francisco  in  1892.  Ilis  service  as  Presi- 
dent of  tiie  Sontiiern  Illinois  Press  Association,  to 
which  position  he  was  elected  in  IHill.  has  re- 
sulted in  the  advancement  of  the  iiitoii'sis  of  that 
society  to  a  marked  extent. 

For  more  than  eleven  years  Jlr.  .lones  has 
been  the  capable  and  etlicieut  editor  of  the  Leb- 
anon Journal,  one  of  tlio  wide-awake  papers  of 
the  county, and  of  great  value  to  the  community. 
During  1890,  he  was  a  member  of  the  party  of 
Illinois  editors  who  went  to  the  city  of  Mexico, 
and  has  also  traveled  extensively  elsewhere.  He 
is  corres|)ondent  of  tlic  Illinois  State  Natural  His- 
tory Society,  and  liolds  other  positions  of  rcs[ioii- 
sibilil\  and  honor. 


•f^^- 


=-^> 


RICHARD  W.  ROPIKQUKT,  an  attorney -at- 
law,  of  Belleville,  111.,  born  in  that  city 
March  23,  186(),is  a  son  of  Frederick  K.  and 
"  Anna  (Wangelin)  Roi)iequct,  the  latter  a 
sister  of  Richard  Wangelin.  The  father  of  our 
subject  w.as  born  on  the  Rhine,  Bavaria,  December 
16,  1835,  his  father  being  an  attorney  of  ample 
means,  who  died  in  1847.  Frederick  K.  Ro|>iequet 
received  a  classical  education  in  the  Oerman  lan- 
guage, and  was  educated  as  an  engineer.  He  emi- 
grated to  the  Initcd  States  in  lHo2,  landing  at 
New  York  and  proceeding  tf)  Belleville,  where  he 
found  employnient  a>  clerk  in  a  general  inerchan- 
dise  store.  In  tlic  following  year,  he  was  ap- 
pointed assistant  engineer,  and  aided  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  Alton,  Tene  Haute  A-  St.  Louis 
Railroad.  Study  of  law  next  engrossed  lii>  Mtlen- 
tion.  but  wiicn  George  C.  Hart  was  elected  Sheriff 
he  was  made  a  Deputy  under  that  ollicer,  and  in 
1864  was  himself  elected  ShcritT.  .\fter  his  term 
of  oflice  expired,  he  engaged  in  the  manuf.-icture 
of  agricultural  implements  until  1876.  The  books 
of  abstracts  of  Si.  (lair  County  were  completed  by 
him  in  1877.  Two  years  later,  in  1879,  he  was 
elected  City  Tieasurer  and  re-elected  .Sheritf  in 
1880,      In  the   year  1»C8,  he  was  elected  Mayor  of 


the  city  of  Belleville.     His  time  is  now  devoted  to 

the  abstracting  of  titles. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  Belleville  and  at  Smith 
Academy  of  W.ashington  University,  St.  Louis, 
after  which  he  read  law  with  Charles  W.  Thomas, 
and  was  admitted  to  pr.actice  by  examination  in' 
.August,  1886,  receiving  his  license  when  but 
twenty-one  years  old.  Taking  an  office  in  Belle- 
ville at  once  and  ajjplying  himself  diligently,  he 
has  built  u))  a  good  practice.  Exclusive  attention 
to  his  profession  and  faithful  regard  for  the  in- 
terests of  clients  have  resulted  in  the  establishing 
of  himself  thus  early  in  his  career  in  the  confidence 
of  friends  and  the  public.  He  has  his  office  in  the 
.'Vcademy  of  Music  building.  Our  subject  was 
married  to  Miss  Mamie  W.  Crouch,  daughter  of 
William  T.  Crouch,  the  photographer,  April  14, 
1890,  by  whom  he  has  had  one  child,  Wilfred  C. 
His  religious  belief  is  pronounced,  he  being  a 
Steward  and  Trustee  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  and  also  Superintendent  of  its  Sunday- 
school.  The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ropiequet  is 
on  South  Jackson  Street. 


R.  C.  F.  WILllKI.M.l.  a  talented  and  snc- 
jj  cessfiil  physician  and  surgeon  of  East  St. 
Louis.  111.,  is  .'i  native  of  the  State  and 
was  born  on  Elkhorn  Prairie,  near  Nash- 
\ille,  Washington  County.  His  father.  Dr.  Charles 
\\  illielnij.  was  well  known  throughout  Southern 
Illinois,  and  ranked  high  in  his  profession.  He 
was  liorn  in  the  duchy  of  Nassau,  in  (ierniany,  of 
which  (Ini-hy  Ilis  father,  the  p;)tern;d  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  w.as  (lovernor.  Dr.  Charles  Wil- 
helmj  was  a  graduate  of  the  L'niversity  of  Heidel- 
berg, and  attended  the  University  of  Munich.  He 
passed  peacefull\-  away  at  the  age  of  seventy-si.x 
years,  a  man  universally  respected  and  lunioied. 
A  wife  and  live  children  and  a  host  of  friends 
mourned  his  death.  At  the  time  of  the  Revolu- 
tion of  1848  in  (jenuany,  Ue  had  taken  au  active 


648 


i'ORTEAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


part  and  was  obliged  afterward  to  seek  refuge  in 
America.  He  spent  his  first  year  in  tliis  country 
in  Cincinnati,  finally  locating  in  Maeystown, 
where  he  remained  in  the  active  duties  of  his  pro- 
fession until  his  death,  a  brief  time  ago. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Sophia  Ballot,  a 
daughter  of  Dr.  Fred  Ballot,  of  Waterloo.  Dr. 
Ballot  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  a  graduate 
of  Heidelberg,  and  early  emigrating  to  the  United 
States,  settled  in  AVaterloo.  being  the  pioneer 
doctor  of  that  flourishing  town.  Our  subject  was 
an  only  child,  and  after  the  death  of  his  mother  in 
1860,  was  sent  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  attended  tlie 
public  school,  and  later  went  to  an  aunt  in  St. 
.loe,.  there  receiving  the  benefit  of  a  High  School 
course.  In  1877,  he  returned  to  Washington 
County,  and  studied  medicine  under  his  father. 
In  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  he  entered  the  St. 
Louis  Medical  College,  and  graduated  from  the 
medical  department  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  in 
188(1.  For  the  five  succeeding  years.  Dr.  C.  F. 
Williehnj  practiced  medicine  with  his  father,  and 
at  the  expiration  of  this  time  removed  to  East  St- 
Louis,  where  he  enjoys  one  of  the  most  extended 
and  lucrative  fields  of  practice  in  the  city.  His 
office,  Mo.  13  IS'orth  Main  Street,  is  conveniently 
located  and  aside  from  his  professional  round  of 
visits  affords  Dr.  Wilhelmj  an  excellent  income. 

Our  subject  was  for  one  term  the  County 
Hospital  Physician  for  East  St.  Louis.  He  is  the 
local  examiner  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen,  and  is  also  tlieJMedical  Examiner  of  the 
American  Legion  of  Honor,  and  also  of  the 
Knights  and  Ladies  of  Honor.  Dr.  Wilhelmj  is  a 
member  of  the  Illinois  Medical  Association,  and  is 
A'ice-president  of  the  St.  Clair  County  Medical  As- 
sociation. Our  subject  is  likewise  a  member  of  the 
ISIonroe  County  Medical  Association.  Dr.  Wilhelmj 
is  in  political  affiliations  a  stalwart  Rei)ublican,and 
has  held  the  responsible  position  of  County  Com- 
missioner, discharging  the  duties  of  the  office  with 
honor  and  ability.  He  is  deeply  interested  in  the 
management  of  both  local  and  national  affairs  and 
ever  readj'  to  assist  in  all  progressive  movements 
and  enterprises  of  merit,  and  is  widely  known  as  an 
earnest  and  public-siiirited  citizen.  Upright  in 
character  and   dcvotccl   Id   \h:'   relief  of  suffering 


humanity,  our  subject  brings  to  the  daily  exercise 
of  his  profession  skillful  knowledge,  excellent 
judgment,  and  a  courteous  bearing  which  have  de- 
servedly won  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  a  large 
circle  of  friends  and  well-wishers. 


"■      r   ^^1 


!M^ 


IHLll'  H.  POSTEL,  a  practical  and  suc- 
''  cessful  miller,  has  ac(piired  his  knowledge 
of  the  business  by  the  most  studious  and 
-eaiching  habits,  and  has  grown  gray  in 
solving  the  problem  of  how  to  excel  in  making  flour. 
A  German  by  birth,  he  inherits  many  of  the  most 
commendable  qualities  of  that  race,  among  which 
may  be  mentioned  honesty  of  purpose,  industry 
and  thrift.  His  birth  occurred  on  the  11th  of 
.Tuly,  1818,  at  Hassloch,  Rheinpfalz,  to  George  and 
Maria  Kathrina  ((iiamlich)  Postel,  who  were  bom, 
reared  and  spent  their  lives  in  (Germany. 

In  his  youth  Philip  H.  Postel  was  possessed  of 
a  laudable  ambition  to  make  fame  and  fortune 
for  himself,  and  with  this  end  in  view  he  came  to 
America  in  184 1,  embarking  for  this  country  at 
a  French  seaport,  Havre,  on  the  9th  of  May,  and 
landing  at  New  York  City  on  the  22d  of  .lune. 
After  a  short  residence  in  the  metropolis  of  this 
country,  he  went  to  Philadelphia  on  the  first  rail- 
road that  was  built  in  America,  from  which  city 
he  went  by  canal  to  Pittsburgh,  and  then  by 
river  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  the  journey  occupying 
three  weeks.  He  came  to  IMascoutah  as  a  visitor 
to  the  Eisenmayer  family,  and  only  expected  to 
spend  a  few  years  in  this  country,  but  liy  the 
20tli  of  November,  1841,  he  became  identified  in 
business  with  Conrad  and  Philip  H.  Eisenmayer, 
who  were  at  that  time  operating  a  grist  and  saw 
mill.  ISLascoutah  comprised  only  eleven  houses 
at  tliat  time,  ami  the  mill  of  wiiicli  these  gentle- 
men were  the  proi>rietors  was  tlie  first  one  ever 
erected  in  ^Liscoutali  Township. 

A  short  time  after  their  connection  was  formed, 
the  firm  purchased  a  watermill  in  Monroe  County, 
ab(uit  four  miles  from  Red  Bud,  a  project  which 
uiiforluiuilel,\    proved  a    failure,  ami    Uie  mill  was 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


649 


sold  in  1846.  Mr.  Postel  has  been  associated 
witli  five  paitntM-s,  two  of  them  nl  two  different 
times,  hut  at  the  present  tiini'  has  no  associates 
excepting  his  three  sons.  Their  plant  consists  of 
tiiree  fine  mills,  and  the  business  was  incorpor- 
ated in  188fi  with  Philip  II.  Postel,  Sr.,  as  Presi- 
dent; P.  II.  Postel,  Jr.,  Vice-president;  (4eorge 
Postel,  Treasurer;  and  Julius  Postel,  Secretary. 

Among  the  brands  of  flour  manufactured  are 
the  "Elegant,"  "Patent,"  "Kxtra,"  "A,"  "Mas- 
coutali  Star,"  and  others.  The  mills  have  a  ca- 
pacit}'  of  one  thousand  bai-rels  per  day,  and  the 
constant  bustle  of  receipt  and  shipment  makes  it 
one  of  the  busiest  corners  of  the  place.  They  are 
fitted  up  with  every  device  known  to  milling 
.science,  arc  up  with,  and  even  ahead  of.  the  times, 
and  have  a  large  local  trade,  of  which  the  home  con- 
sumption is  the  strongest  endorsement  the  flour 
could  have.  'I'he  wonderful  success  to  which  Mr. 
Postel  has  attained  may  be  attributed  to  the  fact 
that  he  makes  the  finest  Hour  in  the  market,  sus- 
tains the  uniformity  of  his  brands,  and  ofTers  cus- 
tomers the  best  terms,  by  reason  of  his  large  capi- 
tal and  by  treating  everyone  with  whom  he  has 
business  relations  in  a  courteous  manner. 

In  the  land  of  liis  hirlh  Mr.  I'ostel  received,  as 
was  customary  in  lii-^  country,  only  a  common- 
school  education,  but  in  a  com|)ulsory  public 
school.  As  his  instructors  were  intelligent  and 
thoroughly  understood  their  duties,  he  made  fair 
progress  in  his  studies.  In  tliis  country,  after 
working  eighteen  hours  a  day.  he  found  time  to 
attend  night  school  one  hour  of  the  remaining 
six,  where  he  took  les.sons  in  English  in  order  to 
master  to  a  certain  degree  the  intricacies  of  this 
language.  He  was  one  of  four  children.  Kva 
Catherine  and  .\ndrew  both  died  of  cliolerM:  .•uid 
Anna  Margaret,  who  died  in  the  p;uent;d  home 
at  Germania  at  the  age  of  seveuty-foui-  years. 

On  the  4th  of  September,  1812,  Philip  H.  Postel 
was  united  in  marriage  with  >Iiss  Anna  Maiin 
Eisenmayer,  a  daughter  of  Philip  II.  and  .Viina 
Elizabeth(Haas)Eisenmayer,  of  Hassloch,(iermany, 
and  sister  of  C!onrad  Kisenmayer,  his  partnei'.  She 
was  born  in  Germany  and  came  to  America  with 
her  brother  Conrad  in  18l(i.  Of  the  children 
born  to  Mr.  and  ill's.  Postel  two  died  in  infancy 

80 


and  seven  are  now  living,  viz:  Elizabeth,  who  is 
still  at  home;  Maria  E.,  wife  of  Carl  Schwalb,  who  is 
residing  in  Denver,  Colo.;  Philip  H.,  .Ir..  also  at 
home;  (ieorge,  who  married  Miss  D(ua  .lansen,  of 
(Juincy;  .Vnna,  wife  of  .lohn  Fackt,  of  Mas- 
coutah;  Louisa,  wife  of  Boyd  Cornick.  M.  D..  of 
Knickerbocker,  (ireen  County,  Tex.;  and  Julius, 
who  married  Anialia,  daughter  of  John  P.  Postel. 
The  above-named  children  have  enriched  their 
father  with  seventeen  grandchildren. 

Mr.  Postel  is  a  man  of  intelligent,  practical  and 
progressive  views,  and  while  serving  as  a  member 
of  the  State  Legislature  during  the  session  of 
1881-82,  he  was  a  thoughtful,  painstaking,  con- 
scientious and  industrious  member  of  that  body. 
He  was  elected  to  this  honorable  position  on  the 
Republican  ticket,  the  principles  of  which  polit- 
ical order  he  has  always  supported,  and  his  con- 
stituents Ifad  every  reason  to  be  pleased  with  him 
as  their  representative.  He  was  also  appointed 
one  of  the  Board  to  subdivide  St.  Clair  County 
into  townships.  All  measures  of  morality^find 
in  him  a  stanch  supporter,  and  he  is  an  especially 
earnest  patron  of  education  and  h.as  served  in  the 
capacity  of  Trustee  of  the  Illinois  State  University 
when  said  office  was  still  an  appointive  one.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  CInu-ch 
and  has  "kept  the  faith"  since  1841.  being  at 
present  Superintendent  of  the  _  Sund.ay-school, 
which  office  he  ha    held  for  over'thirty  years. 


S' EV.    IlKNKY    KDti.AK    FULLER  has  been 

following  a  calling  that  is  the   noblest  to 

\\\      which  a  man  can  devote  his  life,  and  in  the 

vi© capacity  of  the  pastor  of  the  First  Baptist 
Church  of  Belleville,  he  has  had  a  fruitful  field  in 
which  to  sow  the  seed  of  Christianity.  His  work 
has  recfuired  patience,  persistence  and  grace,  but 
he  is  possessed  (rf  all  these  commendable  qualities, 
and  during  the  six  years  that  he  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Belleville  his  work  hfis  been  truly  noble 
and  he  has  laid  his  foundations  carefully  and  well 
He  is  an  eloquent  pulpit  orator,  Lis  seinions  sbotv 


650 


POKTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


much  painstaking  thoiight,  and  his  illustrations 
are  always  happy  and  to  the  point.  His  power  is 
largely  in  his  capacity  for  training  his  people, 
especially  the  young,  and  the  boys  and  girls  who 
are  now  in  his  hands  will  become  men  and  women 
of  might.  lie  was  born  at  Lake  Geneva,  Wis.,' 
March  12,  1852,  a  son  of  L.  W.  and  Huldah  Ann 
(Ingham)  Fuller,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  the 
Empire  State.  By  occupation  the  fatlier  is  a 
tiller  of  the  soil,  having  his  home  in  Lake 
Geneva,  Wis.  lie  isiif  English  descent  and  traces 
his  ancestry  back  in  direct  liiie  U>  the  sixteenth 
century. 

In  the  town  of  his  birth  Rev.  Henry  E.  Fuller 
received  his  education  and  for  some  time  was  an 
attendant  at  Lake  Geneva  Seminary,  and  the 
Whitewater  Normal  College,  a  State  institution, 
finishing  his  literary  education  in  the  University 
of  Chicago,  which  he  entered  in  1874  and  from 
which  he  graduated  in  1878  with  the  degree  of  B. 
A.  Succeeding  this,  he  began  his  theological  stud- 
ies in  the  Baptist  Theological  University  of  JMor- 
aan  Park,  111.,  and  graduated  in  the  Class  of  '84. 
In  1879  he  preached  the  Gospel  at  East  Dela- 
vnn,  Wis.,  and  also  for  a  short  time  sui)plied  a 
pulpit  at  Lake  Geneva,  .after  which  he  was  pastor 
of  a  chnrcli  at  Walnut,  111.,  for  two  years.  He 
was  ordained  on  the  (ith  of  December,  1881,  by  a 
council  composed  of  eighteen  members,  represent- 
ing eleven  churches.  While  taking  his  theological 
course,  he  preached  for  sev.^,,    months  at  Amboy, 


.\b 


.\fter  graduating;-  n,  fn'St  charge  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Fuller  was  |  .^^j^,,  ,,]  ,v,wa.where  he  remained  from 
1884  to  U,p  iiij.uring  which  time  thirty-seven 
accessions  wei*-niade  to  thechurcli.  From  Marion 
he  came  to  Belleville,  111.,  in  response  to  an  urgent 
call,  and  liere  his  services  in  the  vineyard  of  his 
M.aster  have  been  attended  with  tlatlering  success. 
Since  locating  here  a  parsonage  lias  been  erected  at 
a  cost  of  §3,200.  sixty-one  accessions  have  been 
made  to  the  cliurc'li,  and  a  Normal  Class  of  twenty- 
live  members  has  been  in  existence  for  the  past 
four  years,  the  members  of  which,  in  this  manner, 
tit  themselves  for  church  work.  .\  Young  Peo- 
ple's Society  of  Clirislian  Endeavor  has  been  or- 
ganized with  twenly-Hve  active   and  forty   asso- 


ciate -members,  and  a  class  of  fifty  of  "Willing 
Workers"  has  been  organized,  which  is  composed 
of  both  boys  and  girls.  The  Sunday-school  at- 
tendants number  one  hundred  and  fifty  and  the 
school  is  presided  over  by  M.  W^.  Weir,  who,  be- 
sides being  one  of  Ihe  very  best  lawyers  in  the 
city,  finds  time  to  be  a  most  excellent  Church 
Clerk  and  Treasurer. 

Rev.  Mr.  Fuller  attends  National,  State  and  Dis- 
trict Associations,  Ministers'  Institutes,  etc.  He  is 
active  in  the  Alton  District  Association,  and  was 
very  earnest  and  active  in  organizing  the  Baptist 
Young  People's  Society  of  the  Alton  District 
.Association.  He  is  very  conscientious  and  pains- 
taking in  his  work,  and  as  a  natural  result  he  has 
brought  many  to  the  feet  of  Christ.  At  the 
Alumni  Association  of  the  Morgan  Park  Theolog- 
ical Association  in  1890  he  read  a  beautiful  orig- 
inal [loem.  which  we  take  the  liberty  of  inserting: 

SADRA. 

I  All  iinafT'i'^'y  scene  intended  to  represent  a  .seeker  for  tlir 
tinilli.  who.  after  meeting  the  representatives  of  various  faiths. 
liiially  recognizes  the  Cliristian  faith  as  superior  to  all  others.l 

()  welcome  muse,  come  down  from  starry  height, 
Awake  the  power  that  sleeps,  and  bid  the  light 
To  stream  thro'  clouds  that  gather,  energize 
Some  dormant  gift,  and  may  the  spirit  rise 
To  sing  in  lofty  and  exultant  strain 
Of  Him  who  doth  excel!     Far,  far  away, 
Where  many  charming  isles  are  seen  to  lay 
Like  gems  upon  the  bosom  of  the  deep. 
Is  one  whose  verdure  green  and  mountain  steei) 
.\nd  ever  quiet  shores  attract  the  eye. 
The  sails  of  many  sliips  are  drawing  nigh — 
There  seems  to  disembark  a  mighty  throng. 
Of  which  the  varied  people  do  belong 
To  every  race  beneath  the  sun.     Ere  long 
The  beauteous  isle  is  peopled,  and  among 
Its  sloping  hills  and  through  its  valleys  fair 
Are  many  sacred  spires  and  domes,  that  vie 
With  one  another  for  supremacy. 
By  Mount  Eringel,  nigh  its  soutliern  base, 
.\inid  ambrosial  fragrance,  is  a  place 
Delightsome.     There,  behold  a  maiden  fan- 
Did  wander  to  a  spot  sequestered,  where 
Gushed  forth  from  rocky  bed  a  limpid  stream, 
.\nd  there  in  shady  bower  reclined  to  dream 
or  life,  and  all  its  unsolved  mysteries 
Of  sorrow,  pain  and  grief,  and  remedies 
For  all  the  ills  of  life,  if  such  there  be. 
Of  what  from  guilt  has  power  to  set  me  free. 


POHTRAIT  AND  UKKiHAPH'CAL    RECORD. 


651 


These  questions  rising  in  her  mind  left  naught 

Hut  sadness,  and  in  tears  siie  vainly  sought 

'I'll  find  some  liigher  power  to  satisfy 

'i'he  soul's  demand,  when,  lo,  liefore  her  eye 

Approaching  near,  in  lovely  r<)l)e  arrayed, 

A  form  most  radiant  'mid  tlie  forest  sliade; 

Her  Ijeauty  thrilled,  hut  mihl  witli  grace  she  hade 

All  fear  be  gone,  and  said,  "Why  art  thou  so  sad: 

A  messenger  I  c<mie,  and  now  invoke 

\<>ur  earnest  soul."      In  tender  words  she  spoke. 

•■  Heneath  proud  Ilimahiya's  snowy  crest 

There  is  a  land  by  sacred  stoiy  blest. 

Of  him  who  lived  to  dissipate  the  night 

( )f  ignorance,  and  give  all  Asia  light. 

"Tis  good  Siddartlia.  who  has  struggled  on 

And  mounted  liiglier  and  liigher  and  has  won 

The  great  Nirvana.     Come  and  follow  me, 

For  him  we  worship.     llap|iy  you  shall  be." 

Beyond  the  sloping  hill  was  Huddha's  shrine, 

And  thither  did  they  wend  their  way.  AVhcre  vine 

En  wreathed  the  sturdy  tree,  and  verdure  green 

And  bowers  fair  and  varied  flowers  were  seen. 

The  temple  stood.     The    priests    drew    near   and 

throngs 
( )f  humble  worshippers  with  sacred  songs 
I'pon  their  lips,  and  while  they  gathered  round 
To  worship.  Sadra  heard  the  solemn  sound 
Of  tinkling  bells,  and  now  before  the  shrine 
Of  Ihiddlia  monks  and  al)bi>tsfall  in  line. 
And  poiies  and  bisljo|)s  .solemn  homage  pay 
To  him  who  brouijht  to  .Vsia  light — the  way 
To  virtue  and  to  happiness;    and  all 
The  ardent  worshippers  of  Uuddlia  fall 
rpon  their  knees,  an<l  now  pervades  the  air 
The  voice  of  supi)lication  and  of  |)rayer. 
But  soon  the  sound  of  many  voices  die 
Away,  and  eagerly  they  list,  with  eye 
rpon  the  priest,  who  tells  them  how  to  live 
And  lie  like  goo<l  Siddarlha,  and  lo  give 
Their  lives  to  deeds  of  cliarity.  and  gain 
By  deeds  of  merit  frecMlom  from  all  jiain 
And  consciousness,  or  else  a  blessed  state 
Oblivious,  or  alisorption  in  the  great 
Nirvana.     But  the  service  fails  lo  wear 
Away  the  look  of  sadness  and  of  care 
Among  the  eager  listeners.      No  word. 
No  song,  no  prayer,  no  language  they  have    heard 
Has  shown  how  guilt  and  sin  are  washed  away. 
This  life  is  dreary,  no  eternal  day 
.Shines  biight  before   Ihcm.      Doubling  more    and 

more. 
The  humble  Sadra,  pondering  o'er  and  o'er 
The  message,  strayed  again.     Where  lifted  high 
The  giant  trees  their  lofty  branches,  nigh 
A  running  brooklet  in  the  welcome  sliaih-, 
"Mid  nature  in  its  loveliest  form  arrayeil. 
She  sal  oblivious  of  the  passing  day, 


And  thought  of  nature's  God,  who  could  array 

With  myriad  graceful  forms  and  colors  clear 
This  world  of  life  and  beaut\ .  Drawing  near, 
The  daikness  stole  upon  her.     'I'hen  she  stood 
.Vnd  slnnldered,  conscious  of  the  solitude 
.\round  liei'.     Lo,  a  figure  lank  and  lean 
Appro.aches.     From  her  strange  and  glK)stly    mien 
She  would  have  tied.     But  when  shes|)oke  in  tone 
So  mild  and  clear,  and  made  her   message    known. 
'I'lie  timid  Sadia  listened.     She  addressed 
Her  thus:     "If  e\er  more  thou  wouldst  be  blest. 
I  tell  thee  of  the  sunny  land  where  flow 
The  Indus  and  the  Oanges.  and  where  grow 
The  choicest  fruits  and  tro])ic  plants,  and  where. 
Embedded  'neatli  the  soil,  are  treasures  rare; 
Where  mind  has  soared  and  victory    has  crowned 
Their  lofty  seareli,  and  truth  eternal's  found — 
With  Vedic  hymns  and  pra3-ers  and  Indian  lore, 
With  sacred  streams  and  Vishnu  to  adore — 
AVith  torture  of  the  body  and  supreme 
Dislike  of  matter.     Let  thy  beauty  seem 
An  evil,  and  behold  iny  haggard  face 
With    many  a    bruise  and    scar.     Thine    outward 

grace 
Is  guilt  and  evil,  nought  lienealh  the  stars 
Is  good  but  spirit.     Now  with  ugly  scars 
I  i)r.ay  thee  m.ay  thy  form  so  true  and  fair 
Be  bruised.     .Seek  .some  forest  where 
The  prickly  thorn  is  growing,  and  amid 
Its  many  uol\-  branches  I  now  bid 
Thee  thrust  thyself,  for  thou  shalt  save  thy  soul 
By  means  of  conscious    pain.     Would'st    thou   be 

whole? — 
Wish  not  for  death,  wish  not  for  life,  repeat 
The  self-inflicted  torture,  and  may  heal 
And  cold  combine  to  rack  thy  frame,  then  pore 
For  many  a  day  through  all  the  A'edic  lore. 
Come  follow  me  and  I  will  show  thee  how 
We  sacrifice  to  \'ishnu,  how  to  liow 
Before  those  forms  inscribed  upon  the  stone — 
Of  men  with  elephantine  heads,  and  grown 
From  human  shape  re|)lilian  heads 
.\iid  grisly  monsters."     Sadra  trembles.  drca<|s 
The  horrid  visage,  looks  about,  and  when 
Thick  dnikness  throws  its  mantle  o'er  her,  then 
With  ipiickest  speed  she  darted  thro'  the  wood. 
While  every  form  amid  the  solitude 
Was  like  some  ghostly  figure.     Soon  she  dreamed 
Beneath  the  humble  roof,  while  faintly  gleamed 
.V  ray  of  light  upon  her  burdened  soul; 
.Vnd  while  she  longed  the  mystery  to  unroll. 
She     poinU'ied    thus:     "  There    is    rme  flod    who 

made 

Id.     With    wondrous    wisdom    was    each 


The    world, 
blade 
Of  grass  an. 
Uis  might. 


flower  formed.     The  heavens  show 
But  does  He  see  nie.  hear  me,  know 


652 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Me,  love  me?     Is  there  hope  beyond?    Will,  fear 

Of  just  desert  be  gone  by  trusting?"     Near 

Her  view  the  clouds  would  almost  open;  day 

By  day  the  thouglit  repeated,  and  the  ray 

(K  light  still  lingered.    Hope  revived.    She  sought 

To  hear  the  voice  of  nature,  and,  while  naught 

Responded,  she  did  love  to  wander  where 

Tlie  beauteous  forms  around  her  did  declare 

The  wisdom  of  the  great  C^reator.     Near 

The  sound  of  falling  waters,  where  appear 

The  ripples  of  the  stream  on  rocky  lied. 

Where  come  to  view  the  caves  and  lofty  head 

Of  jutting  cliffs,  the  seething  foam  and  spray 

From  falling  cataract,  did  Sadra  stray. 

The  snow-white  pop|)y  and  the  craggy  ledge 

And  creeping  ivy  vines,  and  liy  the  edge 

(_)f  running  streams  the  tufts  of  moss,  and  'rcniiid 

The  foot  of  liills  the  green  turf,  and  the  sound 

Of  feathered  songsters  warbling  in  the  air 

Their  notes  of  sweetest  cadence,  bade  all  care 

To  flee  away.     But  while  in  reverie 

'Mid  varied  forms  beneath  the  canopy 

Of  nature,  lo,  appears  a  distant  gleam 

Of  sword  or  sabre.     Must  she  ford  the  stream 

And  seek  the  woody  shelter?     Can  it  be 

That  from  this  beauteous  Eden  she  musi  tlee? 

Again  she  looks.     A  giant  form  draws  near. 

With  armor  flashing  in  the  sunliiiht.     Fear 

Now  tries  the  nerve  of  Sadra,  for  the  deep 

And  rapid  stream  that  flows  beneath  the  steep 

Rock  rushes  madly,  while  a  warrior  foe 

Did  cause  her  heart  to  quail.     His  piercing  eye 

Bespoke  of  war.     But  ere  a  shriek  or  cry 

She  utters,  he  has  tla-own  his  sword  aside 

And  scimitar.     "  The  deep  and  flowing  tide 

1  pray  thee  do  not  cross,"  he  said  and  smiled. 

With  pleasing  words,  he    spoke  in  accents  mild — 

•'  Two  camel  marches  from  the  great  Red  Sea. 

'Mid  wild  Arabian  hills,  idolatry 

is  banished  evermore.     'Tis  Mecca  l)y 

The  Mount  of  Liglit,  where  intersecting  ways 

Bring  pilgrims  from  afar,  who  love  and  praise 

The  liallowed  spot.     Witliin  its  wall  there  stands 

The  sawed  mosque,  whose  solemn    form    demands 

Our  reverence.     Enclosed  by  colonnade 

They  see  the  holy  Ka'ba  that  was  made 

By  proi)hets  old,  and  on  its  holy  wall 

The  consecrated  black  stone,  which,  at  call 

Of  Abraham,  the  Angel  Gabriel  brought 

From   starry    height,    and    millions    there    have 

sought 
Its  mystic  touch.     0'ersi)read    with  black  limeade 
From  hoary  Egypt's  c'ity.  and  o'erlaid 
With  band  adorned  with  golden    letters,    wrought 
With  skill  from  sacred  Kt)ran,  where  is  taught 
The  w.ay  lo  heaven:  the  holy  place  we  view 
And  near  its  site,  the  eager  throng  renew 


Their  vigor  by  the  water  from  the  well 

Of  Hagar.     There  is  naught  that  can  excel 

The  words  of  wisdom  that  the  snppliants  hear. 

In  reverence  now  they  gather  and  with  ear 

Attentive  listen  to  the  message.     Light  to  all 

Who  seek  a  heaven  above,  where  bright 

Robed  angels  sing  and  chant  their  p»ans,  came 

From  lips  of  Islam's  follower,  whose  aim 

It  was  a  brighter,  holier  light  to  shed — 

Not  everlasting  chaos  for  the  dead. 

There  is  no  god  but  God;  the  Islam  faith 

Brings  life  and  light  and  heaven,  all  others  death. 

All  others  let  them  be  accursed.     The  priest 

Continues,  says  the  crescent  has  released 

From  death  the  millions  who  accepted, said 

If  all  would  bow  and  worship,  then  the  dread 

That  Hlled  their  soul  and  made    them  sad    would 

flee. 
And  heaven's  brightest  glories  they  would  see. 
Then  prostrate  on  their  face  the  people  pray 
And  mutter 'Allah!  Allah!'  " — "Daughter,  say 
Before  me  now  that  thou  will  ever  be 
The  humble  follower  and  devotee 
Of  Islam."  said  the  stranger  in  a  tone 
Persuasive.     Lovely  Sadra,  almost  won 
By  words  inspiring,  asked  •'  If  God  so  great 
Would,  like  a  tender  Father,  bid  the  weight 
Of  sin  be  gone,  and  love  me,  or  am  1 
A  slave  and  God  a  tyrant?  "     No  reply. 
The  winning  smile  has  disappeared,  and  now 
With  voice  stentorian,  vengeance  on  his  brow. 
He  added,  "  Holy  Just  One,  most  divine. 
Has  ordered  this,  the  crescent,  Islam's  sign. 
To  be  a  mark  of  fealty.     May  it  be  thine 
Forever,  wilt  thou  not?     Then  we  combine 
With  mortal  weapons."     Then  with  rapid  move 
He  grasped  his  sword  and  scimitar  to  prove 
Her  loyalty,  and  spoke:  "A  conquering  host. 
We're  marching  onward,  and  demanding  most 
Abject  obedience  to  our  faith."    Then  flashed 
His  gleaming  armor,  and  with  force  he  dashed 
,  Beside  the  rapid  stream  on  rocky  bed 
Whereon  he  stood  a  clump  of  clay,  and  said 
"  So  may  it  ever  be  lo  one  and  all, 
To  every  race  who  live  upon  this  ball 
Who  foilow  not  the  crescent."     Human   tongue 
Can  ne'er  describe  her  tenor.     Fear  had  wrung 
Her  nerves,  and  horrid  death  was  near  her.     Yield 
She  could  not.     "rioil."  she  cried,  "come  nigh  and 

wield 
Some  power  U)  set  me  free!"     But  list,  a  cry 
That  rent  the  air!  The  warrior  fell  to  die; 
Then  rose  a  shout  of  triumph,  while  drew  nigh 
The  bitter  foe  of  Islam,  vengeance  in  his  eye. 
And  while  she  stood  and  trembled  with  alarm 
lie  came  a  friend,  and  bade  her  fear  no  harm. 
■'Well  might  you  quail  before  that  vilest  foe," 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOaRAPHlCAL   RIX'ORD. 


(55:? 


He  said,  "  but  my  protecting  Aegis,  lo 

I  give  you,  'tis  tlie  crucifix,  the  sign 

Of  Calvary.     Redeiuplioii  will  be  Lliint^ 

If  tliou  accept."     IJiit  Sadia,  weak  with  fright, 

Implored  protection  ere  the  coming  night 

•Should  bring  thick  darkness.     "Sisters,  come,"  he 

said. 
When  rose  two  forms,  in  plain  attire,  who  led 
The  friglitened  .Sadra  to  their  palace  home. 
With  lender  voice  tiie  Sisters  bade  iier  come 
And  seek  rejiose. — The  morning  breaks;  the  day 
lias  dawned,  and  ere  the  maiden  goes  her  way. 
While  in  the  palmy  grove  on  rustic  seat. 
The  loving  sisters  offer  to  repeat 
The  story  of  the  cross,  and  thus  recite: 
•'  If  thou  wouid'st  know  the  only  fount  of  light, 
Far  off  by  ancient  Tiber's  flowing  stream 
.•\mid  the  seven  hills,  where  once  did  gleam 
The  flickering,  glimmering  light  of  pagan  lore, 
And  heathen  emperors  ruled  fiom  shore   to  shore, 
The  Kternal  City  stands.     The  reverend  head 
Of  all  the  cinirchly  power,  designed  to  shed 
The  light  of  truth  o'er  all  the  world,  resides 
Within  its  gates  and  sits  enthroned,  presides 
As  the  annointed  one  with  mystic  key 
To  open  heaven's  doors  and  grant  the  tree 
Of  life  to  all  who  worship  and  adoie 
The  holy  faith.     Come  kneel  and  bow  before 
His  chosen  priest,  the  secrets  of  thy  heart 
I'nbosom,  and  forever  will  depart 
Thy  guilt;  and  wear  the  crucifix,  the  sign 
Of  Him  who  came  and  showed  His    jjower  di\  ine. 
And  died  and  rose."     A  loving  parting  word. 
And  Sadra  hastened,  pondeiing  what  she  heard. 
Nor  pope,  nor  jiriest,  nor  city,  nc>r  the  power 
Of  cinirchly  lule  were  valued  in  theliour 
Of  meditation,  but  the  One  who  died 
Upon  the  cross,  and  .as  she  thought  she  sighed 
And  breathed  a  pr.ayer — "  15c  merciful  to  mel" 
Time  moved  with  rapid  pace,  and  speedily 
Were  changes  wrought.     And  now  a  guest  refined 
.\pproaches  where  beneath  the  bough  reclined 
The  gentle  .Sadra.     Gracefully  he  speaks. 
And  softly  does  she  answer,  while  he  seeks 
To  win  her  favor.    'Xeath  that  spreading  tree, 
Where  vi<jlet,s  bloomed  and  sweet  anemone. 
Where  gentle  zephyrs  fanned  her  golden  locks. 
Near  by  the  jutting  cliff  of  tlinty  rocks, 
'Mid  lovely  foliage  with  its  fragrance  sweet. 
The}-  sat  in  converse  on  the  rural  seat. 
The  scenes  through  which  she  passed,  the  thought 

that  wove 
Upon  her,  she  recounted.     "  Nevermore, 
I  pray  thee,"  said  her  guest  •' allow  thy  thought 
To  wander  in  tiie  dark.     1  long  have  sought 
To  know  the  truth.  We  live  where  mj-ths abound — 


There  is  no  faith  in  ail  the  world  around 

Entitled  to  our  credit;  and  no  light 

Except  from  nature.     Banish  from  your  sight 

The  endless  creeds  that  stay  all  progress,  scan 

For  naught  the  Koran,  Yedas,  Bible.     Man 

Should  never  be  enslaved  to  fables.     Turn 

Your  thoughts  from  pi-odigies  and  wonders.  J.,earn 

The  world  of  f.-icts,  for  we  have  reached  beyond 

The  miracles,  and  conjurer's  magic  wand, 

The  puerile  words  of  Buddha.  Laotse, 

Confucius  and  the  Christ  of  Galilee. 

The  tlinisy  ground  on  which  their  teachings  stand 

Has  broken  down.     No  longer  the}-  command 

Respect  from  thougiitful   men.     The    inighl\-  acts 

Of  men  of  science,  dealing  in  a  world  of  facts. 

Demand  our  homage."     With  triumphant  air 

He  ce.ased.     A  pause  ensued,  and  .Sadra  fair 

Did  softly  question  thus:     "What  then  is  truer  ' 

A  painful  pause,  and  then  the  silence  grew 

Prolonged.     No  answer.     Now  beneath    the  brow 

Of  yonder  hill,  the  sun  is  sinking  low, 

While  twilight  shades  are  thickening;  lovingly 

He  clasps  her  hand  in  his  and  winningly 

Awaits  a  glance  responsive;  vain  his  arti 

.\nd  with  a  parting  word  and  heavy  heart 

He  turns  his  homeward  way.     In  shady  grove. 

In  after  time,  where  anciently'  did  rove 

The  wild  and  savage  natives,  she  did  gaze 

I'pon  the  throng  assembling.     What  a  maze 

When  motley  crowds  their  many  voices  raise 

In  honor  of  their  gods!     And  while  all  praise 

Their  faitli,  she  sees  the  wild  and  haggard  face 

Of  Brahma's  devotee,  and  with  her  lovely  grace 

The  beauteous  form  of  Buddha's  worshipper 

The  holy  crescent's  gleam,  the  messenger 

Of  Rome  with  crucifix,  and  in  the  train 

Believers  in  the  spirit  world,  who  f.aiu 

Would  seek  adherents,  and  agnostics  small 

.\nd  great.  Confucius'  followers,  and  all 

Who  follow  .\braham.     Now  stands  in   view 

A  messenger  of  peace  to  tell  the  true 

From  false.     They  hear  his  voice,  profound 

The  silence   reigns.     They   ne'er  have    heard    the 

sound 
Of  words  so  w-elcome.     Thus  the  stranger  spoke. 
"If  thou  wouldst  know  the  only  easy  yoke 
-Vllied  with  freedom,  hear  the  joyful  sound 
Of  Zion's  song  to  all  the  world  around. 
.Vnd  know  the  one  true  light,  the  guiding  sUir. 
There  is  a  chain  of  lakes  that  stretches  far 
Within  a  niiglily  continent,  and  one 
Extending  southward,  on  whose  shore  has  grown 
A  mighty  city.     On  a  gentle  rise  of  ground 
Still  southward  from  the  bustle  and  the  sound 
Of  cit3'  clamor,  is  the  modest  seat 
Of  Christian  learning.     There  inquirers  meet 


054 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD, 


And  learn  of  Him  wlio  was  a  sacrifice 

For  all  wlio  hear  His  message.     Analyze 

The  truth  and  sift  the  error,  then  go  forth 

As  heralds  to  proclaim  His  matchless  worth. 

Thence  came  I  to  this  beauteous  isle  to  tell 

Of  Him  whose  rising  glor}'  dotii  excel. 

He  speaks  to  you,  'Come  unto  Me  and  I 

Will  give  you  rest.     God  sent  Me  here  to  die 

That  you  maj'  live."  "     Thus  holdh'  spoke  the  one 

Who  came  with  joyful  news.     No  sooner  done. 

Than  Sadra,  anchored  in  the  truth,  did  find 

Her  burden  gone.     Now  all  the  light  combined 

Of  Asia,  Islam,  and  their  boasted  lore 

I3id  sink  away  invisible  before 

The  brighter  lustre  of  that  glorious  cross, 

And  all  their  words  of  wisdom  seemed  but  dross 

Beside  the  Christian  iiope  and  Christ  who  brings 

Redemption.     Listen,  while  tlie  stranger  sings 

The  Gospel  songsl     There  comes  the  piercing  cry, 

"What  shall  I  do.'     Can  hearts  of  crimson  dye 

Be    cleansed.'^"     They  hear,  they   live,  the  chorus 

song 
They  join,  and  praise  the  St>n.     Amid  tlie  tlirong 
Is  heard  the  clash  of  arms,  the  voice  of  war 
To  meet  b^'  force  the  stranger  from  afar. 
Again  his  voice  is  heard,  while   silence  reigned — 
"  No  arms    we   bring.     Our    faith  shall    ne'er    be 

stained 
By  worldly  force.     Shall  we  put  out  the  stars 
That  all  may  see  the  sun.'     We  need  not  mar 
The  feeble  lights  to  make  our  deeds  seem  bright — 
Disturb  not  others  with  their  glimmering  light. 
The  Son  of  Righteousness  iiath  risen,  shines 
His  glory  forth,  and  all  tlie  heathen  shrines 
Will  quickly  crumble  'neath  His  heavenly  r.ays. 
And  all  shall  join  His  holy  name  to  praise." 

Rev.  Fuller  has  made  a  specialty  of  tlie  study 
of  Greek  and  Latin,  and  has  read  two  of  his  liter- 
ary productions  before  the  St.  Louis  Ministers' 
Association.  During  his  career  in  the  Chicago 
University  he  was  class-poet  during  the  entire 
course,  and  frequently  lead  his  productions  in 
public.  He  also  edited  the  Volants,  the  Univer- 
sity paper.  May  16,  1882,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Alice  Stearns,  of  Lake  Gen- 
eva, Wis.,  a  native  of  Oshkosh,  Wis.,  and  a 
daughter  of  L.  P.  and  Alura  A.  (Kinney)  Stearns, 
of  Oshkosh.  She  was  educated  in  her  native  place 
and  Milwaukee,  and  for  about  seven  years  was  a 
teacher  in  the  public  schools  near  Lake  Geneva. 
She  is  a  noble  woman  in  every  respect,  and  is  a 
model  in  her  home,  in  the  church,  and  in  the  so- 
cial   circle    in    which    she   moves.     Quick    in    her 


s_vinpathies,  intelligent  and  tactful  in  her  honestj', 
brave  in  her  modesty,  she  is  a  rare  power  in  all 
her  husband's  work.  She  has  borne  her  husband 
three  children:  Henry  Hill,  born  July  13,  1883; 
William  Edgar,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three 
years;  and  Frederick  Hudson,  born  September  1  1, 
1892.  Socially,  Rev.  Mr.  Fuller  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pvthia,s. 


^>-^^<m^- 


ENRY  BERTELSMANN,  who  resides  on  sec- 
tion 4,  Smithton  Township,  St.  Clair 
County,  111.,  was  born  in  the  Province  of 
^  Hanover,  Germany,  in  1821.  He  came  to 
this  country  in  1823,  and  first  located  at 
St.  Louis.  There  he  engaged  in  teaming,  and 
made  that  city  his  home  for  thirty  years,  when  he 
removed  to  St.  Clair  Coimty.  111.,  and  rented  a 
farm,  which  he  cultivated.  ^\'lliU■  living  at  St. 
Louis,  he  married  Miss  Maria  Hamm,  who  bore 
him  five  children.  Tiring  of  paying  rent-money, 
and  having  saved  up  something,  he  looked  out 
for  a  tract  that  would  bu  suitable  for  a  [lermanent 
home,  and  finally  purelia.sed  the  faim  upon  which 
he  now  lives.  This  consists  of  one  hundred  acres 
of  good  land,  all  of  it  well  improved  in  conse- 
(pienee  of  industry  and  careful  attention  to  all 
the  details  of  the  farm,  (iood  tillage  has  brought 
tangible  results,  which  permitted  the  erection  of 
needed  good  buildings,  fences,  etc.,  most  of  which 
have  been  erected  by  Mr.  Bertelsmann  since  he 
bought  the  place.  His  care  has  been  to  have  a 
comfortable  home  for  his  family  and  a  cominodi- 
!  ous  barn  and  outhouses  for  his  stock.  The  ))rinci- 
pal  crops  rai.sed  upon  the  farm  are  potatoes,  corn, 
wheat,  etc. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  licrtelsmann  to  Miss  Hamm 
h.as  resulted  in  a  family  of  five  children,  all  of 
whom  are  living.  John  C.  lives  at  home  and  runs 
the  farm  for  his  father.  He  married  Miss  Teresa 
Yutzh,  who  has  borne  him  ten  children,  five  of 
whom  are  living.  Mary,  the  second  child,  is  the 
widow  of  Frank  Lachemeyer.  J.  11.,  the  third 
child,  lives    in    Smithton    Township.      Henry,   the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


<!a5 


fourth,  lives  on  the  Cenlreville  road.  Annie,  the 
fifth,  the  wife  of  Charles  Weber,  lives  at  Belleville. 
Our  subject  holds  religious  views  that  were  in- 
stilled into  him  in  his  childhood  and  from  which 
he  1ms  not  in  any  wise  departed,  he  being  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church.  While  taking 
an  interest  in  affairs  relating  to  the  county,  State 
and  nation,  he  does  not  take  a  prominent  or  very 
active  part  in  politics.  Still  he  has  at  heart  the 
success  of  the  Democratic  party,  which  he  always 
assists  with  his  vote  and  his  inducuce.  During 
the  late  war,  he  was  drafted  into  the  army,  but  he 
could  not  tind  it  convenient  to  go,  so  he  hired  a 
substitute,  to  whom  he  i)aid  the  sum  of  ^l.OiiO. 


/^  IIARLKS  II.  SACEH,  of  Lebanon  Town.ship, 
(l(  St.  Clair  County,  111.,  w.as  born   November 

^^'^  .').  183«.  at  Lancaster,  Fairfield  County, 
Ohio.  His  father  was  born  near  Hamburg,  Ger- 
many, .lune  12.  1800,  and  died  July  1.  1877;  hi^ 
mother,  born  in  Virginia  in  180.3.  died  in  the  year 
1880.  They  were  married  in  Ohio,  and  removed 
to  Washington  C.  H.,  Fayette  County.  Our 
subject  is  one  of  seven  children,  namely:  Eliza- 
beth, who  remained  single,  died  at  about  the  age  of 
thirty-one;  .lane,  single,  died  at  about  the  age  of 
thirtv-five;  Eliza,  single,  livingal  Lebanon;  M.S., 
manager  of  Washington  Stamping  Works,  resid- 
ing at  W.ashington  C.  II.,  Ohio,  married  to  Miss 
Letta  McMaster;  Irene,  dying  in  childhood,  at 
Oakland,  Ohio;  Frances,  living  in  Arkansas  City, 
Kan.,  married  to  .1.  H.  Eckert,  a  lawyer,  having 
two  children.  Mary  and  Fannie,  twins.  In  his 
parents'  family  our  subject  was  the  fifth  child. 

Our  subject  remained  in  Ohio  until  he  was 
twenty  years  of  age,  when  he  came  with  his  par- 
ents to  Illinois,  .ind  eng.aged  in  the  hardware  and 
tinsmith  business  at  his  present  location,  his  father 
being  associated  with  iiim.  Choice  was  made  of 
this  business  because  Charles  had  learned  the  trade 
of  a  tinsmith  in  Ohio.     He  was  married,  March   3, 

18.t9,  to  Amelia  Starkel,  daughter  of   Charles  and 


Amelia  Starkel,  who  were  born  in  Germany  and 
emigrated  to  America  when  Mrs.  Sager  was  but 
eight  years  of  age.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sager  became  the 
parents  of  five  children,  namely:  Eniil,  living  at 
St.  Louis,  employed  in  the  retail  department  of 
the  Simmons  Hardware  Company  for  the  past 
eight  years,  also  owning  a  hardware  business  in 
charge  of  his  brother.  James  R.,  at  Xos.  410() 
and  4108  Easton  Avenue,  St.  Louis,  married 
Miss  Addie  Moore,  by  whom  he  has  two  boys; 
Francis  died  in  infancy;  Edgar,  in  the  hardware 
and  tinware  business  with  his  father,  married 
Miss  Sarah  Fleischbein,  by  whom  he  has  a  daugh- 
ter; .Tames  R.,  living  at  St.  Louis,  in  charge  of  his 
brother  Emil's  store,  is  single;  and  Jesse,  living 
at  home. 

All  the  above-named  children  have  been  given  a 
good  education  bj'  their  father,  our  subject.  Emil, 
after  receiving  a  common-school  course,  enjoyed 
Ihe  advantages  offered  by  McKcndree  College  for 
one  term,  and  a  militarv  academy  for  one  year; 
Edgar  was  educated  in  the  common  schools;  James 
supplemented  a  public-school  course  with  manual 
training  in  Washington  University.  In  his  re- 
ligious faith  our  subject  holds  to  the  views  of  the 
Calvinistic  school,  .and  is  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Or- 
der of  United  Workmen,  and  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  having  passed  the  Chairs  in 
the  latter  order.  The  principles  of  the  Republican 
party  are  in  full  harmony  with  the  opinions  enter- 
tained by  him.  Chosen  a  member  of  the  City 
Council,  and  otherwise  prominent,  his  influence  in 
party  mailers  is  universally  recognized. 


t,  ETER  PREDIGER,  a  successful  general 
]);  agriculturist  and  well-known  energetic 
and  representative  citizen,  residing  in 
Lenzburg  Township,  St.  Clair  Cmuity,  Ill.i 
owns  an  excellent  farm  of  one  hundred  acres  of 
land,  all  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  Our 
subject  is  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  was  born  upon 
the  farm  where  he  resides  in  the  year  1856.     He  is 


1)56 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  son  of  Peter  and  Nancy  (McKahey)  Prediger, 
both  natives  of  Germany,  wliere  the  father  was 
born  in  1817,  and  his  wife,  whose  birthplace  was 
not  far  from  his,  in  the  year  1826.  When  Peter 
Prediger  was  but  a  little  lad  of  six  years,  he  emi- 
grated with  his  parents  to  the  United  States. 

Not  long  after  their  arrival  in  America,  these 
paternal  grandparents  of  our  subject  settled  upon 
Dutch  Hill  Prairie  and  bought  land  which  they 
patiently  cultivated.  After  some  years'  sojourn  in 
their  new  home,  during  which  time  they  were  ever 
industrious  and  law-abiding  citizens,  highly  re- 
spected by  all  who  knew  them,  the  worthy  hus- 
band and  wife  passed  from  their  labors  to  a  better 
world.  At  about  the  age  of  twenty-one  years, 
Peter  Prediger,  Sr.,  married  the  mother  of  our 
subject,  who  was  the  daughter  of  James  and  Nancy 
McKahey,  and  a  most  estimable  lady,  and  the 
mother  of  three  sons:  William,  John  and  Peter, 
our  subject.  John  died  in  1892.  Peter  Prediger, 
Sr.,  had  but  very  limited  advantages  for  an  educa- 
tion, being  left  an  orphan  at  the  age  of  nine  years. 
Very  early  in  life  forced  to  begin  the  struggle  for 
an  existence,  he  proved  himself  a  self-reliant,  ener- 
getic and  ambitious  man.  Beginning  a  poor  and 
friendless  boy,  he  won  his  way  upward,  and  ac- 
cumulated a  large  tract  of  valuable  land,  which  he 
cultivated  and  thereby  acquired  a  competence.  Po- 
litically, he  was  a  true  Democrat,  and  took  an 
active  Interest  in  local  and  national  affairs. 

Our  subject  was  reared  and  educated  upon  the 
old  homestead  and  in  tlie  neighboring  schools. 
Tlioroughly  trained  in  the  duties  of  agriculture, 
Peter  Prediger,  Jr.,  was  well  fitted  to  care  for  him- 
self and  to  make  a  comfortable  iiome  for  a  wife 
when,  in  1880,  he  was  married  to  JVIiss  Elizabeth 
Metzzler,  a  daughter  of  Adam  and  Maiy  Metzzler. 
Into  the  pleasant  and  happy  home  of  our  subject 
and  his  good  wife  have  come  five  bright  and  in- 
telligent children,  Emma,  Carrie,  Otto,  Linda 
and  Bablin,  who  will  each  and  all  enjoy  the  ex- 
cellent educational  advant.ages  of  their  locality 
and  home  neighborhood.  Mr.  Prediger  is  a  valued 
member  of  Belleville  Lodge  No.  92,  K.  P.  Politi- 
cally, our  subject  is  a  Democrat,  as  was  his  father 
before  him,  and  although  never  an  aspirant  for 
public  otJice,  ever  takes  an  active   interest   in   the 


management  of  local  and  National  affairs.  Always 
ready  to  aid  in  the  enterprises  and  improvements 
of  the  township  and  vicinity,  Mr.  Prediger  does  liis 
duty  as  a  true  American  citizen,  and,  as  a  native 
of  St.  Clair  County,  has  been  an  eye-witness  of  the 
rapid  growth  and  permanent  advancement  of  all 
the  prominent  interests  of  the  State.  For  tiie  past 
thirty  years,  our  subject  has  been  identified  with 
the  history  f)f  his  neighborhood  and  vicinity,  and 
is  highly  legarded  by  the  entire  community, 
among  whom  he  has  passed  his  life  from  infancy 
to  adult  age. 


X.   J.  >[ 


ON.  JOSEPH  B.  MESSICK,  a  leading  attor- 
ney-at-law,  located  in  East  St.  Louis,  and 
widely  known  as  Judge  Messick,  is  one  of 
■_f;  the  most  prominent,  able  and  influential 
citizens  of  Illinois.  A  gentleman  of  superior 
social  and  business  attainments,  commanding  the 
esteem  and  confidence  of  all  who  know  him,  he 
has  held  various  positions  of  trust  and  honor,  and 
has  been  intimately  associated  of  late  with 
National  and  local  politic-:. 

Our  subject  was  Ijorn  in  Macoupin  County.  111., 
seven  miles  south  of  Carlinville,  January  29. 
1847.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Abraham  Mes- 
.sick,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  but  early 
settled  in  Kentucky,  in  which  State  Joseph  Mes- 
sick, Sr.,  was  born  in  1814.  Grandfather  Messick 
was  of  German  descent,  and  was  an  industrious 
and  successful  farmer  of  Christian  County.  Ky., 
and  was  known  as  a  man  of  sterling  integrity  of 
character. 

Joseph  Messick,  Sr.,  while  yet  a  single  man, 
went  to  Galena,  where  he  remained  aliout  five 
years,  when  he  removed  to  Sangamon  County, 
afterwards  making  his  home  in  Macoupin  County. 
He  was  acquainted  with  Abraham  IJncoln,  and, 
like  him,  in  early  life  assisted  in  splitting  rails. 
In  1840  he  returned  tc>  Kentucky,  but  soon  again 
made  himself  a  home  upon  eighty  acres  of  land  in 
Macoupin  County,  where  he  built  a  little  lude  log 
house  of  one  room,  and  settled  down  to  the  pioneer 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


experience  of  tbose  earl}'  davs.  Knergetic  and 
ambitious,  lie  achieved  success,  and  became  an  ex- 
tensive land-owner  of  hundreds  of  valuable  acres, 
but  in  unlucky  investments  of  slock  lost  much  of 
his  properly.  In  the  year  1876,  he  removed  lo 
Crawford  County,  Kan.,  near  Girard,  and  bought 
a  fine  farm,  which  he  cultivated  until  his  ciealh, 
in  February.  1891.  At  one  time  he  was  a  Whig, 
but  later  became  an  ardent  Republican.  Jii  relig- 
ious atliliation  he  was,  when  a  young  man,  a  Bap- 
tist, but  at  the  lime  of  his  demise  was  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Kpiscopal  Churcli. 

The  mother  of  our  subject,  .Sarah  K.  (Kittenger) 
Messick,  was  born  in  Kentucky,  and  wa.s  a  daughter 
of  Martin  Kittenger.  born  in  Pennsylvania,  but  an 
early  settler  and  slaveholder  of  Kentucky.  Mrs. 
Sarah  Messick  passedaway  March  .'$,  1861.  .ludgc 
Messick  was  one  of  a  family  of  ume  children,  four 
of  whom  are  now  living.  The  eldest  brother, 
Daniel  W.,  enlisted  in  1861,  at  the  fii-st  tap 
of  the  drum,  in  the  Seventh  Illinois  Infantry, 
and  at  the  expiration  of  three  months  re-en  listed 
in  the  Thirty -second  Illinois,  soon  receiving  the  de- 
.served  promotion  of  Orderly  Sergeant.  This  brave, 
yonng  and  patriotic  soldier  was  shot  and  killed  in 
a  skirmish  at  Pittsburgh  Landing.  March  1.1862. 
lie  was  the  first  man  killed  in  the  regiment,  and 
was  mourned  by  all  his  companions  of  those  troub- 
lous days.  The  Daniel  Messick  Post,  G.  A.  R..  in 
Carlinville,  was  named  in  his  honor. 

James  V.  Messick  enlisted  in  1864  in  the 
One  Hundred  and  Thirty-third  Illinois  Infantry, 
serving  until  the  fall  of  1864,  when  he  was 
mustered  out.  He  is  now  located  at  Carlinville. 
Joseph  B..  <mr  subject,  was  raised  upon  the  home- 
stead, and  early  assisted  in  the  labors  of  the  farm, 
and  acquired  a  thorough  knowledge  of  agricultural 
duties.  During  the  winter  months  Judge  Messick 
enjoyed  the  advantage  of  instruction  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  the  neighborhood,  and  from  1866 
to  1867  attended  the  ShurtlelT  College  at  Upper 
Alton.  In  August,  1864,  our  subject  enlisted  in 
the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-fourth  Illinois  In- 
fantry. Company  I,  and  was  mustered  in  at  St. 
Louis  and  sent  with  a  battalion  into  Missouri, 
and  remained  in  the  service  until  July,  1865, 
when  he  was  mustered   out   and    returned    home. 


He  then  entered  Shurtleflf  College  and  well  im- 
))roved  the  time  in  that  excellent  institution, 
and,  after  a  course  of  study,  began  teaching  school 
and  continued  as  an  instructor  until  1869,  work- 
ing meantime  in  summei-s  upon  the  home  farm  and 
also  studying  law   under  Gen.  Reukail. 

Later  Judge  Messick  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  at 
C:ulinville,and  taught  school  until  1872,  when  he 
went  to  East  Si.  Louis  and  opened  a  law  ofticc. 
In  1875.  our  subject  was  elected  to  the  position  of 
City  Judge,  the  duties  of  which  office  he  dis- 
charged with  distinguished  ability,  his  decisions 
ever  being  sustained  by  law  and  evidence.  For 
four  years  he  occupied  the  judicial  bench  with 
honor  and  etticiency,  and  in  1875,  at  the  close  of 
his  term  of  office,  again  resumed  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  In  1881.  .ludge  Messick  was  appointed 
Deputy  Collector  of  Internal  Revenue  for  the 
Fourth  District  of  the  Thirteenth  District,  for  one 
term.  In  1882,  he  was  elected  upon  the  Republi- 
can ticket  to  the  State  Legislature  from  .St.  Clair 
County,  and  w.as  re-elected  in  1884,  remaining  in 
office  until  1886.  As  a  member  of  the  Legislature 
he  was  faithful  lo  his  constituents  and  did  excel- 
lent work  upon  various  important  committees.  Dur- 
ing his  terms  the  .State  Legislature  contained  a  large 
number  of  brilliant  men,  some  of  whom  have  since 
occupied  chairs  in  the  I'nited  .States  Senate. 

July  1,  1884,  our  subject  formed  a  part- 
nership with  a  leading  attorney,  the  firm  being 
Messick  ik  Rhoads.  The  well-known  office  of  the 
firm  is  located  at  No.  320  Jlissouri  Avenue.  In 
1889,  Gov.  Fifer  appointed  Judge  Messick  a  mem- 
ber of  the  .State  Board  for  Southern  Illinois  pen- 
sions, and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  became 
President  of  the  Board.  January  1,  1885,  our 
subject  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Snrah  P. 
Woods, who  was  born  in  DesMoinesand  isa  daugh- 
ter of  James  A.Woods,  a  con  tractor  of  East  .St.  Louis. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Messick  have  one  child,  a  son,  J.  B., 
Jr.  Richard  O.  <lied  in  1887.  Judge  Messick  is 
a  charter  member  of  McDowell  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  and 
is  also  a  Modern  Woodman.  Always  a  Republican, 
our  subject  has  been  a  delegate  lo  the  various  .State 
conventions  since  1871,  and  was  Chairman  of 
the  county  convention  for  two  years  and  received 
the  honor  of  being  sent  as  delegate  to  the  National 


(i58 


PORTEAIT  AND  BIOGRArmCAL  RECORD. 


coiiventioii  at  jNIinueapolisi.  Judge  Messick  enjoys 
the  distinction  of  being  a  popular  man  witli  botli 
Democrats  and  Republicans.  Ever  genial,  courte- 
ous, affable,  benevolent  and  sympathetic  by  nature, 
his  ready  wit  and  exceptional  conversational  abil- 
ity render  him  a  host  whose  cordiality  and  enter- 
tainment are  never  forgotten  by  the  guests  who 
enjoy  his  hospitality.  Upright  and  honorable  in 
the  daily  transactions  of  life,  our  subject  com- 
mands the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  fellow- 
citizens,  and  the  attractive  home  at  No.  517  North 
Ninth  Street  is  the  scene  of  many  brilliant  social 
gatherings. 


I>^  RS.  CATHERINE  HARDY,  of  Lenzburg 
///  lli  To^^'iship.  f>t.  Clair  County,  111.,  was  born 
jj  \s  in  Germany  in  1819,  and  is  the  daughter 
-'■>  of  Peter  and  Catherine  (Sun)  Makendoler, 

both  of  whom  were  natives  of  France.  The  father 
of  our  subject  started  with  his  family  for  the  United 
States  in  1827,  and  the  mother  died  on  the  journey 
up  the  Mississippi,  two  days  before  the  arrival  at 
St.  Louis.  Upon  reaching  tiie  latter  place,  his  cir- 
cumstances were  so  straitened  that  he  was  under 
the  necessity  of  separating  from  his  children,  four 
in  number,  and  parceling  them  out  among  strangers. 
Mv.  Makendoler  never  succeeded  in  gathering  his 
family  together  again,  as  he  died  in  a  few  j'ears, 
and  before  he  secured  a  position  that  would  war- 
rant such  a  step. 

Our  subject,  the  eldest  of  the  children,  made 
her  home  for  three  j'ears  with  .lacob  Margie. 
No  advantages  of  schooling  were  afforded  her, 
vet  her  strong  natural  sense  and  keen  obser- 
vation have  combined  to  give  her  a  fund  of  in- 
formation that  stands  well  in  its  stead.  Possessed 
of  a  memory  above  the  average,  slie  recalls  inci- 
dents and  events  with  striking  exactness,  and 
talks  intelligently  upon  a  great  variety  of  ques- 
tions. She  was  married  in  1838  to  John  Hardy, 
who  was  born  in  Switzerland  in  1812,  and  came  to 
the    United    States    with    his    parents,  Jacob   and 


Barbara  Hardy,  both  natives  of  Switzerland,  in 
1817.  This  old  family  first  settled  in  Indiana,  re- 
maining there  one  year,  at  the  end  of  which  time 
they  removed  to  Dutch  Hill  Prairie,  St.  Clair  Coun- 
ty, III.,  being  among  the  very  earliest  settlers  of. 
that  section  of  country.  Jacob.  Hardy  was  a  farmer, 
having  followed  that  calling  all  his  life. 

John  Hardy  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  as  follows:  Catherine,  John,  Eliz- 
abeth, Susan,  Jacob,  Mary  and  Henry.  John,  Eliz- 
abeth and  Susan  are  dead.  These  children  were 
all  born  upon  the  estate  of  their  grandparents, 
their  father  having  lived  at  home  with  his  parents 
until  his  marriage,  when  he  and  their  mother  made 
a  home  on  another  part  of  the  farm.  Onr  subject, 
as  was  also  her  husband,  is  a  member  of  the  Ger- 
man Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  His  political 
belief  held  him  to  the  Republican  party.  The 
death  of  this  good  man  occurred  in  1«82.  when  he 
was  seventy  years  of  age. 


ICHOLAS  GERMAIN,  an  industrious 
farmer  and  respected  citizen,  living  upon  a 

i;^  nicely  improved  tract  of  eighty  acres  on 
section  9,  Smithton  Township,  St.  Clair  County, 
111.,  is  the  son  of  Hyacinth  Germain,  whose  sketch 
will  appear  in  another  portion  of  this  work.  This 
farm  was  purchased  in  1842  by  the  father  of  our 
subject,  and  has  been  in  the  family  ever  since, 
Nicholas  having  been  born  and  reared  upon  it, 
and  has  lived  there  continuously  from  the  time  of 
his  marriage.  After  years  of  attendance  at  the 
public  school  of  his  district,  our  subject  took  a 
course  of  instruction  In  schools  at  St.  Louis,  his 
education  embracing  a  line  of  study  in  the  (Ger- 
man as  well  as  the  English  language. 

In  the  year  1874,  Mr.  Germain  was  married  to 
IMiss  Elizabeth  Meister,  daughter  of  Jacob  Meister, 
of  Belleville,  the  offspring  of  the  marriage  being- 
ten  children,  all  living,  as  follows:  Kosa,  Elnora. 
Edward  John,  Robert  D.,  Albert  Henry,' Etta,  Ida, 
Anna  Helen,  Margaret  and  Lena.  Our  subject  has 
put  to  good   account  the  fertile  land  of  his  farm. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


(\:,i) 


which  he  devotes  to  tlie  growing  of  grain  and  the 
raising  of  stock.  Hi-  takes  decided  interest  in  cat- 
tle, and  can  sliow  to  visitors  some  ver_v  line  Hol- 
stein  cows  tliat  have  grown  up  under  tiis  eye. 
whose  superior  condition  is  largely  due  to  hi>i  in- 
telligent care.  .\n  »pt  knowledge  of  the  soil  and 
its  adaptability  to  various  grains  enable  him  to 
choose  to  best  advantage  the  kind  of  seeds  that 
will  yield  him  the  best  harvest.  Careful  cultiva- 
tion, with  industrious  application  to  work,  has  re- 
sulted in  winning  for  him  the  well-deserved  repu- 
tation of  a  good  farmer. 

The  religious  convictions  of  our  subject  are  de- 
cided, being  the  result  of  early  education  received 
at  home  and  of  the  retlcction  that  comes  with  ma- 
ture years.  Towards  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  in 
whose  membciship  he  is  enrolled,  he  holds  senti- 
ments of  attachment  and  allegiance.  While  he 
does  not  take  a  busy  or  prominent  part  in  politics. 
Mr.  Germain  always  manifests  lively  interest  in  the 
success  of  the  Democratic  parly,  the  ticket  of 
which  he  alwavs  votes. 


:^^f, 


'  OUN  lir.lNZKLMAN.  a  practical  mechanic 
who  is  ac(iuainted  with  all  the  details  of  his 
business,  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Hein- 
_  zelman  Bros.,  leading  carnage  manufacturers 
of  Belleville.  III.,  kx^ted  at  the  corner  of  B  and 
Jackson  .Streets.  The  factory  is  a  two  and  three 
.story  building.  l.iOxla.')  feet  in  dimensions,  the 
lower  floor  of  which  is  occupied  by  wood,  iron, 
paint  and  trimming  workers,  a  portion,  also, being 
set  apart  as  a  wareiooni.  The  house  does  a  jobbing 
trade  through  .Southern  Illinois,  .and  givesemploy- 
ment  usually  to  twenty-five  men.  This  firm,  one 
of  the  oldest  in  Belleville,  having  been  established 
in  1857.  has  won  an  enviable  reputation  for  fair 
dealing  and  excellent  work.  Prior  to  the  date 
named,  the  two  members,  .lohn  and  William,  had 
prepared  themselves  for  the  important  step  by 
learning  the  trade  in  a  carriage  factory  at  Si. 
Louis. 

C)ur  subject  was  born  at  C  incinnati,  Oliiu.  Apiil 


16,  1841,  his  parents  being  John  A.  and  Catharine 
(Ileiserman)  Heinzelman,  who  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1835  from  Stuttgart,  f^ernian\ ,  where  the 
father  was  born.  They  resided  at  Cincinnati,  at 
which  place  the  son  William,  as  well  as  John,  was 
born,  for  a  number  of  years  before  the  removal  of 
the  family  to  Belleville.  The  father  started  the 
carriage  manufactory  on  a  small  scale  and  contin- 
ued at  its  head  until  his  death,  in  September,  1865, 
when  John  and  William,  who  had  been  a.<sociated 
with  him  since  the  beginning  of  the  business,  as- 
sumed entire  control,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Heinzelman  Bros.  Ciiadually  trade  increased  until 
larger  quarters  were  required,  and  in  IJ^TI  the 
present  building  was  erected. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  married  (Jctober 
16,  1867, -to  .Aliss  Kmeline  Middlecoff,  born  eight 
miles  iiul  of  St.  Louis,  the  daughter  of  Frank 
Middleeoff.  Three  children  have  been  born  to  this 
couple,  namely:  Sophia.  Oudelette  and  Arthur. 
^Ir.  Heinzelman  is  very  prominent  in  local  Masonic 
circles,  having  held  leading  positions  in  St.  Clair 
Lodge.  Belleville  Chapter,  Belleville  Council  and 
Tancred  Commanderv.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  holding  the  office  of 
Trustee  in  that  body.  The  ple.asant  home  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Heinzelman  is  located  at  No.  216  .Fackson 
Street.  Belleville. 


6E0R(;E  C.  LEMEX.  The  subject  of  'hJLs 
-  sketch  resides  on  a  well-ciiltivated  faru'  "'^ 
section  29,  Freeburg  Township,  .St.  Clair 
County,  III.  Heis  one  of  tho  fortunate  gentlenuii 
who  (jrobably  can  trace  his  famil.\  hjick  four  gen- 
erations. Frei|uently  in  the  hurry  and  tui-moil  of 
life  the  reconls  of  a  family  get  lost  and  a  direct 
line  cannot  \k'  traced.  In  Mr.  Lemen's  family 
this  has  not  been  the  case.  His  father  was  (ieorge 
C.  Lemen,  who  was  the  son  of  John  T.,  who  w:is 
born  in  the  northern  part  of  St.  Ciair  County,  and 
he  w.as  a  son  of  Robert  Lemen,  who  was  the  son  of 
.lames  Lemen,  who  came  to  this  .State  from  Virsr'":a 


fifiO 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


at  an  early  day  and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
the  county.  At  that  time  the  original  inhabitants 
in  the  State  were  more  numerous  tlian  white  men. 

John  T.  Lemen  was  married  to  Patience  E. 
Wilderraan,  the  daughter  of  George  AVilderman, 
who  was  one  of  the  settlers  of  tlie  county  and 
who  came  here  in  1806.  He  liad  three  children, 
two  of  whom  grew  to  manhood,  R.  W.and  George 
C.  The  former  is  still  living  in  Freeburg  Town- 
ship. 

George  C.  Lemen,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
married  to  Maria  Grittin  and  had  but  one  child.  He 
died  from  injuries  received  by  a  fall  from  a  horse. 
The  birtli  of  our  subject  took  place  on  the  13th  of 
.January,  1858,  on  the  place  where  he  now  resides. 
He  was  reared  here  and  was  one  of  tiie  pupils  at 
the  district  school — one  of  those  who  could  have 
sat  for  the  portrait  of  the  "Barefoot  Boy,"  immor- 
talized by  tlie  late  lamented  poet  Whittier.  After 
he  had  reached  a  proper  age,  he  went  to  Shurtleff 
College,  where  ho  finished  his  education. 

After  Mr.  Lemen  returned  home  he  became  in- 
terested in  farming,  and  on  September  (5,  1883,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Laura  J.  Agnew, 
wlio  was  the  daughter  of  A.  F.  Agnew,  who  was  a 
farmer  in  Monroe  County,  near  Columbia.  Her 
mother  died  when  siie  was  small  and  she  made  lier 
home  with  Mrs.  Isaac  Shook,  now  Mrs.  William 
Winkleman,  of  Belleville. 

After  marriage,  our  subject  In-ouglit  his  wife  to 
tills  place,  and  here  they  made  a  pleasant  home. 
Mr.  Lemen  has  a  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  of 
land  all  well  improved  and  he  raises  much  fine 
stock.  His  principal  crop  is  wheat,  altliough  he 
grows  other  grains.  He  has  full-blooded  Jersey 
•  ;vs  and  takes  an  interest  in  fine  stock. 

TvTb  lovely  cliildren  fill  the  home  of  our  subject 
with  happiness.  Grace  is  eight  years  old  and 
Willie  is  four-years  old.  In  his  political  opinions 
Mr.  Lemen  is  a  Bepublican,  and  believes  in  the 
wisdom  of  the  party's  methods  looking  toward  a 
protective  tariff,  and  casts  his  vote  and  influence 
witli  that  party. 

Mr.  Lemen  made  himself  felt  in  tiie  affairs  of 
the  Grange,  being  a  member  of  importance  in  that 
association  at  Turkey  Hill.  This  organization  holds 
some  of  the   best  men   of   the  State  and  all  of  the 


advanced  agriculturists  belong  to  it.  At  their 
pleasant  home,  liospitalit.y  reigns,  and  assisted  by 
his  amiable  wife  Mr.  Lemen  is  always  glad  to  see 
his  friends  and  entertain  them  with  his  best.     • 


♦^^  ^  l@^  11  ^  ^^ 


OHN  WESLEY  HYPES.  There  are  certain 
chaiacters  that  mellow  and  sweeten  under 
the  chastening  hand  of  affliction  as  certain 
rare  and  luscious  fruits  only  attain  their 
perfection  when  touched  by  frost.  So  it  has  been 
with  the  man  whose  name  appears  above,  and  of 
whom  it  is  our  pleasant  privilege  to  give  a  short 
biographical  sketch.  Shut  out  from  the  world  of 
sound  and  with  the  visual  sense  dimmed,  there  have 
been  discovered  in  his  inner  life  resources  and 
riches  unknown  before  he  was  tlius  isolated  from 
tlie  clang  and  clatter  of  the  ordinary  routine  f)f 
life. 

John  Wesley  Hypes  was  born  May  12,  1810,  in 
Botetourt  County,  Va.,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  and 
Patience  (Reynolds)  Hypes,  also  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia. Our  subject's  ancestry  on  the  paternal  side 
is  traced  to  Germany,  while  on  the  mother's  side 
English  blood  Hows  in  his  veins.  Mr.  Hypes'  par- 
ents were  married  in  Virginia,  and  there  followed 
farming  until  1811,  when  the  family  moved  to 
Dayton,  Ohio,  remaining  one  year,  and  in  1812 
settled  on  a  farm  near  the  town  of  Xenia.  That  was 
the  family  home  as  long  as  the  father  and  mother 
lived,  the  former  passing  away  in  his  eightieth 
year,  and  the  mother  dying  when  fifty-one. 

Our  subject  was  one  of  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren, who  are  named  as  follows:  Nancj-,  Joseph, 
Washington,  Sarah,  Benjamin,  Davison.  John 
W.  and  Francis  Asbury.  They  are  sketched  as 
follows:  The  eldest  sister,  who  married  Nathan 
Horner,  is  deceased;  Joseph  died  in  Lebanon,  and 
left  two  children;  Washington  joined  the  United 
States  Nav}'  in  1835,  and  has  never  been  heard 
from;  Sarah  died  at  the  age  of  seven  months  and 
fourteen  days;  Davison  departed  this  life  in  1823; 
Benjamin  is  a  venerable  and  esteemed  resident  in 
Lebanon  Township;  Francis  A.  died  in  1847. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


661 


Mr.  Hypes  removed  to  Ivcbanon  in  1836,  and 
was  first  engaged  in  business  as  a  saddle-maker 
and  later  enlarged  his  interests  and  added  to  it 
harness-makinsr.  He  was  thus  employed  until  1876. 
at  which  time  he  retired  from  the  active  conduct 
of  the  business.  Novemlier  1.5,  1849,  our  subject 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Ann  ^Murray, 
a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Rachel  (Horner")  Mur- 
ray. Ixith  of  whom  were  natives  of  Haltimore,  Md. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ilypes  have  been  faithful  and  con- 
genial companions  for  nearly  half  a  century,  and 
now  reside  together  in  their  pleasant  home.  They 
have  been  the  parents  of  two  children:  Henry 
Murrav.  who  died  in  infancy;  and  Eliza  Maria, 
who  married  .1.  C.  Keet,  and  lives  in  Springfield. 
Mo.  She  is  tlie  mother  of  four  children:  Florence 
Elizabeth,  Hertrani,  Harry  and  Belle. 

Throughout  his  career,  Mr.  Hypes  has  been  char- 
acterized by  modesty,  and  although  he  lias  by  no 
means  been  indifferent  to  the  political  phases 
through  which  his  country  has  passed,  he  has  do- 
sired  to  be  only  a  looker-on  farther  than  in  cast- 
ing his  ballot.  Originally  a  Whig,  on  the  form.-\- 
tion  of  the  Republican  party  he  joined  its  follow- 
ing. In  church  relations,  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hypes 
have  for  many  years  worshipped  with  the  Method- 
ists. 


^>^^<^ 


\|'OHN  KHIKS,  prominent  in  agricultural. 
church  and  political  circles,  is  an  enterpris- 
ing man  who  does  his  share  in  forwarding 
_  ever_v  movement  to  enhance  the  best  inter- 
ests of  his  township  and  county.  The  father  of 
our  subject  was  George  Fries,  of  whom  a  fuller 
history  may  be  found  in  the  biography  of  (Jeorge 
Fries  in  another  part  of  this  volume. 

.loll n  Fries  was  born  Seiiteinber  2ft.  I.h-Io.  on 
Turkey  Hill,  in  what  is  now  Freeburg  Townshii*. 
where  he  resided  with  his  father  until  the  time  of 
his  marriage  and  received  his  early  education. 
He  now  makes  his  home  on  .section  1-2,  Engelniaii 
Township,  where  he  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  rich  farming  land,  six  acres  of  which  were 
cut  off  by  the  railroail,  and  twenty-five  acres  of 
good  timber  laud.     Our  subject  Las  always  beeu 


engaged  in  agricultural  work,  his  father  before 
him  having  been  a  farmer,  and  thus  he  under- 
stands the  art  of  making  the  most  out  of  his  land. 
He  raises  fine  crops  of  wheat,  oats,  corn,  etc.,  and 
is  interested  to  some  extent  in  stock-raising. 

Miss  Elizabeth  Fries  became  his  wife  November 
10.  1861.  She  is  the  daughter  of  John  Fries,  who 
emigrated  to  this  country  from  (^ermany  in  an 
earlv  d.ay,  and  also  followed  the  occupation  of  a 
fanner.  Three  children  were  born  to  our  subject 
and  his  estimable  wife  to  gladden  their  pathway 
and  shed  sunshine  through  their  lives.  They  still 
remain  under  the  parental  roof  and  bear  the  names 
of  George  .1.,  Elizabeth  M.  and  Emilie. 

He  of  whom  we  write  has  never  been  an  otlice- 
sceker,  but  has  been  honored  by  his  fellow-citizens 
with  the  olHee  of  School  Trustee  for  the  length  of 
six  vears.  He  is  a  conscientious  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church  atMascoutah,  in  which  he  holds 
the  office  of  Trustee.  Socially,  he  is  connected 
with  the  Farmers'  Mutual  Henefit  Association,  and 
politically  is  a  stanch  adv(X-ate  of  tiie  Republican 
part^-. 


EORtiE  MIXIK.  The  farming  community 
,^^  of  Bond  County  has  received  a  recent  val. 
liable  addition  in  this  gentleman,  who  in 
1«92  removed  hither  from  .St.  Clair  County  and 
purchased  a  farm.  In  addition  to  general  farming, 
he  is  considerably  interested  in  stock-raising,  in 
which  he  has  met  with  more  than  usual  success. 
.\  practical,  energetic  and  persevering  farmer,  he 
ii.-<es  modern  methods  of  .agriculture  and  the  latest 
improved  machinery,  and  his  recently-purchased 
estate  already  gives  indications  of  his  skill  and 
judgment. 

The  provinceof  Lorraine,  then  (.iwncd  by  France, 
but  secured  by  Germany  in  the  Franco-Prussian 
War,  was  the  native  place  of  our  subject,  and  Aug- 
ust 21,  1844.  the  date  of  his  birth.  His  father, 
Paul  Muiiie,  was  born  in  that  province  in  1800, 
and  there  grew  to  manhood,  choosing  as  his  wife 
a   lady   who   wus  likewise  boru    iu  Lorraiue.     lu 


662 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


1853.  the  family  emigrated  to  the  United  States. 
and,  after  landing  at  New  Orleans,  came  by  boat 
11))  the  Mississii:)i)i  River  to  St.  Louis,  whence  tiiey 
proceeded  to  Illinois,  and  settled  upon  a  farm  in 
St.  Clair  Township,  St.  Clair  County.  Tliere  the 
father  remained  engaged  in  agricultural  occupa- 
tions until  his  death,  whicli  occurred  April  17, 
1866;  his  wife  survived  until  1881,  passing  away 
March  25  of  that  year. 

The  following  is  recorded  of  tlic  brothers  and 
sisters  of  our  subject:  Magdalena  married  George 
Buchler  and  resided  in  St.  Clair  Township,  St. 
Clair  County;  Hyacinth  chose  as  his  wife  Miss 
Louise  Adams,  and  they  reside  upon  a  farm  near 
Freeburg  in  Smithton  Township,  St.  Clair  County; 
.losepli  married  Christina  Germain,  and  is  a  well- 
to-do  farmer  residing  in  St.  Clair  Township;  Mary 
Ann;  George,  the  youngest  child,  was  reared  on 
his  father's  farm  in  St.  Clair  Township,  and  in  his 
youth  was  a  student  in  the  common  schools,  later 
attending  the  Catholic  schools  in  Belleville. 

Tiie  estimablelady  who,  on  Ajnil  10, 1866, became 
the  wife  of  Mr.  Munie,  was  boin  April  17,  1848, 
and  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Adeline  'I'ribout. 
Slie  was  one  of  six  surviving  children  among 
the  thirteen  born  to  Bonaventura  and  Margaret 
(Fournie)  Tribout,  the  former  a  farmer  in  St.  Clair 
County  until  his  death  May  .">,  l.ssi,  ;U  the  age  of 
seventy-five.  The  motiier  lives  on  the  old  liome- 
stead  two  miles  north  of  Belleville,  and  is  in  full 
possession  of  her  mental  faculties,  notwithstanding 
her  advanced  age  of  seventv-eight.  Eleven  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Munie,  who 
are  named  George,!.,  Magdalena,  Katherina,  Rosa, 
Louis,  Emily,  .lohn,  .Arthur,  Victor,  Lawrence  and 
Edniond.  Katherina  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years;  Rosa,  when  six;  Louis  at  four,  and  Emily  in 
infancy.  The  others  reside  under  llie  i)arentnl 
roof,  and  are  gaining  good  educations  in  the 
schools  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Munie  removed  to  Hot  Springs,  Ark., 
having  sold  his  farm  in  St.  Clair  Township,  and 
for  several  months  engaged  in  the  wholesale  pro- 
duce business.  He  was  nc>t  satislit'd  with  thai 
State,  however,  and  soon  returned  to  his  former 
place  of  residence,  where  for  about  two  years  lie 
was  proprietor  of  tm  hotel  in  Bellc\ille,     He  then 


bought  back  his  old  homestead  in  St.  Clair  County 
and  resided  there  until  1892,  when,  realizing  that  it 
was  too  small  to  give  employment  to  himself  and 
sons,  he  sold  it  and  bought  the  above-mentioned 
estate  in  Bond  County.  He  is  independent  in 
politics  and  is  a  man  of  decided  beliefs  and  force 
of  will.  He  finds  his  religious  home  in  the  Cath- 
olic Church,  in  whicli  faith  he  was  reared,  and  to 
which  he  has  ever  been  devoted. 


>I^-^  II.  HORNER.  In  a  log  house  which 
lf)|:  stood  on  the  south  side  of  St.  Louis,  just 
iMk^  west  of  the  pulilic  square,  the  subject  of 
(1^;  this  sketch  w.as  born  February  22,  1821. 
He  was  of  English  descent  on  his  father's  side,  his 
great-grandfather  having  emigrated  to  America 
from  England,  while  his  maternal  ancestry  was  of 
German-English  origin.  His  parents  were  Nathan 
and  Nancy  (Hyiies)  Horner,  the  former  born  in 
Baltimore,  i\Id.,  1770,  and  the  latter  a  native  of 
Fin  castle,  Va. 

In  1812,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject  removed 
from  IJaltimore,  Md.,to  Lebanon,  Warren  County, 
Ohio,  where  he  remained  until  1817,  removing 
thence  to  St.  Clair  County,  111.  Here  he  purchased 
a  farm  two  miles  north  of  Lebniioii.  and  passed 
his  remaining  years  upon  that  place,  dying  there 
when  about  eighty  years  old.  Our  subject  w.as 
one  of  three 'children,  the  others  being  Sarah  Ann 
and  Virginia  Elizabeth.  The  former  married  Hiram 
.1.  .Vshley,  a  merchant  of  Lebanon,  .-ind  both  are 
now  deceased.  Nathan  Horner,  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, raine  to  Illinois  shortly  after  his  marriage,  in 
Xenia.  ( )liio.  in  1  s  1  7,  and  after  operating  a  farm, 
eaiiie  to  Lebanon,  where  he  engaged  in  mercantile 
pursuits  for  forty  years.  He  was  one  of  the  found- 
eis  of  .^IcKendree  College,  of  which  he  was  Trustee 
as  long  as  lie  lived. 

Oui-  subject  was  reared  in  Lebanon,  where  he 
attended  the  eominon  schools  and  later  entered 
McKendree  College,  from  which  he  was  gradua- 
ted in  1841  with  the  degree  of  1>.  A.  'I'he  degree 
of  Master  of  Arts   was    afternarc]   couferretl  uixni 


PORTRAIT  AND  KIOGKAPHICAL    RKCORD. 


663 


liim.  He  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  of- 
fice of  Judge  I'ndei-wood,  at  Helleville,  and  was 
adiniUed  t<i  pracliee  by  the  Su|)reiiie  Court  in  1847. 
Durinij  tlie  following  year  lie  opened  an  office  for 
practice  at  Belleville,  and  first  forined  a  partner- 
ship willi.ludire  .hiseph  (iillespie,  of  Edwardsville. 
with  whom  he  continued  several  years.  He  has 
since  practiced  alone.  With  the  exception  of  ex- 
I.ieut.-Gov.  Koerner,  he  is  the  oldest  living  lawyer 
in  practice   in  the  <(iinity. 

November  I'.i,  1S.")7.  Mr.  I luriicr  married  Helen 
.AI.,  daughter  of  .lonathan  and  Ruth  Danforth. 
Their  children  are:  Henry  R..  Wilbur  N..  Haltie 
H..  Hertha  A.  and  two  that  died  in  infancy.  Henry 
R.  is  a  civil  engineer,  with  -lieadcpiarters  at  Den- 
ver, Colo.;  Wilbur  N..  an  attorney -at-law.  is  with 
the  Hon.  Lyman  Trumbull  in  Chicago;  Hattie 
H.  and  Bertha  .V.  are  at  home.  After  graduating 
from  McKeiidree  College,  our  subject  was  made  a 
tutor  in  that  institution,  and  six  months  later 
was  appointed  Professor  of  ancient  languages. 
In  1866.  he  w;ts  elected  to  the  position  of  Pro- 
fessor of  the  law  deiiartinent  of  the  college,  from 
which  he  retired  in  18!t(i.  He  was  elected  .Mayor 
of  Lebanon  in  1871,  and  re-elected  in  the  follow- 
ing yeai-s.  His  political  atliliations  were  origin- 
ally with  the  Democrats,  but  since  1856  he  has 
been  a  Republican. 


^I]_^  ON.  .KillN  .1.  .M.  LK.VN.  Captain  of  the 
jr)\  lioal  "Christy "  of  the  Wiggins  Ferry  Cnni- 
*v^  pany  at  Kast  St.  Louis,  was  born  in  Cin- 
^  cinnali,  Ohio.  .January  1,  1841.  His  father, 
Milton  McLean,  was  a  nephew  of  .ludge  McLean, 
of  the  .Supreme  Court,  and  followed  the  ()rofession 
of  a  lawyer  in  Cincinnati  until  1841.  when  he 
came  to  Illinois  and  (nirchased  a  large  distillery. 
This  was  operated  by  ctmipeleut  men  until  it  was 
burned  to  the  ground  in  1845.  Later,  it  wa,s  re- 
built and  wa.s  the  largest  distillery  in  the  West. 
.\fter  selling  his  interest  in  that  enterprise,  Mr. 
McLean  located  in  St,  Louis,  where  he  practiced 


law  until  his  death.  He  and  his  partner,  E.  C. 
Blackburn,  stood  at  the  head  of  the  legal  profes- 
sion in  St  Louis,  and  were  considered  among  the 
most  eminent  attorneys  of  the  West.  Politically, 
he  was  a  Democrat. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Mary  W.  .lohn- 
>t<jn.  who  was  born  in  Piqua,  Ohio.  Her  father. 
Col.  .lohn  .lohnston,  w.as  born  in  Ireland.  March  ."?. 
1775.  and  when  young  accompanied  his  parents  to 
.Vmerica.  settling  in  Cumberland  County,  Pa.  He 
was  with  Oen.  Wayne  on  the  Ohio  River  in  179:i-i>4, 
served  as  clerk  in  the  War  Department  and  Indian 
Bureau  thirty-one  years,  and  in  the  War  of  1812 
w.as  Piiym.aster  and  (iuarterinaster  alternately.  In 
1841-42,  he  Avas  I'nited  States  Commissioner  for 
trading  with  the  Indians,  and  in  .all  these  respon- 
sible positions  he  acquitted  himself  honorably. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  died  in  Sliiloli.  this 
county,  where  she  had  made  her  hoine  on  a  farm. 
Our  subject  was  one  of  six  children  who  grew  to 
maturity,  four  of  whom  are  now  surviving.  He 
w.as  brought  to  St.  Clair  County  in  1844,  but  re- 
mained only  a  short  time.  In  1849,  he  returned 
here,  but  during  the  high  water  of  1851  the  family 
removed  to  St.  Louis.  Aft*r  acquiring  his  educa- 
tion, he  l)ecame  a  telegraph  operator  and  remained 
in  East  St.  Louis  in  that  capacity  about  six  years. 
In  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  I.  Forty-third 
Illinois  Infantry,  and  .as  Corporal  marched  with  his 
regiment  to  .Arkansas.  He  was  in  Little  Rock  at 
the  time  of  the  assassination  of  President  Lincoln. 
In  July,  1865.  he  was  mustered  out  and  relumed 
to  East  St.  Louis. 

In  1867  our  subject  w.as  made  Chief  of  Police, 
a  position  which  he  occupied  for  four  years  and 
in  which  his  (piickness  of  perception  and  courage 
saved  blood-shed  and  riot  several  times.  In  1871  he 
became  a  Captain  of  the  Wiggins  Ferry,  and  contin- 
ues in  that  capacity.  His  residence  is  at  No.  621 
Collinsville  .\ venue,  and  in  addition  to  that  place 
he  owns  considerable  real  est^ite  and  several  busi- 
nes.s  blocks  in  the  city;  also  sonic  luiimproxed 
land  in  Missouri  and  Minnesota. 

At  East  St.  Louis,  in  1870,  Capt.  .Mc.  Lean  mar- 
ried Miss  Eli.sa  A.  (Tiitlith,  a  native  of  East  St. 
Louis  and  the  daughter  of  Joseph  Oriflith.  an 
early  settler  of  this  place,     They  are  the    parents 


664 


PORTRAIT  ANT)  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


of  five  children:  .John  J.,  Nathaniel,  Eliza  L., 
Ralph  and  Birdie.  John  J.,  who  is  a  graduate  of 
Hrvant  it  Stiatton's  Business  College,  is  Assistant 
Cashier  of  tlie  First  National  Bank;  Nathaniel, 
wlio  also  was  graduated  from  Bryant  <fe  Slratton's 


College,  is  one  of  the  best  stenographers  of  East 
St.  Louis.  The  Captain  has  held  many  positions 
of  honor  in  the  county  and  in  politics  is  one  of 
the  most  prominent  Kepulilicaus  of  the  coui- 
niunity. 


i'ansfo:ptaiion. 


"^=SS) 


The   Wabash. 

^O  THE  public  and  our  thousands  of  readers 
in  general:  It  will  no  doubt  be  interesting 
to  all  if  we  give  a  brief  description  of  this 
road.  The  Wabash,  as  now  known,  has  been  oper- 
ated under  different  names  from  time  to  time.  It 
is  the  offspring,  .is  it  were,  of  the  first  line  of 
road  projected  in  Illinois,  then  known  as  the 
Northern  Cross  Railroad,  extending  from  Dan- 
ville to  Quincy.  This  was  chartered  in  1837,  and 
upon  it  the  first  locomotive  was  jilaced  in  the 
winterof  1838-39,  running  from  Meredosia,  on  the 
Illinois  Kiver,  to  .lacksonville.  In  1842,  the  road 
was  completed  from  Jacksonville  to  Springfield, 
and  three  trips  per  week  were  made.  The  track 
was  of  the  old  Hat-rail  style,  which  was  made  by 
nailing  thin  strips  of  irtm  on  two  parallel  lines  of 
timbers  placed  at  the  proper  distance  apart  and 
running  lengthwise  of  the  road.  Tiie  engine,  .is 
well  as  the  road,  became  so  impaired  that  the 
former  had  to  be  abandoned  and  mules  substituted 
as  the  motor  power.  However,  such  locomotion 
was  destined  to  be  of  short  duration,  for  the  State 
soon  after  .sold  the  entire  road  for  a  nominal  sum, 
and  thus  for  a  short  time  was  suspended  one  of 
the  first  railroad  enterprises  in  Illinois.  liut  in 
the  West  a  new  era-one  of  prodigious  indu.strial  ac- 
tivity and  far-reaching  results  in  the  practical  arts 
— was  dawning,  and  within  thirty  years  of  the  tem- 
porary failure  of  the  road  mentioned,  Illinois  had 
outstripped  all  others  in  gigantic  internal  imorove. 


rnehts,  and  at  present  has  more  miles  of  railroad 
than  any  other  .State  in  the  Union.  The  Great 
Western,  whose  name  has  been  successively 
changed  to  Toledo,  Wabash  &  Western,  Wabash, 
and  Wabash.  .St.  Louis  &  Pacific,  and  Wabash 
Hailroad,  .and  The  Wabash,  the  last  of  which  it 
still  bears,  was  an  extension  of  the  Northern 
Cross  Railroad  above  mentioned,  and  traverses 
some  of  the  finest  portions  of  Illinois.  Indiana  and 
Ohio.  It  soon  became  the  popular  highway  of 
travel  and  traffic  between  the  East  and  the  West. 
Through  a  system  of  consolidation  unparalleled  in 
American  railways,  it  has  become  a  giant  among 
them,  and  has  added  m.inj-  millions  of  dollars  to 
the  value  of  bonds  and  shares  of  the  various  com- 
panies now  incorporated  in  the  Wabash  .System, 
rhe  road  takes  its  title  from  the  river  of  that 
name,  a  tributary  of  the  Ohio,  which  in  part  .sep- 
arates the  .States  of  Illinois  and  Indiana.  In  look- 
ing over  the  maps  of  the  AVabash  Railroad  it  will 
be  seen  that  the  line  extends  through  the  most 
fertile  and  wealthy  portions  of  the  center  of  the 
Tnited  .States,  having  termini  at  more  large  cities 
than  any  other  Western  road.  It  was.  indeed,  a 
far-reaching  sagacity  which  consolidated  these  var- 
ious lines  into  the  Wabash  System,  forming  one 
immense  chain  of  great  commercial  activity  .and 
power.  Its  terminal  facilities  are  unsurpassed  by 
any  competing  line.  Its  home  oHices  are  estab- 
lished in  conimiidious  quarters  in  St,  Louis.  The 
lines  of  tlic  road  are  co-extensive  witli  the  impor- 
tance of  the  great  transportation  facilities  required 


666 


TRANSPORTATION. 


fur  the  products  of  tlie  Mississippi  Valley.  This 
line  passes  through  the  States  of  Iowa,  Missouri, 
Indiana,  Ohio  and  Michigan.  The  various  lines 
of  road  iiiav  be  divided  into  the  following: 

Miles. 

St.  Louis  to  Chicago 286 

Toledo  to  Kansas  City 662 

St.  Louis  to  DesMoines 360 

Logansport  to  Detroit 207 

Chicago  to  Laketon  .Junction 123 

Clayton  to    Keokuk 42 

Bluffs  to  (iuincy 105 

Streator  to  Forest 37 

Attica  to  Covington 15 

Ch.ampaign  to  Sidney 12 

Edwardsville  to  Edwardsville  Crossing.  9 

Bement   to  Altamont  &  Ettinghaui 63 

Brunswick   to  Omaha 225 

Roseberry  to  Clarinda 21 

Salisbury  to  Glasgow 15 

Centralia  to  Columbia 22 


Total  miles  of  main  lines  and  brandies.  .    2204 

From  the  above  main  lines  and  branches  as  in- 
dicated it  will  readily  be  seen  that  the  AVabash 
connects  with  more  large  cities  and  great  marts  of 
trade  than  any  other  line,  bringing  Omaha,  Kan- 
sas City,  Des  Moines,  Keokuk,  (Juincy,  St.  Louis, 
Chicago,  Toledo  and  Detroit  together  with  one 
continuous  line  of  steel  rails.  This  road  has  an 
immense  freight  traffic  of  the  cereals,  live  stock, 
various  productions  and  manufactured  articles  of 
the  West,  and  the  States  through  which  it  passes. 
Its  facilities  for  rapid  transit  for  the  vast  produc- 
tions of  the  packing  houses  of  Kansas  City,  St. 
Louis  and  Chicago  to  Detroit,  Toledo  and  the  East- 
ern marts  of  trade  is  unequalled.  A  large  portion 
of  the  grain  productions  of  Kansas,  Nebraska, 
Iowa,  Missouri,  Illinois  and  Indiana  finds  its  way 
to  the  Eastern  markets  over  the  lines  of  this  road. 
The  Wabash  has  always  taken  an  advanced  posi- 
tion in  tariffs,  and  its  course  toward  its  patrons 
has  been  just  and  liberal,  so  that  it  has  always  en- 
joyed the  commendation  of  the  busine.ss  and  trav- 
eling public.  The  roadbed  is  one  of  the  best  in 
the  country,  and  is  ballasted  with  gravel  and 
stone,  well  tied,  and  laid  with  steel  rails.  The 
bridges  along  the  various  lines  are  substantial 
slructures.  The  depots,  grounds  and  general 
property  of  the  roail  are  in  good  condition.     The 


management  of  the  AVabash  is  fully  abreast  of  the 
times.  The  road  is  progressive  in  every  respect. 
The  finest  passenger  cars  on  the  continent  are  run 
on  its  lines,  and  every  effort  is  made  to  advance 
the  interests  of  its  patrons.  The  passenger  de- 
partment is  unexcelled  for  the  elegant  and  sub- 
stantial comfort  .afforded  travelers.  The  sleeping 
cars  on  some  of  the  most  important  lines  are  of 
the  compartment  system,  upholstered  in  a  costly 
and  tasteful  manner,  e.ach  room  sujiplied  with  hot 
and  cold  water.  On  several  of  the  main  branches 
of  the  system  dining  cars  are  run. 


Illinois  Central  Railroad. 

L<|^^HIS  is  one  of  the  largest  corporations  in  lUi- 
//f/^^  nois,  and  with  its  splendid  terminal  f.acili- 
^V^i"  ties  in  Chicago,  and  its  numerous  suburban 
trains,  has  been  a  potent  factor  in  building  up  the 
South  Side  and  South  Chicago,  while  at  the  same 
time  enriching  itself.  Its  man.ageraent  has  always 
been  careful  and  conservative,  and  it  is  not  too 
much  to  say  that  it  has  been  most  potential  in  de- 
veloping many  of  the  rich  agricultural  districts  of 
the  State,  besides  fostering  and  encouraging  the 
growth  of  towns  and  cities  along  its  line.  As 
this  was  one  of  the  early  roads  of  the  State  it  will 
not  be  uninteresting  to  give  a  lirief  history  of  its 
inception. 

In  September,  1850,  Congress  passed  an  act, 
and  it  was  approved  by  President  Fillmore,  grant- 
ing an  aggregate  of  two  million  five  hundred  and 
ninety-five  thousand  and  fifty-three  acres  to  aid  in 
building  the  road.  The  act  granted  the  right  of 
way  and  gave  alternate  sections  of  land  for  six 
miles  on  either  side  of  the  road.  The  grant  of 
land  was  made  directly  to  the  State.  On  February 
1(1,  1H51,  the  Legislature  of  Illinois  granted  a 
charter  to  an  Eastern  company  to  build  it,  with  a 
capital  stock  of  *1,00(),000.  The  Legislature,  in 
granting  the  charier  and  transferring  to  the  cor- 
poration the  lands,  stipulated  that  seven  per  cent, 
of  the  gross  earnings  of  the  road  should  be  paid 
semi-aiimi:ill\     into  the    trousur\'  of  the  Stale    for- 


TRANSPORTATION. 


(KiT 


over.  This  wise  provision,  in  lieu  of  tlie  liher.il 
land  grant,  yields  a  handsome  .innnal  revenue  to 
the  State.  .\lso,  tiiat  in  tiic  event  of  war,  (Gov- 
ernment lransi)ortation  should  be  furnished  at  a 
certain  reduction  from  the  prices  regularly  paid 
liy  the  (leneral  Government  for  such  .services. 

The  i>rocce(ls  of  land  sales  have  been  regnlarly 
applied  to  the  redemption  of  construction  bonds, 
and  it  is  signilicant  that  the  original  issue  of 
mortgage  bonds  amounted  to  «22,0OO.OOO.  That 
amount  has  been  so  reduced  tliat  in  1892  the 
whole  issue  will  be  practically  retired,  and  the 
stockholders  will  own  a  road  in  Illinois  more  than 
one  thousand  miles  in  length,  fully  equipped,  and 
with  no  outstanding  liability  other  than  the  share 
of  capital.  It  may  be  noted  here  that  when  the 
General  Government  donated  lands  to  the  States 
of  Illinois,  Mississippi  and  Alabama,  it  was  in- 
tended that  through  the  aid  derived  from  these 
lands  a  through  artery  of  travel  should  be  estab- 
lished between  the  Lakes  and  fiulf  ports.  Had  the 
war  not  supervened,  the  project  would  then  have 
been  carried  out  in  its  entirety,  and  the  North  and 
South  movement  of  traffic  would  have  been  fully 
developed,  but  the  enforced  del.a^'  in  carrying  out 
the  original  program  was  utilized  in  building  up 
the  State  of  Illinois  and  in  perfecting  the  track  of 
this  road.  Strict  attention  to  local  bu.sine.ss  has 
always  been  a  marked  cliaracterislic  ()f  the  Illiiiois 
Central  Hailroad  management. 

Bj'  an  extensive  system  of  railroad  construction 
and  by  its  leased  lines,  the  Illinois  Central  Kail- 
road  has  termini  in  many  important  centers  of 
trade  in  the  Slissouri  and  ^Mississippi  N'alleys,  .as 
well  as  the  great  chain  of  lakes  at  Chicago. 
Thi-ough  this  vast  .system  Chicago  is  brouglit  into 
close  connection  with  Sioux  Falls,  Dak.:  Sioux 
City,  Cedar  Rapids  and  Dubuciue.  Iowa;  Lyle, 
Minu.;  and  Dodgeville  and  IMadison,  Wis.  Its 
trafHc  also  extends  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  through  run- 
ning arrangements  over  the  lines  of  the  \'andalia 
and  Cairo  Short  Line  Hailroads.  Its  "  Diamond 
Special,"  between  Chicago  and  St.  Louis,  is  rapidly 
acquiring  popularity  with  the  traveling  public, 
owing  to  its  splendid  equipment  and  ra|)id  time. 
Over  the  Big  Four  Hoad  connection  is  made  with 
liidiaiia|iiilis  and  CincimiMli.  aiul  with   its  Spring- 


field Division  the  Illinois  Central  reaches  the  cap- 
ital of  Illinois,  and  taps  the  center  of  the 
great  corn  belt.  At  Cairo  the  Ohio  Hivcr  is 
spanned  by  a  magnificent  steel  bridge,  from  which 
point  south  connections  are  made  with  the  great 
cotton  marts  of  Memphis,  and  the  principal  cities 
of  Mississippi,  and  New  Orleans.  Thus  it  will  be 
seen  that  the  great  metropolis  nestling  on  the 
shores  of  Lake  Michigan  by  this  sinuous  artery  of 
steel  is  brought  into  direct  traffic  relations  with 
the  leading  marts  in  the  sunny  South,  as  well  as 
the  semi-arctic  regions  of  Dakota,  affording  the 
traveler,  both  in  summer  and  winter,  unsurpassed 
facilities  for  reaching  a  plea.sant  clime. 


-^^ 


Chicago  &  Alton  l{ailro:i<L 

(*!^^HIS  road  traverses  some  of  the  best  terri- 
'l\(^\\  ^^'^y  ^^  Illinois  and  Missouri,  having  its 
A^Z^  Western  terminus  in  Kansas  City,  and  South- 
ern in  St.  Louis,  and  the  principal  termini  and 
general  headquarters  in  Chicago.  It  is  one  of  the 
important  lines  *>f  the  great  system  of  railroads  in 
the  Mississipi)!  Valley. 

The  Air  Line  between  St.  Louis  and  Chicago, 
the  most  i)rominent  cities  of  the  great  West,  and 
the  most  jironounced  commercial  rivals,  occupies 
a  prominent  position  among  the  trans-Mississippi 
railroads.  This  may  be  attributed  partly  to  the 
manner  in  which  the  management  has  fostered  and 
develoiTed  the  local  business  along  the  line  of  the 
road  since  its  organization  in  1862.  Its  manage- 
ment has  always  kept  abreast  of  the  time.s.  The 
length  of  the  system  is  practically  nine  hundred 
miles.  In  brief,  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad 
has  by  a  judicious  system  of  permanent  improve- 
ment, and  by  the  introduction  of  modern  appli- 
ances, which  tend  to  the  preservation  of  life  and 
property,  pl.aced  itself  in  such  a  condition,  mate- 
rially and  physically,  that  its  financial  condition  is 
not  easily  affected.  Its  succe.ss  as  one  of  the  great 
highways  of  the  West  is  an  assured  reality.  It 
may  be  appropriately  noted  here,  that,  while  much 
of  this  road's  p.Hst  success  may  he  attributed  to  its 


668 


TRANSPORTATION. 


admirable  geographical  location,  embracing  a  very 
rich  section  of  the  country  for  local  trafiic,  and 
with  termini  on  Lake  Michigan,  the  Mississippi 
and  Missouri  Rivers,  yet  equally  as  much  is  due  to 

the  wisdom  and  slaliility  of  the  management. 

^^=^-^^   '  (ST— ^^^=5=S^-'=r^-^^ 

Atchison,  Topeka  &  Santa  Fe  Railroad, 

,  OPULARLY  known  as  the  Santa  Fe  Route. 
The  initial  line  of  this  great  system  was 
first  built  from  Atchison  to  Topeka  in 
1869,  and  for  many  j'ears  the  former  city 
was  the  Eastern  tei'minus  of  the  road.  The  man- 
agement of  the  Santa  Fe,  with  wonderful  energy, 
pushed  out  its  lines  in  every  direction  into  the 
young  and  growing  vState  of  Kansas,  and  in  the 
majority  of  instances  preceding  settlement  and 
civilization.  This  road  was  the  first  to  penetrate 
across  the  southern  part  of  Colorado,  via  Pueblo 
and  Trinidad,  into  New  Mexico,  until  its  lines  pen- 
etrated the  old  adobe  town  of  Santa  Fe,  whose 
citizens  were  half  Spanish  and  half  Mexican.  As 
its  coui'se  penetrated  the  wilderness,  it  sometimes 
followed  the  Old  Santa  Fe  Trail,  and  generally 
not  far  distant  at  an^y  time  from  the  trail  which 
had  been  made  famous  years  before  by  trappers 
and  the  Government  freighters.  The  marvelous 
growth  and  development  of  the  State  of  Kansas  is 
in  a  great  measure  due  to  the  enterprise  and  pub- 
lic spirit  of  the  managers  of  the  .Santa  ¥e  System. 
Not  only  did  the}-  devote  their  energy  to  the  up- 
building of  the  road,  but  at  great  expense  they 
m.'iinlained  emigrati(m  and  colonial  agents  in  the 
various  countries  of  Europe,  as  well  as  the  Eastern, 
Middle  and  Southern  States,  thereby  advertising 
,  the  State  of  Kansas  as  no  other  State  has  hereto- 
fore been  done.  Its  climate,  its  soil,  and  great  ad- 
vantages to  the  homeseeker,  were  at  all  times  fully 
portrayed  by  the  enterprise  of  this  road.  Every 
fostering  care  was  given  to  the  stock  and  ranch- 
men, to  the  merchant,  to  the  mechanic  and  the 
manufacturer  to  settle  in  Kansas.  As  a  result, 
we  have  a  State  here  in  the  center  of  the  Union, 
of  boundless   agricultural    resources,   settled    by  a 


wide-awake,  enterprising  and  prosperous  jjeople. 
The  Santa  Fe  owns  and  operates  more  miles  of 
road  in  Kansas  than  any  other  line,  with  its  vast 
system  of  East  and  West,  North  and  South  lines 
reaching  every  important  town  in  the  State,  and 
penetrating  sixty-three  counties  in  Kansas  alone. 
The  magnitude  of  its  business  is  immense.  Its 
lines,  beginning  at  the  Missouri  River  towns  in 
Kansas  and  INIissouri,  St.  Joseph,  Atchison, 
Leavenworth  and  Kansas  City,  extend  south  to 
Coffeyville,  Arkansas  City,  Honewell,  Caldwell, 
Kiona  (thence  to  the  Pan  Handle  of  Texas);  and 
North  to  Superior,  Neb.,  Concordia,  Claj-  Centre, 
Minneapolis,  and  other  Northern  Kansas  cities. 
Its  main  line  and  branches  re.ach  nearly  every  im- 
portant city  in  the  State.  St.  Joseph  on  the  Mis- 
souri side  of  the  river  has  a  population  of  nearly 
one  hundred  thousand,  and  its  wholesale  trade  is 
heavy  throughout  the  West.  Atchison  is  a  grow- 
ing citj',  and  Leavenworth  an  important  manufac- 
turing center.  Leavenworth  was  the  earliest  famous 
city  of  Kansas,  as  it  was  the  original  outfitting 
point  for  travel  and  traffic  across  the  plains.  The 
Kansas  System  may  be  described  as  a  main  East 
and  West  line,  over  four  hundred  miles  in  length, 
with  branch  lines  extending  in  every  direction 
where  an  area  of  particularly  rich  country  or 
some  other  special  advantages  invited  a  line  of 
rails. 

The  road  from  Topeka  after  1869  was  extended 
West  and  South,  and  then  East  to  Kansas  City  by 
purchase  of  a  line  built  by  another  company  from 
Kansas  City  in  1887-88.  The  line  was  extended 
to  Chicago  under  the  name  of  the  Chicago,  .Santa 
Fe  ct  California  Railroad  in  1887,  also  the  pur- 
chase of  the  (xulf,  Colorado  ife  .Santa  Fe  Road;  and 
the  extension  of  the  Kansas  lines  through  the  In- 
dian Territory  to  Texas  gave  the  company  a  line 
to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  so  that  at  the  present  time 
the  Santa  Fe  System  proper  begins  at  Chicago. 
It  passes  through  Illinois,  Iowa,  Missouri,  Kan- 
sas, Colorado,  Indian  Territory,  Texas,  New  Mex- 
ico, Arizona  and  California,  and  has  for  its  South- 
ern terminal  Galveston,  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 
and  El  Paso,  on  the  Mexican  frontier;  and  for  its 
Western  terminals  San  Diego  and  Los  Angeles,  on 
the  Pacific  Coast    (.San  Francisco  being  piaotioally 


TRANSPORTATION. 


onii 


a  Pacific  Coast  terminal,  as  it  is  readied,  via  Mo- 
jave,  over  the  tracks  of  tlic  Southern  Pacific  liail- 
w.av);  and  for  its  Nortlieni  tcrniinais  Chicat^o,  St. 
.losepii,  Mt).,  Superior.  .Ncli..  :uu\  Denver,  tlic  capi- 
tal of  Colorado. 

Chicago  to  Kansas  City  is  practically  ;ui  air-line, 
being  the  most  straight  and  direct  of  any  road  he- 
tween  those  citic.-;.  It  passes  through  a  large 
number  of  important  towns  in  Illinois,  including 
Joliet,  with  its  great  steel  works  and  other  manu- 
facturing interests.  The  next  impoitant  place  is 
.Streator,  A  few  miles  south  of  the  latter  place  a 
brandi  extends  to  the  thriving  cities  of  Peoria 
and  Pekin,  on  the  Illinois  River.  Kroni  Streator 
the  main  line  crosses  the  Illinois  at  Cliillicolhe, 
and  extends  through  Peoi-ia  and  Knox  Counties 
to  the  beautiful  and  enterprising  city  of  Gales- 
burg.  Here  it  comes  in  competition  with  several 
lines  of  the  Burlington  System,  tlien  running  in  a 
Southwesterly  direction  through  a  rich  and  popu- 
lous section,  crosses  the  Mississippi  at  Pt.  Madi- 
son on  a  magnificent  steel  bridge.  Here  the  com- 
pan_v  have  established  shops,  that  being  the  ter- 
minus of  the  two  operating  divisions  of  the  road. 
From  Ft.  Madison,  Keokuk  is  reached  by  a  spur. 
Along  the  Santa  Fe  new  towns  are  springing  up 
and  new  industries  are  being  developed.  Twenty 
miles  Fast  of  Kansas  City  the  Missouri  River  is 
crossed  by  a  steel  bridge,  so  that  the  line  enters 
Kansas  City  on  the  south  side  of  the  river.  From 
Kansas  City  to  Topeka  the  line  runs  on  the  south 
bank  of  the  Kansas  River.  At  Wilder  and  Ilolli- 
day  are  poijit^  for  the  departure  of  branch  lines — 
one  Northward  to  Atchison,  and  the  other  South- 
ward through  Ottawa  and  Southern  Kansas,  l)eing 
known  as  the  Southern  Kansas  Division  of  the 
Santa  Fc  .System.  From  Lawrence  to  Topeka  the 
road  is  still  in  the  Kansas  Valley,  through  a  verit- 
able garden.  Native  trees  of  great  heiglit  over- 
hang tlie  railw.ay  here  and  there,  and  in  the  spring 
and  summer  the  crops  look  green  and  luxuriant. 
Tlic  approach  to  Topeka  is  tiirougli  the  long  yards 
and  by  the  vast  nijicliine  shops  of  the  Santji  Fe 
Company',  and  across  various  broad  streets  to  a  com- 
modious brick  station.  Tlie  general  oflices  of  tlie 
road  are  in  Topeka.  and  occupy  a  handsome  and 
commodious    luiilding    near    tlie    Slate    Capitol. 


From  Topeka  to  Denver  tlie  Santa  Fe  route  runs 
for  about  seventy-live  miles  in  a  southwesterly  di- 
rection to  the  upjicr  wateis  of  the  Neosho  River. 
At  Kmiioria,  passing  through  Osage  County,  are 
found  some  of  the  richest  coal  fields  of  the  ^Yest. 
At  Newton  the  line  diverges  South  through  South- 
ern Kansas,  the  Indian  Territory  and  Texas  to 
(iaiveston.  Continuing  West  from  Newton  the 
first  city  of  importance  reached  is  Hutchinson. 
Here  are  some  of  the  heaviest  salt  works  in  the 
United  States,  liesides  other  extensive  manufactur- 
nig  interests*. 

At  La  Junta,  Colo.,  the  line  for  New  Mexico, 
Arizona  and  beyond  turns  South.  Pueblo,  sixty- 
five  miles  due  West  of  La  Junta,  for  years  the  ter- 
minus of  the  Santa  Fe  Sj-stem,  is  a  growing  man- 
ufacturing city.  It  is  admirably  located  with  ref- 
erence to  the  great  ore-producing  canons  of  Colo- 
rado. All  roads  leading  to  it  ship  coal,  iron,  silver, 
gold,  lead,  copper,  building  stone,  everything  in 
fact  which  is  produced  in  the  greatest  mining 
State  in  the  L^nion  rolls  naturally  down  hill  to 
Pueblo.  Beyond  Pueblo  to  the  west  are  many 
thriving  cities  founded  on  miningand  agriculture, 
notable  among  which  is  Lead  ville,  the  greatest  min- 
ing camp  in  Colorado,  while  forty  miles  north  of 
Pueblo,on  the  line  of  the  Santa  Fe,are  the  beautiful 
cities  of  Colorado  S|)rings  and  Manitou,  nestling  at 
the  foot  of  Pike's  Peak.  Manitou  is  at  the  mouth 
of  a  deep  canon,  and  is  one  of  the  most  lovely  sum- 
mer resorts  in  America.  Near  here  is  the  famous 
Oardcn  of  the  Cods,  whose  wondrous  beauty  and 
grandeur  are  unsurpassed.  From  Colorado  Springs 
Westward  through  Manitou.  and  up  the  canon  be- 
yond Pike's  Peak,  the  Colorado  Midland  Railroad  is 
pushing  its  way  toward  the  western  border  of  the 
State.  Fighty  miles  north  of  Colorado  Springs, 
the  Santa  Fe  line  terminates  at  Denver,  a  magnifi- 
cently built  city.  It  is  probable  that  no  Anieri- 
can  cit}'  has  .so  many  features  of  unique  beauty  as 
Denver.  Its  splendid  public  buildings,  and  its 
broad  avenues  lininl  with  beautiful  residences,  coz- 
ily  located  at  the  fool  of  the  snow-capped  moun- 
tains of  the  Rocky  Range,  render  it  unlike  any 
other  city  of  its  size  in  the  world.  The  ride  from 
Pueblo  to  Denver  along  the  foot  of  the  mountains 
is   one    never    to    be    missed.     The  snow-covered 


(1(0 


TRANSPORTATION. 


peaks,  the  many  combinations  of  sun,  cloud,  rain, 
snow,  and  tlie  marvelous  atmosphere,  all  combine 
to  surprise  and  charm  tiic  beholder. 

Newton  to  Galveston.  The  line  leaving  the  main 
East  and  AVest  line  in  Kansas  at  Newton  runs  di- 
rectly South  to  Oalveston.  The  first  place  of  im- 
portance reached  is  Wiciiita,  located  on  the  big 
and  Little  Arkansas  Rivers,  a  city  of  thirty-five 
tlio\isand  people,  where  only  a  few  years  ago  was 
an  Indian  trading  post.  Soutii  of  Wichita  is  a 
cluster  of  growing  cities,  comprising  Win  field, 
Wellington,  Arkansas  City  and  Caldwell.  AVicli- 
ita  and  Arkansas  City  have  profited  much  by  the 
opening  up  of  Oklahoma  to  settlement.  Entering 
tlie  Indian  Territory  the  line  passes  through  a 
magnificent  agricultural  country,  as  j'et  almost 
wholly  undeveloped,  (ialveston,  the  terminus,  is 
a-  rapidly  growing  city  of  fifty  thousand  inhabi- 
tants. It  is  charmingly  situated  on  the  Gulf 
coast,  and  has  an  unsurpassed  climate  in  botli 
summer  and  winter. 

La  Junta  to  El  Paso.  From  La  .lunta  the  line 
climbs  to  the  summit  of  tlie  Raton  Range,  seven 
thousand  six  hundred  and  twenty-two  feet  above 
the  sea.  On  the  way  up  it  passes  tiu'ough  the  im- 
portant Colorado  towns  of  El  Moro  and  Trinidad. 
The  village  of  Raton  is  an  important  division 
point  for  the  railway.  And  then  comes  Las  Ve- 
gas and  its  famous  iiot  springs,  six  miles  distant 
from  the  main  line,  but  connected  with  it  by  a  short 
line  with  good  equipment.  At  the  hot  springs  is 
the  Phcenix  Hotel.  Tlie  springs  are  unsurpassed 
anywhere  in  the  world,  and  the  liotel  is  conducted 
by  the  company  in  a  most  generous  manner.  The 
springs  are  forty-two  in  number,  are  hot  and 
cold,  and  have  a  variety  of  mineral  properties 
which  render  them  remarkably  strong  in  their  cur- 
ative power.  South  of  Las  Vegas  the  line  passes 
through  fertile  valleys,  lieavy  forest*  and  black 
and  rugged  canons  until  the  valley  of  the  Rio 
Grande  is  reached.  A  bi-anch  line  from  Laniy  ex- 
tends up  the  mountain  to  Santa  Fe,  the  capital  of 
New  Mexico,  next  to  St.  Augustine  the  oldest 
city  in  America.  Its  quaint  old  (churches  and 
dwellings  are  interspersed  with  modern  structures. 
It  should  be  seen  before  tlie  peculiar  charm  of  its 
antiquity  has  been  entirely  destroyed.     Albuquer- 


que, Socorro  and  San  Marcial  are  the  chief  points 
between  Santa  Fe  and  El  Paso.  All  are  important 
points  for  the  business  of  mining,  cattle-raising 
and  general  commerce.  From  Rincon  a  branch 
line  leads  to  Deniing,  where  junction  is  made  witli 
the  Southern  Pacific  Railway,  and  to  Silver  City, 
and  to  the  other  mining  towns  of  Southern  New 
Mexico.  It  is  the  fortunate  destiny  of  New  Mex- 
ico generally,  and  the  Rio  Grande  Valley  particu- 
larly, to  soon  take  front  rank  in  the  line  of  fruit 
production.  Tlie  grapes  produced  in  the  lower 
Rio  Grande  Valley  are  not  surpassed  in  either 
quality  or  quantity  by  the  product  In  any  part  of 
the  continent.  From  Albuquerque,  in  the  heart  of 
New  Mexicf>,  due  West,  the  Atlantic  &  Pacific 
Railroad  forms  the  main  Santa  Fe  route  to  Cali- 
fornia. The  line  passes  through  a  great  mining 
and  stock-raising  country,  where  the  climate  is 
perfect.  Pi'escott,  the  capital  of  Arizona,  is 
reached  bj'  a  branch  from  Prescott  Junction. 
Constant  changes  of  scenery  characterize  the  line, 
and  the  crossing  of  the  Colorado  Canon  is  one  of 
the  most  remarkable  accomplishments  known  in 
the  railroad  world.  In  Southern  California  the  lines 
of  the  California  Central  and  Southern  reacii  everj- 
important  city.  Barstow,  San  Bernardino,  Colton, 
San  Diego,  National  City,  Los  Angeles,  and  a  hun- 
dred other  beautiful  towns  offer  iinequaled  induce- 
ments to  the  seeker  after  health,  wealth  and  pleas- 
ure. San  Francisco  and  other  cities  of  Central 
and  Northern  California  are  reached  b^'  the  lines 
of  the  Southern  Pacific  by  virtue  of  a  special  ar- 
rangement for  traffic. 

Between  Chicago  and  Kansas  City  meals  are 
served  on  the  finest  dining  ears.  On  the  other 
lines  and  branches  are  superb  eating-houses  and 
hotels. 

From  the  resume  thus  given  of  the  facilities  pos- 
sessed by  the  Santa  Fe  Railway  for  interchanging 
traffic  at  its  termini  and  various  junctions,  it  must 
be  api)arent  to  tlie  reader  that  the  line  is  admir- 
ably situated,  and  that  in  many  respects  it  occu- 
pies a  strategic  position,  superior  to  that  of  other 
trans-Missouri  and  Mississippi  railroads.  These 
advantages  have  been  utilized  in  the  past,  as  they 
will  be  in  the  future  in  developing  the  localities 
through  which  the  various    branches   extend,  and 


TRANSPORTATION. 


671 


jerinanent  prosperity  of  the  prop- 
jory  is  so  closel.v  interwoven  witli 
it,  development  and  prosperity  of  tlie 
nd  tlie  Missouri  River.  Its  looal  trattie 
js  favorably  with  that  of  other  competing 
.  To  this  purely  local  tratHc  must  be  added 
jiie  contributions  of  its  several  termini,  all  large 
cities  and  prominent  trade  centers  in  the  Missouri 
and  ^Mississippi  Valleys.  With  the  growth  and 
>tead\  development  of  the  manufacturing  and 
other  industries  of  Chicago,  St.  Louis,  Kansas 
City,  St.  Joseph,  Atchison,  Leavenworth,  Topeka, 
Wichita,  (ialveston.  El  Paso,  Pueblo  and  Denver, 
since  the  middle  of  December,  1890,  b^'  means  of 
running  arrangements  with  the  J.ackson ville  ct 
So\itheasteru  Railroad,  the  Santa  Fe  has  a 
through  line  from  Chicago  to  St.  Louis  with  a  fine 
erpiipment  of  pal.ace  cars.  The  Santa  Fe  Railway 
must  naturally  make  corresponding  strides  toward 
attaining  that  proud  financial  position  which  has 
lieeu  the  life  dream  of  its  originators  and  present 
owners.  L'nder  the  present  progressive  and  con- 
servative management  all  advantages  of  geograph- 
ical position,  and  all  the  resources  of  the  through 
line,  will  l)e  constantly  utilized  in  building  up  the 
future  prosperity  of  the  road  itself,  and  in  devel- 
oping the  extended  area  of  Chicago's  commercial 
supremacy.  The  land  grant  from  the  (lovernment 
amounted  substantially  to  three  million  acres.  In 
brief,  its  commanding  geographical  position, 
coupled  with  its  direct  Eastern  alliance  for 
through  business,  must  render  the  Santa  Fc  event- 
ually one  of  the  most  remunerative  of  our  West- 
ern railroads. 


Cairo  Short  Line. 


HE  terminal  points  of  this  line   are  Easl   St. 
ouis  and  St.  Louis,  from    which    points  it 


Dl'^II^IJ^^Ell 


^^»£i:^  runs  in  a  Southwesterly  direction  across 
Southern  Illinois,  touching  the  Ohio  River  at  Me- 
tropolis City  and  Pellonia,  where  it  taps  a  grow- 
ing and  increasing  trade  with  Kentucky  and  Ten- 
nessee, giving  a  short  route  to  the  St.  Louis  mar- 
kets for  the  pro(iucts  of  a  portion  of  those  States. 
At  DuC^uoin  and  Carbondale  connection  is 
made  with  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad;  at  Parker 
City  it  crosses  the  line  of  the  Hig  Four;  at  Eldo- 
rado traffic  relations  are  had  with  the  liig  Four 
and  Louisville  ct  Na.shville  Railroads.  The  Cairo 
Short  Line  pa.sses  through  a  section  of  Illinois 
particularly  rich  in  coal  mines,  which  contributes  to 
the  road  an  immense  freight  business.  At  Du- 
Quoin  and  Carbondale  it  taps  the  center  of  the 
fruit  belt.  Its  business  is  increasing,  and  the  road 
is  in  a  prosperous  condition. 


Louisville  &  Nashville. 

6^-^A\]']  line  of  this  ro;id  crosses  tlie  Southern 
(tf^^  I'iii't  of  lllinoi.s  in  a  Southeasterly  direction. 
^^^^  Its  Eastern  terminals  are  at  P]vansville,']\It. 
Vernon  and  Shawneetown,  on  the  Ohio  River, 
while  its  western  termini  are  St.  Louis  and  East  St. 
Louis.  This  road  transports  annually  large  quan- 
tities of  coal,  grain,  (lour  and  other  products,  and 
has  done  much  toward  building  up  the  towns  along 
the  line. 


Illinois  &  St.  Louis  Railroad, 

Sin^ETTER  known  as  the  -'Pittsburg  Ro.ad," 
jiy^^  extends  from  lielieviile  to  East  SI.  Louis, 
l(^j/  '''"***  ***  l^uion  Dejjot,  St.  Louis,  over  the 
^^^=^  "  Eads  "  Hridge.  It  has  fine  terminal  fa- 
cilities in  almost  the  cnitcr  of  Belleville,  and  is 
extensively  patronized  by  the  people  along  its 
line,  lint  its  most  iinporlnnt  tiMllic  is  in  tiaiisport- 
ing  coal. 


E^^. 


Ohio  &  Mississippi. 

Mils  extended  system  operates  in  ctmnection 
with  the  Baltimore  it  Ohio,  havino-  St. 
f'  Louis  for  its  western  terminus,  and  close 
tratlic  connections  are  maintained  with  the  lead- 
ing cities  on  the  Atlantic  sealioard.  This  was  one 
of  the  first  roads  built  iu  Southern    Illinois,  being 


672 


TRANSPORTATION. 


completed  and  opened  for  traffic  the  entire  Icnotli 
of  the  hue  in  1857.  Under  the  present  manage- 
ment the  road  has  grown  in  business,  and  now 
comprises  one  of  the  important  trunk  lines  of  the 
Mississippi  Valley. 


The  Vaudalia  Road. 

i^r^-HE  first  train  was  run  on  this  line  in  .July, 
ff/^^  1868,  and  in  1870  was  completed  its  entire 
S^^i    length,  and  imuiediately  thereafter  throiigh 


passenger  trains    were    established    bet\ 
York    and    St.    Louis.     Both     in    passei. 
freight  business  this  line  promptly    became  . 
ing  factor  in  promoting  the  business   iuteres. 
the  sections  through  which  it  passes,  and   with 
running  arrangements  with  the  Pennsylvania  Cen- 
tral furnishes  fine  facilities  for  its  patrons. 


BI0GI^p^r)I(9pIi. 


Abend,  Hon.  Eihvartl 242 

Aberic,  F.  W 3S7 

Abt.P.  W 270 

Adams,  John 2:S 

Adams,  John  Q 39 

Alllcck,  James 27!) 

Ahlers,  Conrad 318 

Ahrens,  Frederick 2!»r) 

Ainmel,  N.  E 370 

Andel,  Adolph 281 

Andel,  Casimir 265 

Appel.J.L 2(i0 

Arthur,  Cliester  A »» 


Bader,H.F 2C6 

Badgley,  Adam 210 

Bacr,  Amson 317 

Barthel,  August 323 

Barthel,  Henry 580 

Baum,  Simon 272 

Becker,  Hon.  Charles 117 

Begolc,  F.  M 322 

Behrens,  J.  C 250 

Bennett,  Jeremiah 221 

Bennett,  Capt.  W".  H 305 

Berkemeyer,  C.  F 210 

Bertelsmann,  Henry B54 

Berteloth,  John 442 

Bertelsmann,  J.  R  611 

Beste,  J.H 454 

Bicbel,N.  J 270 

Bocquet,  Gustave 367 

Bocquet,  J.  C 3C7 

Boemer,  Henry 4.36 

Bohneraeier,  John 360 

Boismenue,  Louis 209 

Boismenue,  Nicholas 578 

Boneau,  .Judge  Benjamin  —  2M 

Booth,  D.  S.,  Sr 240 

Boruraan,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 247 


Brandenburccr,  William 593 

Briesacher.  E.  F 417 

Bnghtlield,  O.  F 375 

Broderick,  \V.  J 363 

Brown.  Luther 605 

Brownlee.  William 248 

Bniegel,  Henry 3.i8 

Buchanan.  James 75 

Bug. Martin 366 

Burke.  Thomas 275 

Burr,  J.  C 498 


Cange,  Mrs.  Dora 423 

Cannady,  Charle? .306 

Cannady ,  Elijah 355 

Carr.L.T 316 

Carroll,  C.B 19.S 

Carson, J.S 350 

Carter,  M.  W 307 

Cash.  V.  B 342 

Chapin,  Rev.  S.  1" 611 

Chenot,  August  us .383 

Clark,  A.  T .i71 

Clark,  Samuel 420 

Cleveland,  S.  Grover 103 

Corlis,(J.  L 208 

Coulter,  K.S 326 

Crosby,  George 374 

Cunningham,  Kobert 347 


Daab,  Fred .36-4 

Dake,  C.  R.,  M.  D 623 

Daniel,  T.  J 415 

Darrow,  W.  A 324 

Davis,  E.  K 252 

Day,  J.  A 565 

Decker,  H.J :i68 

De  Haan,  H.  J.,  M.  D 201 

Dehn,  J.  0 294 


Dekum,  Doininick 614 

Dexter,  Charles 199 

Dilg,  Capt.  Frederick .   .508 

Doussard,  Mrs.  Martha 228 

Doyle,  John 212 

Doyle,  M.  B.,  M.  D 243 

Draser,  George,  Jr 291 

Dressel,  Ernest 526 

Dunn,  James .544 


Eberhart,  J.  J 322 

Eberlein,  George 3.58 

Eekert,  Charles 475 

Eckert.H.  C 343 

Eggmann,  E.J 200 

Ehinger,  John 285 

Eidmann.L.  F 259 

Elliot.  Henry 283 

Elliot,  Harry,  Jr 239 

Engelmann,  W.  B 325 

El tling.  Christian 338 

Ewing,  Capt.  G .  W 2C3 

Eyman,  Isaac 271 


Fahne,  George,  .Sr 311 

Fairbrother,  H.  C,  M.  D 20« 

Faulbaum.  August 311 

Fekete,  Alexander,  M.  D 202 

Fiet.sam, C.  H 2.37 

Fillmore,  Millard 67 

Finke.E.  J 377 

Flanncry,  Patrick 6.32 

Flannigen,  Alexander 217 

Fleischbein,  C.  P 502 

ForciMle,  Louis 290 

Foulks.  Charles 637 

Fournie,  Sylvester 283 

Frey,  John 289 

Fricderick,  Michael 367 


Fries,  Adam .359 

Fries,  Jacob (124 

Fries,  John fifii 

Fries,  Peter 491 

Friess.  J.  H 285 

Fuesser,  J.  P 386 

Fuller,  Rev.  H.  E 649 

Funk,  Adam 280 

Funk,H.  C ,384 

Funk,  Henry 296 


Ganter,  Henry,  M.  D 149 

Garfield,  .Tames  A 95 

Gauch,  Jacob 550 

Gauch,  P.  A 408 

Gcary.M.F 126 

Gelwicks,  G.  B 410 

Germain,  J.  H 42« 

Germain,  Nicholas 658 

Gillen,  Rev.  James 482 

Gintz,  Adam 573 

Godin,  Peter,  Sr 630 

Gooding,  Abram 365 

Gough,Rev.  J.  M 5M 

Graner,  Louis 419 

Grant,  Ulysses  S 87 

Grebe,  William,  M.D 125 

Green,  B.  P 315 

Griffen,  Abraham 542 

Grltren,  Charles 489 

Griffin,  John 410 

Gri.swold,  J.  W 492 

Gross,  Louis 257 

Grossmann,  Charles '..463 

Grupe,  W.  H 577 

Guentz,  Henry 644 

Gundlach,  Frank 504 

Gundlach,  Jacob,  Jr 147 

Gundlach,  P.  M M3 

Guthrie.  G.W 631 


Haas,  Daniel 299 

Hacker.J.N 526 


INDEX. 


Hagen,  Rev.  H.  J 387 

Hagist,  E.  R lU 

Halstead,  Dr.  A.  S 321 

Hamilton,  J.  C 6-13 

Hamilton,  R.  H e2fi 

Hardy,  Mrs.  Catherine (168 

Harkins,  Key.  John 377 

Harrison,  Benjamin 107 

Harrison,  H.  W 530 

Harrison,  William  Henry —  .5! 

Harrold,  Michael tSi 

Hartmann,  Bern  hard 4.'i8 

Hauss,  Charles 6-17 

Hayes,  Rutherford  B 91 

Heberer,  George ia» 

Heely,  D.  C,  M.  D G06 

Heid'inger,  J.  J 133 

Heimberger,  K.  U 451 

Heinrich,  Oscar 191 

Heinzelman,  John 659 

Helms,  Frea 619 

Hempe.H.  W 238 

Hentzel,  Benjamin 181 

Hentzel,  Cfeorge 562 

Higf^ins,  Benjamin 181 

Hilgard.G.  F 576 

Hill,  J,  r 4f'l 

Hill, Peter 154 

Hoff,  Henry 567 

Holcomb,  Emery 175 

Horner,H.H 662 

Huber,  Henry 139 

Hummert,  Theodore 635 

Hypes,  Benjamin 163 

Hypes,  J.  W X (i60 


lllinski,  A.  X.,M.  D .385 

Ingold,  Capt.  Christian 229 

Isch,  Anthony 399 


Jackson,  Andrew 43  _ 

Janssen,  Rev.  John 143 

Jargstorff,  Rev,  John 63S 

Jelteraon,  Thomas 27 

Johnson,  Andrew 83 

Johnson,  C.  C .178 

Johnson,  L.  M {>35 

Johnson,  V.  « 481 

Jones,  C.T 473 

Jones,  W.  L 646 

Joseph,  John 122 

Juenger,  J.  P 6-15 

Justus,  Fred 326 


Kupmper,  Charles 513 

Kanzler,  George 410 


Kanzler,  Peter 410 

Karch,  Charles 547 

Keechler,  A.  L .529 

Keller, J. P 169 

Kemper,  G.  H 520 

Kieter ,  John 588 

Kihan,  Conrad 441 

Kilian,  Jacob 4.'i0 

Kirk,  J.  W 198 

Kirsch,  Fredrick,  M.  D 301 

Kloess,  John 263 

Knewitz,  Gerhard 379 

Knewitz,  Henry 476 

Knobeloch,  Adolph .582 

Knobeloch,  Henry 316 

Knobeloch ,  John 818 

Knobeloch,  Julius 514 

Knoebel,  Thomas 556 

Koch ,  Hartmann 376 

Koeberlin,  Frederick,  M.  D...401 
Koenig,  Rev.  Christopher. ...353 

Koerner,  Hon.  Gustavus 348 

Kra£ft,T.  J 356 

Kurrus,J.  A 394 


Law,  Robert 607 

Leake,  Frank 516 

Lehman,  Prof.  G 302 

Leiner,  Jacob 300 

Lemen,  G.  C 659 

Lenz,  August 497 

Liebig,  G.  P 501 

Lienesch,  G.  P 515 

Lill.P.  W 1.50 

Lincoln,  Abraham 79 

Lindly,J.  J 406 

Linehan ,  J.  1 527 

Lischer,  Hon.  Christ 461 

Lischer.  C.  J 457 

Lotz,  William 293 

Louis,  Joseph 174 

Lyons,  J.  R 438 


M 


Madison,  James 31 

Malinee,S.B 600 

Mann.  Jacob 241 

Marsh,  D.  C 625 

Mason,  James 1.55 

Mauer,  Charles 464 

Maule,  Francis 404 

Maule,  John 467 

May,  Thomas.  Jr 230 

McCasland,  CO 644 

McCasland,  C.  D 222 

McCasland,  J.  M 251 

McCasland,  Hon.  J.  T 282 

McCasland ,  W.  A 596 

McCracken,  R.  X.,M.  D .587 

McCulley,  A.J 119 


McCullough,  J.  W 483 

McFarland,  Mrs.  Amanda.  ..620 

McFarland,  Capt.  Milton 397 

McLean,  Capt.  J.  J 663 

McLean,  J.  J 124 

McQuillan,  E.J 295 

Mechin,J.  ,.%  Son 145 

Merkel,  Cornel 300 

Merrills,  F.B 486 

Messick,  Hon.  J.  B  656 

Metelmann,  M.  F 503 

Metzen,  J.  P 234 

Meyer,  Rev.  Henry 423 

Miller,  A.  J 197 

Miller,  D.  D 41S 

Miller,  J.  E 452 

Miller,  L.  G 292 

Miller,  Louis 4.54 

Miller,  Peter 479 

Miller,  W.J 398 

Mills,  Hugh 429 

Moehlmann,  Fredrick,  Sr..  ..2.54 

Moeaer,  Prof.  Frederick .555 

Moeser,  Henry 602 

Moeser,Philip,  M.  D 27« 

Mollmann,  J.  D 364 

Monroe,  James 35 

Montag,  Carl 196 

Mootz,  Albert 274 

Mootz,  Herman 123 

Muelheim,  Mrs.  G.  L 249 

Mueller,  A.  J 289 

Mueller,  J.  F 244 

Mueller,  J.  F 253 

Muetze,  Christian B83 

Munie,  George 661 

Murphy,  David 645 

Muskopf ,  G.J 432 


Needles,  H.  M 124 

Niemes,  John 541 

North,  AdolphuB 407 

Nuetzel,  Gottfried 276 


Oebike,  Henry 233 

O'Halloran,  Rev.  P.  J 642 

Ortgier,  William 458 

Otten,  Hermann 549 


Padfleld.J.R. 182 

Padt!eld,W.B 666 

Parry.H.  F 413 


Penn,  Ja 
Perrottet, 
Perry,  Joh. 
Perryman,* 
Pfaff,  Adam. 
Pfeiffer,  Adai 
Phillips,  W.  H. 
Pierce,  Franklin. 

Pierce,  H.  A 

Polk,  James  K 

Postel,  P.  H 

Prediger,  William 

Prediger,  Peter ^- 

Priester,  F.  M 565 

Priester,  Fred 166 

Probst,  Charles 479 

Pugh.H   L 835 


Raab,  E.  P.,  M.  B 395 

Rafter,  J.  J. . .' 127 

Rank,  John. .< 435 

Rayhill,J.  J 393 

Rebhan,  Emile 337 

Rebhan,  G.  C 14« 

Reichert,  Joseph .537 

Reimann ,  Peter 641 

Reinecke,  Conrad 205 

Reis,  Henry 122 

Reis,  Hon.  Michael .587 

Reis,  Valentine 164 

Rembe,  Charles,  M.  D 418 

Rtnshaw,C'apt.  J.  W 173 

Rentchler,  Daniel 594 

Reuss,  Julius 186 

Rhein,  Fred 571 

Rhein,  Louis 638 

Rhein,  Philip 164 

Richardson,  J.  H 179 

Bichter,  F.  B .502 

Rittenhouse,  W.  P 119 

Robertson,  N.  S 474 

Rodenheiser,  John 187 

Roewe,  Henry 496 

Rogers, E.P 507 

Rogers,  G.  B.  M 607 

Rohm,  Christian,  Sr 223 

Romeiser,  P.  M 447 

Ropiequet,  R.  W 647 

Rose,  F.  T,  M.  D 159 

Ross,  P.  J 613 

Rubach,  Ferdinand,  M.  D....121 

Ruemmler,  Alexander 273 

Ruemmler,  C.  G 470 

Ruester,  Philip 335 

Kunkwitz,  Charles 373 

Butter,  G.r 490 


Sackmann,  Capt.  Henry  — 231 

Sager,  C.  H 665 

Battler,  Fred 169 


INDEX. 


Sauter,  John S33 

Schaefer.M.  W 418 

Schaller,  John 595 

Schaub.  Georgf 572 

Scheel.A.  M.,  M.  D «05 

Scheve,  (i.  J fil7 

Schlernitzauer,  A.,  M.  D 180 

Schmidt,  H.  T I'O 

Schmidt.  J.  C 192 

Schmi&seiir,  Eugene IM 

Sohmisseur,  Frank 14S 

Schmisscur.  Mrs.  M.  A 51S 

Schnciiler,  Peter 369 

Schocniiis,  E.  F 131 

Scholt.  O.  F 522 

Sctiroeder,  Georg* 4BS 

Schuetz,  E.  C 642 

Schwaegel,  Jacob 449 

Schwarz,  Franz 148 

Schwai-z,  Hans 350 

SchH inn,  Peter 2W 

Scott.  E.J 416 

Scott,  W.S 5.-i4 

Setllinger,  Anton 430 

Seibcrt,  John 408 

Scibert,  Hon.  Peter 185 

Semnielroth,  George 525 

Shawhan,  L.  C 14« 

Shipman,  O.  W.,  Sr 844 

Siebert,  William 16« 

Sinclair,  J.  C IBS 

Skacr,  Pliilip 332 

Skaer,  Wesley l.-i? 

Slade,  Hon.  J.  P 188 

Slieper,  F 439 

Smiley,  A.  B  536 

Smith,  J.  P 581 

Sopp,  P.  H .S74 

Spitznass,  Herman 480 

Stack,  P.  H 215 


Staub,  Nicholas 4«9 

Staiider,  Peter 5«0 

Staufenhiel,  F.  J 156 

Stein,  Adolph 583 

Stcinert.H.B tiSO 

Steinert ,  J.  B 630 

Stepliens.Hon.M.M 137 

StolTol.J.  W 120 

Stolberg,  Andrew 474 

Stookey,  Aaron 482 

Stookey.E.  D 409 

Stookey,  Elijah 190 

Stookey,  G.H 170 

Stookey,  L.  P.,  M.  D 419 

Stookey,  M.  M 318 

Stookey,  M.  T 331 

Stookey, T.  A 186 

Strecker.  C.  F.,  M.  D 247 

Suemnicht,  Herman 507 

Sullivan,  J.  M 313 


Tarlton ,  H.  B 516 

Tate,  G.  K 138 

Tate,  John 158 

Taylor,  Zachary CS 

Thomas,  E.  A 574 

Tliomas,  Hon.  John 387 

Thompson,  Amos 341 

Tieraann,  August 512 

Tissier.  M.  F 548 

Todd,  Lemuel 380 

Tomlins,  Itev.  \V.  H 459 

Townsend,  William 167 

Traubel,  Leonard 405 


Trautmann,  Frederick 538 

Trendley,  C'apt.  H.  E 216 

Turner,  L.  D 181 

Twenhafel,  Bernard 313 

Twitchell.R.  A.,  M.  D 218 

Tyler,  John .^§ 


Vahlkamp.  Stephan 553 

Valerius,  Jacob 167 

Van  Blarcom,  W.  D 400 

Van  Buren,  Martin  47 

Van  Court,  B.J 131 

Van  der  Smissen,  Rev.  C. 

H.  A 354 

Voelker,  H.  W 601 

Vogel,  Fredrick,  Sr 614 

Vogt ,  Theo 314 

Volkening,  Herman 378 

Voskamp,  Henry 390 

VoBS,  Casper 258 

Voss,  Henry 221 


w 


Waeltz,  William 5.59 

Wagner.  Henry 510 

Walrath,  C.  L 230 

Walsh,  Capt.  Mike 608 

Wangelin,  Richard 561 

Ward,  J.  T 441 


Wasem,  Valentine 328 

Washington,  George 1» 

Webb,  Emanuel 468 

Weber,  John 308 

Weber,  P.  L 128 

Weckler,  F.S 521 

Wehrle,  J.  A  Son .519 

West,  B.  J 590 

West,  Washington,  M.  D 132 

Westermann,  Col.  Hugo 195 

White, H.R 424 

White,  J.  K 118 

White, T.H 599 

Wies,  J.  J 176 

Wiggins,  J.  L.,  M.  D 237 

Wilderman,  A.  E 139 

Wilderraan,  Hon.  A.  S 612 

Wilderman,  F.  A 437 

Wilderman,  James 148 

Wilderman,  J.  C IBS 

Wilderman,  J.  S 453 

Wildgrube,  Ferdinand 624 

Wildy,  Alexander .559 

Wilhelmj,  C.  F.,  M.  D 647 

Williams,  H.  C 629 

Willoughby,  J.  A .532 

Wilson,  H.  M 425 

Winkelmann,  William 396 

Wolpert,  F.  W 126 

Woodley,  Rev.  R.  D 484 

Woods,  Alex.,  M.  D 334 

Wylie,  J.A S84 


Yoch,  Benhard 327 


^kg@^)C^ 


— ^-+ 


Adams,  John 22 

Adams,  John  Q 38 

Affleck.  James 278 

Arthur,  Chester  A 98 

Becker,  Hon.  Charles 1  Ifi 

Bennett,  Jeremiah 220 

Bennett,  W.  H 304 

Bertelsmann,  J.  R 610 

Bornman,  Mre.  Elizabeth...  .22fi 

Brandenburger,  William 592 

Broderick,  W.  J 3«2 

Buchanan,  James 74 

Cange,  Paul 422 

Chenot,  Augu.stus 382 

Cleveland,  S.  Grover ](B 

Cunningham,  Robert 34fi 

Dake.C.  K.,  M.  D fi« 

Day,  J.  A .'i64 

Faulbaum,  August 310 

Fietsam,  C.  H 236 


Fillmore,  Millard 66 

Garfield, J.A 94 

Grant,  U.S 86 

Griffen,  Charles 4H8 

Gross,  Louis 25(1 

Harrison,  Benjamm 106 

Rarrison,  W.  H 50 

Hayesi,R.B !i« 

Hypes,  Benjamin 1(J2 

Jackson,  Andrew 42 

Janssen,  Bishop  J 142 

Jefferson,  Thomas 20 

Johnson,  Andrew 82 

Johnson,  L.  M h:U 

Jone.s,  C.  T 472 

Kaemper,  Charles .^12 

Kloess,  John 262 

Koenig,  Father  C 3.52 

Lincoln,  Abraham 78 

Madison,  James..  - 30 


Maule,  John 466 

Monroe,  James 34 

Niemes,  John 540 

Fenn,  Joseph 152 

Perrottet,  Louis 268 

Perry,  John 494 

Pierce,  Franklin 70 

Polk,  J.  K 58 

Pugh.  H.  L 634 

Rank,  John 434 

Kayhill,  J.  J 392 

Reimann,  Peter 640 

Reinecke,  Conrad 204 

Reis,  Hon.  Michael .'586 

Renshaw,  J .  W 172 

Richardson,  J.  H 178 

Romeiser,  P.  M 444 

Homeiser,  Mrs.  E.  H 445 

Scheel,  A.  M.,  M.  D 604 

Seibert,  John 402 


Seibert,  Hon.  Peter 184 

Smith,  J.  P 580 

Stack,  P.  H 214 

Stephens,  M.  M 136 

Stookey,  M.  T 330 

Strecker,  C.  F.,M.  D 246 

Suemnicht,  Herman 506 

Taylor,  Zachary 62 

Thompson ,  Amos ."^40 

Tyler,  John 54 

Vahlkamp,  Stephan 5.'>2 

Van  Buren,  Martin 46 

Van  Court,  B.  J 130 

Waeltz,  William 558 

Washington,  George 18 

Wehrle,  Joseph 518 

Westermann,  Hugo IW 

White,  T.  H 598 

William.s,  H.  C 628 


Ahlers,  Conrad 319 

Ammel,  N.  E 371 

Beste.  J.  H 465 

Burr,  J.  C 499 

Dekum,  Dominick 615 


Dressel,  Ernst .523 

Dunn,  James 545 

Germain,  J.  H 427 

Griffin,  John 411 

Haas,  Daniel 298 


Knewitz,  Henry 477 

Liebig,  G.  P 499 

Miller,  Louis 455 

Miller,  Peter 477 

Prediger,  William 569 


Rhein.Fred 

Schott,  O.  F 

Sehwinn,  Peter. .. 
Stookey,  M.  M.... 
Vogel,  Friedrich. 


977  389P83 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD, 


30112025399665 


LL'  i  ILl  kJ,i  ka<i^Jti 


